As part of EU Cantina’s blue summer, we have an interview scheduled with Knights of the Old Republic and other comic artist Dustin Weaver. You can feel free to ask your questions in this thread or send them via e-mail to staff@eucantina.net. All questions are due by July 4. Thanks and enjoy!

Yes, there was a reason behind the change in color. (Well, a few, actually–this just happens to be one of them.) Today we are proud to announce EU Cantina.net’s “Blue Summer!” The goal is to get you all pumped and energized for “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” as well as “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed,” both coming out later this summer. In order to do this, we have have events, interviews and more planned all summer long! You can find the entire list of events and interviews here, on our page dedicated to the Blue Summer. Every day of an event, we will also place details on the site itself.

George Lucas, Dave Filoni, and others recently sat down with “The New York Times’” David Itzkoff to discuss the old Clone Wars, the new Clone Wars series and movies, and more. They also have new images, one of which can be seen above. Here’s an excerpt:

For Mr. Lucas this was an opportunity to revisit imaginary turf that gives him great personal satisfaction. “Star Wars,” he said, is “a sandbox I love to play in.”

“It’s not a matter of trying to prove anything to anybody,” he added. “I don’t have to.”

You can check out the entire three page sit-down and discussion here. Enjoy!

Source: NY Times Online (via)

Popular comic book site Comic Book Resourse recently sat down with John Jackson Miller, the writer of the Kotor comic, to discuss the upcoming “Vindication” story-line. Here’s an excerpt:

The one thing that is certain is “Vindication” will be a pivotal moment for the series. “‘Vindication’ brings together a lot of faces we haven’t seen in a while in a sequence in which many of the threads we’ve developed converge on one important spot at one pivotal time,” Miller said. “Is it the right place at the right time, finally? We’ll see — but we know Zayne’s track record at that!”

You can read the entire discussion with Mr.Miller here. Enjoy!

Source: Comic Book Resource (via)

On the heels of learning of five Clone Wars tie-in novels, Karen Miller, confirmed author of the second novel in the Clone Wars novel series, is now telling us that she and Karen Traviss are writing all five novels. Take a look at a post on her Livejournal:

The Sekrit Projekt is a Star Wars novel. I’ll be doing 2. They’re both set in the Clone Wars era, and connected to the new animated series that’s coming out soon. It’s a 5-book series in total, and the super spectacular Karen Traviss will be writing the other 3. I’m so lucky to be working with her. It’s a bit of a cosmic trip, this, no pun intended. I think I’d be a lost cause if I didn’t have her to guide my tottering footsteps. Gotta tell you, I am having waaaaay too much fun.

There you have it folks– Traviss is doing three, Miller is writing two. CW Fans rejoice!

UPDATE:

Karen Traviss has updated her own site and it seems that the order of the books will go as follows:

#1 by Karen Traviss

#2 by Karen Miller

#3 by Karen Traviss

#4 by Karen Miller

#5 by Karen Traviss

Karen T. also mentioned that her first book is “a hardcover based on the movie,” which, to me, is a novelization.

Source: Club Jade.net

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the first, and only, Star Wars MMO, “Star Wars: Galaxies.” Since 2003, SWG has been making living in Star Wars Universe possible. There are a lot of events planned for the celebration in-game, so check them all out here. The main event is entitled “Empire Day” and it begins today!  Chapter 10 is also online, so you’ll have an added surprise when you log on; check out the information on Chapter 10 here. If you haven’t already, this is a perfect time to join in on the fun and buying and playing Galaxies. Happy fifth Galaxies, and here’s to five more!

IGN.com has a very detailed and interesting preview up for the upcoming “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” They discuss the story, characters, and more. The most interesting thing is when they discuss vocie actors/actress though and say:

“Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor apparently couldn’t be bothered to return to voice their characters for the project. Instead, some talented soundalikes have been found in voice actors Matt Lanter and James Arnold Taylor. Lanter (Anakin) is an up-and-coming actor who next appears in MGM’s direct-to-video WarGames sequel. Taylor, who voices Obi-Wan, will be recognized by most IGN readers as the voice of Tidus in Final Fantasy X.”

We’re taking their word for it, although nothing official from Lucasfilm has been said as far as we’re aware. Lanter hasn’t played Skywalker before, but Taylor played Obi-Wan in the Clone Wars micro series in 2003 and 2005 as well as in “Battlefront II.”  We do know that Christoper Lee, Anthony Daniels, and Samuel L. Jackson will be returning, and that’s enough for us, I suppose. You can check out the entire preview here on IGN.

Source: IGN (via)

This is the Del Rey Press Release seen on the official SW.Com blog announcing the novels:

NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2008 – LucasBooks and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today that Del Rey will publish five novels to tie-in with the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars feature film, premiering on August 15, and the animated TV series that will air in fall of 2008 on Cartoon Network and TNT.

The first novel – Star Wars: The Clone Wars – is written by fan-favorite Star Wars author Karen Traviss, and will go on sale July 26, 2008. Popular science-fiction/fantasy author Karen Miller will write the second novel, to be published in December 2008. Both books will add depth, color and background to the screen stories and characters, making them must-reads for every Star Wars fan.

The story follows the heroic Jedi Knights as they struggle to maintain order and restore peace during the tumultuous Clone Wars. More and more systems are falling prey to the forces of the dark side as the Galactic Republic slips further and further under the sway of the Separatists and their never-ending droid army. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano find themselves on a mission with far-reaching consequences, one that brings them face-to-face with crime lord Jabba the Hutt. But Count Dooku and his sinister agents, including the nefarious Asajj Ventress, will stop at nothing to ensure that Anakin and Ahsoka fail at their quest. Meanwhile, on the front lines of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side.

Del Rey Editor Shelly Shapiro says, “It is a gift to all Star Wars fans to see the franchise continue to grow and develop under the watchful and ever-inventive eye of its creator, George Lucas. The Star Wars galaxy is one of the richest fictional “worlds” ever invented, and it is exciting to be able to explore this new area with novels, as we’ve done with so much success–and so much fun–with the original six movies.”

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
British writer Karen Traviss received critical acclaim for her first novel, City of Pearl, as well as for its five sequels. She is the author of seven other Star Wars novels, including three books in the immensely popular Legacy of the Force series, as well as the upcoming Star Wars: Order 66. Her short stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Realms of Fantasy, and On Spec. She lives in England.

Karen Miller was born in Vancouver, Canada, but was raised in Sydney, Australia, where she still lives today. She fell in love with Star Wars when she saw it on the big screen, the very first time it was released in 1977. That love affair has lasted her whole life. So far she’s written six mainstream fantasy novels and two Stargate SG-1 tie-ins.

ABOUT DEL REY BOOKS:
Del Rey Books (http://www.delreybooks.com) was founded in 1977 as an imprint of Ballantine Books, a division of the Random House Publishing Group, under the guidance of the renowned Judy-Lynn del Rey and her husband, Lester del Rey. Del Rey publishes the best of modern fantasy, science fiction, and alternate history. In 2004 it expanded by launching Del Rey Manga, which has grown to be a major force in the U.S. graphic-novel field.

There you have it everyone– five novels to tie-in with The Clone Wars movie, although at this time no authors beyond Traviss and Miller are known and it’s unknown if anyone else will be writing with them.

Source: Official Star Wars Blog (via)

Library Journal’s Michael Richards got a first look at the upcoming “The Art and Making of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” written by Haden Blackman and Brett Rector. His final thoughts on it are: Star Wars fans whether they’re gamers or not are going to want this, so buy a couple. The book comes out August 18. For more of his thoughts, as well as quite a few pictures from the book itself, check out the entire first look here. Enjoy!

Source: Library Journal (via)

Today sees the release of “Dark Times # 12- Vector part 6.” According to Dark Horse, Darth Vader confronts the legacy of the ancient Sith–and the ancient Jedi–as the Star Wars event of the year concludes its second chapter! So, be sure to pick this one up today for $2.99.

While you’re at Dark Horse, check out the preview for Legacy # 26–due out this July.