lifestyle SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

A timeline of events ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

t’s been two years since the world learned the stars of the movie. Seven key roles, including filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver Despite previous comments that Episode VII June 12, 2014: Harrison Ford injured on set. that a new “Star Wars” movie was in the a young man in his early-to-mid 20s, two young a sensational picture,” said Alan Horn, chairman would begin filming in early May 2014, Disney Ford sustained a leg injury in June, causing a brief Iworks. Since then, fans and industry figures females who both had to be physically fit, and of Studios. chairman Alan Horn revealed in April that they hiatus in production of the film, which resumed have taken to a massive amount of speculation an older man in his 70s who could be in the vein had already begun shooting, and that casting in August. and rumors-but, in the way of the plot and the of Obi-Wan Kenobi, were in the breakdown. Nov. 14, 2013: First production photo was almost complete. way the seventh film in the “Star Wars” world released, featuring R2-D2. November 2013 con- June 20, 2014: Rian Johnson in talks to write looks, Disney and Lucas Film have kept a tight Oct. 24, 2013: Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan tinued to be an exciting month for “Star Wars” April 29, 2014: Cast announced. and direct “Episode VIII” Though not directly lid on info. take over screenwriting duties Abrams and “Star fans, as the first photo from production was In perhaps the biggest news since the about the seventh installment, it was revealed The world’s first substantial look at “Star Wars: Wars” veteran Kasdan took over screenwriting released. It included Abrams, LucasFilm presi- announcement of the movie itself, Disney and that “Looper” director Rian Johnson was in talks The Force Awakens” came on Friday, when the duties on the seventh installment of “Star Wars,” dent Kathleen Kennedy and, perhaps most LucasFilm revealed the cast of the new film: to write and direct the eighth “Star Wars” movie. an 88-second teaser trailer was released online replacing “Toy Story 3” scribe Michael Arndt, notably, R2-D2. The following week, Disney and John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar and in 30 select theaters. For “Star Wars” fans, it’s who was originally hired to pen the project. LucasFilm confirmed that the beloved robot Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max been a long road to the first glimpse of the film, would appear in Episode VII. von Sydow, as well as original cast members July 21, 2014: Abrams reveals the X-Wing. so here’s a look back at the major events that hit Nov. 6, 2013: “Star Wars” holds open casting Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, There was still hardly any insight into the new the franchise in the past two years. calls in the U.K. Under the guise of a generic Feb. 26, 2014: Adam Driver cast as villain. Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny film at this point, so when Abrams released a movie featuring young male and female leads, Casting news began to seriously ramp up as Baker. video from the set featuring the new X-Wing Oct. 30, 2012: Disney buys Lucas Film, new Disney put out a casting call in Blighty for the Variety exclusively revealed that “Girls” star starfighter, it was a big deal. “Star Wars” film announced.” Disney shocked the movie. Disney claimed to seek someone to play Adam Driver would play the villain in the new May 21, 2014: Abrams teases with UNICEF industry by acquiring ’ Lucas Film Rachel, a young female 17-18 year old, as well as “Star Wars” movie. videos. Abrams continued to tease fans, but for for $4.05 billion in cash and stock. We found out a character called Thomas, who was in the 19-23 a good cause! The director released a video from Nov. 6, 2014: Title revealed. a new “Star Wars” pic would come in 2015, steal- age range. March 12, 2014: Actors battle over lead role. the Abu Dhabi set that, while showing very few Disney announced that the official title of the ing much of the spotlight in the acquisition Variety revealed that that “Downton Abbey” details from the production itself, gave a new “Star Wars” movie would be “Star Wars: The news. Disney announced plans for a new “Star Nov. 7, 2013: Release date is announced. thesp Ed Speleers, “Attack the Block” star John glimpse at at least one fantastical inhabitant. Force Awakens.” The studio also announced that Wars” movie every two to three years, with plans Disney and LucasFilm announced that the Boyega, Jesse Plemons and theater actors the movie had completed principal photography. to expand the franchise even further. new “Star Wars” would arrive on Dec. 18, 2015. Matthew James Thomas and Ray Fisher were June 2, 2014: Lupita Nyong’o and “We’re very excited to share the official 2015 battling it out for the male lead. The role would Gwendoline Christie added to cast Lupita Nov. 28, 2014: The first teaser is released. June 19, 2013: Casting breakdown leaks. release date for ‘Star Wars: Episode VII,’ where it eventually go to Boyega. Nyong’o, who had just won an Oscar for “12 Which of these events was the most exciting Bleedingcoolnews.com leaked the casting will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgo- Years a Slave,” and “Games of Thrones” actress so far? Let us know in the comments and on breakdown, giving fans a look at who might be ing season but also ensure our extraordinary April 2014: Shooting begins. Gwendoline Christie were added to the cast. Twitter and Facebook.— Reuters Puppeteer Bob Baker dies Artistes from France, Kuwait, Yemen perform at Dasman Theatre

This April 6, 2014 file photo shows Bob Baker, who founded The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, leading a parade as the Grand Marshall during the “Million Puppet March’’ in Santa Monica, Calif. Baker, the founder of one of America’s oldest puppet theaters, has died. He was 90. — AP uppeteer Bob Baker, whose mar- High School and served in the Army ionette theater near downtown Air Corps during WWII, when he PLos Angeles was an institution worked at Lockheed Aircraft in serving generations of kids, died Burbank. After his discharge, he Friday of natural causes. He was 90. worked for the Baker, who launched the Bob Baker Studios. Amid labor unrest, he left Pal Marionette Theater in 1963, offered and began marketing his own line of puppet shows in what was billed as marionettes. He created window dis- one of the world’s oldest and longest- plays for prominent retailers around running children’s theater companies. the country-and he did the same for In 2009, the theater’s location on First storefront windows on Disneyland’s Street was named a Los Angeles Main Street, USA. Historical Cultural Monument. Baker’s workshop on Santa Monica An L.A. native, Baker traveled the Boulevard in became a world with his famous marionette magnet for future showbiz stars, troupe. His work was featured in including producer Bob Clampett, prominent films, ranging from and , who Disney’s “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” who would go on to create a TV sensa- to Steven Spielberg’s “Close tion locally with the KTLA-TV hand Encounters of the Third Kind” to the puppet series “.” In the 1954 version of “A Star Is Born.” He was late 1940s Baker also worked in local said to have an archive of more than TV with the series “Adventures of 3,000 puppets. Bobo.” In the early 1960s, Baker Baker’s interest in puppetry was teamed with Alton Wood to launch sparked at the age of 5 when he saw a the marionette theater. He worked as puppet show at a downtown Los an adviser to Disney and other stu- Angeles department store. Within a dios, and was a member of the few years he was studying the art and Academy of Motion Picture Arts competing in local talent shows. & Sciences as well as the Baker graduated from Hollywood Television Academy. — Reuters Artistes from France, Kuwait and Yemen perform a music and dance show at Dasman Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of relations between Kuwait and France. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat