Star Wars Bits: First Day Of Episode VIII Filming Canceled, Mark Hamill Denies Reports Of Close Call
By Peter Sciretta/Sept. 15, 2015 12:30 pm EST
All that and more. Hit the jump to hyperspeed to get started.”
Star Wars Episode VIII is to begin shooting at Skellig Michael and The Daily Mail reports that Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill was saved from falling down a “treacherous mountainside by a quick thinking guide” when he was filming at the location last year for Star Wars: The Force Awakens:
Good thing the Force was with Skywalker that day.
Update: A day later Mark Hamill denied the report on twitter:
Fabricated stories usually contain a seed of truth. Didn’t so much as stub a toe on Skellig Michael. But thanks for your concern! #FalseNews
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) September 16, 2015
Meanwhile, it appears the first day of filming of Star Wars VIII did not go as planned. The rough seas around Portmagee and Skellig Michael prevented the film crew’s boats from transporting the cast and crew out to the island. The Irish Times reports:
High winds around Portmagee and Ballinskelligs saw filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII on the Unesco World heritage site of Skelllig Michael cancelled on Monday morning, with the small boats which service the site refusing to go to sea. Locals say the seas were too rough for the boats on Monday morning. Over 100 mm of rain has fallen in Kerry since Friday, leading to the cancellation of two days of Listowel Harvest Festival.
Looks like production might be back on track now though. The Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has published the following marine advisory:
Also, Irish Examiner reports that a crew of “around 100 people and cast members, including Mark Hamill” were expected to be on the boats due to leave Portmagee today at 7:00 am. Hamill’s son Nathan Hamill posted a beautiful photo from Skellig on his Instagram account:
“The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been advised of filming taking place on Sceilig Mhichíl, (also known as Skellig Michael or Great Skellig Island), Co. Kerry from 5am on Monday 14th September to 7pm on Friday 18 th September 2015. Vessels are requested to give the island a wide berth during these activities. Vessel masters and skippers are reminded to comply with the requirements of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea at all times.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nathan Hamill (@nathanhamill)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nathan Hamill (@nathanhamill)
And here are some tweets from Owen O’Shea, a Radio Kerry journalist (found via StarWars7news):
Lots of mysterious vehicles with blacked out windows in south Kerry. Rumours a big star landed today #starwars pic.twitter.com/1dbUOGDqo2
— Owen O’Shea (@OwenOShea) September 14, 2015
Choppers back at base on Valentia Island after trips to Skellig. Mark Hamill aboard?? @radiokerrynews #starwars pic.twitter.com/ipGsyxz0Hn
— Owen O’Shea (@OwenOShea) September 15, 2015
Star Wars cast members expected on Skellig Michael later this evening: http://t.co/YRT2Nr6FOd pic.twitter.com/Y3FCo1g775
Star Wars prop collector Leo Berghuis recently took the above photo of all the Stormtrooper helmets in line to show the evolution of this iconic armor.
Star Wars Minute has compiled a video chronicling the six major easter eggs in the canon novel Star Wars: Aftermath.
The above video shows C-3P0 and R2-D2 attending the unveiling of Japan’s new Star Wars-themed airplane.
Watch this collection of eight official Star Wars: The Force Awakens LEGO Mini Movies, which might give some clues as to how the sets fit into the film’s story
