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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="16674" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="George-Lucas">George Lucas</keyword> has revealed that executives at Fox were initially not pleased when they learned the first movie in his prequel trilogy, "<keyword id="814822" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="The-Phantom-Menace">The Phantom Menace</keyword>," would be focused on a 10-year-old <keyword id="2914365" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Anakin-Skywalker">Anakin Skywalker</keyword>.</li><li>"You're going to destroy the franchise; you're going to destroy everything," Lucas said he was told, according to a new book, "The <keyword id="61596" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Star-Wars">Star Wars</keyword> Archives: 1999-2005."</li><li>But Lucas recalled telling them he'd rather make a "movie that nobody wants to see" then tell the same story again.</li><li>The film went on to earn over $1 billion at the global box office but was mostly panned by critics and fans.</li></ul><p>To this day, George Lucas' "Star Wars" prequels are some of the most polarizing titles in the franchise. Mostly panned by fans and critics when they first opened in theaters, the trilogy has been met with more acceptance over the decades as younger generations become introduced to the saga.</p><p>Perhaps the most hate from fans is spewed toward the first of the prequels, 1999's "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," which centered on a 10-year-old Anakin Skywalker.</p><p>In a new book, Lucas said that when he told Fox executives his plans to tell the story of Anakin's journey to becoming Darth Vader, and it would begin with him as a boy, they were not encouraged.</p><p>The gaming website <a href="https://www.polygon.com/star-wars/2020/11/10/21558304/darth-maul-sequel-trilogy-george-lucas-princess-leia-star-wars-archives-prequel-book">Polygon</a> reports that in "The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005," Lucas said executives warned him, "You're going to destroy the franchise; you're going to destroy everything." </p><p>In the new book, which is a deep dive into Lucas' prequel trilogy, the director's response to that feedback was reportedly that he'd rather make a "movie that nobody wants to see" then tell the same story again.</p><p>Lucas cast the child actor Jack Lloyd in the Anakin role in "Phantom Menace." And though the Fox execs were partially right about the young-Anakin storyline turning off fans (for some, it did), what they didn't anticipate was the universal hate toward the CGI character Jar Jar Binks.</p><p>Despite all of that, "Phantom Menace" would go on to earn <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120915/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">over $1 billion at the worldwide box office</a>.</p><p><em>"The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005" will be available in the US on December 13 and has already been released in the UK.</em></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wonder-woman-1984-hbo-max-theater-release-same-day-2020-11">'Wonder Woman 1984' will be released in theaters and HBO Max simultaneously on December 25</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/matthew-mcconaughey-kissing-kate-hudson-snot-wind-2020-11">Matthew McConaughey responds after Kate Hudson revealed that kissing the actor on-screen in 'Fool's Gold' involved 'snot or wind'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/star-wars-hotel-disney-world-photos-2019-8">A 'Star Wars' hotel that will make you feel like you're on a giant ship is coming to Disney World in 2021. Here's everything we know.</a></li></ul>

George Lucas says he was warned that doing a young-Anakin Skywalker 'Star Wars' movie would 'destroy everything'

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="199935" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Rita-Wilson">Rita Wilson</keyword> told Insider the 1996 holiday comedy "Jingle All the Way" haunts her because her character, Liz, is "just a little too stupid" to realize Turbo Man, played by <keyword id="22324" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Arnold-Schwarzenegger">Arnold Schwarzenegger</keyword>, is her husband. </li><li>"Let's see: He has an accent, he looks exactly like him, he's wearing a half mask," she said, "but my character does not know." </li><li>While the high-grossing movie streams every Christmas, another holiday film Wilson starred in and liked, "Mixed Nuts," bombed.</li><li>"I recommend 'Mixed Nuts,'" Wilson added.  </li></ul><p>Don't ask Rita Wilson about her fondest memories of filming the 1996 holiday comedy "Jingle All the Way." Insider made that mistake, and Wilson hung her head and sighed. </p><p>"This is the movie that haunts me," she admitted of the 1996 film. </p><p>In the movie, Wilson plays Liz Langston, a Minneapolis mom whose workaholic husband, Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) promises to make things up to their son Jamie (Jake Lloyd) by getting him the season's hottest toy, Turbo Man. </p><p>But Howard doesn't begin his search until Christmas Eve, when the toy is sold out, and he winds up in a desperate chase against another dad, Myron (Sinbad) to find, win, or even steal any remaining Turbo Man dolls before Christmas Day.</p><p>Eventually, Howard finds himself in a Turbo Man costume, and uses the character's powers to rescue his son from a fall. Neither Liz nor Jamie know that Turbo Man is indeed Howard. </p><p>At the end, Howard reveals himself and apologizes to them, and Jamie declares his dad is the real hero and he doesn't need a Turbo Man toy after all.</p><p>"I know a lot of people love this movie," Wilson told Insider, largely because of her "incredible" costars. But Wilson said she just didn't believe her character's ignorance. </p><p>"Why did my character not know that her husband Howard, who talks like [Arnold Schwarzenegger] and is played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, was Turbo Man. How did she not know that?" Wilson asked, incredulously. <br /><br />"Let's see: He has an accent. he looks exactly like him. He's wearing a half mask," she continued, "but my character does not know. And it made me just feel like, that's just a little too stupid." </p><div type="image" title="Jingle All The Way" height="1132" width="1686" msid="79684484" hostid="261"></div><p>Meanwhile, Wilson said, the 1994 Christmas film "Mixed Nuts" is an overlooked gem.</p><p>The film directed by Nora Ephron - which also has an "incredible cast," Wilson said, including Steve Martin, Liev Schreiber, and Juliette Lewis  - centers around a group of suicide-prevention hotline employees who learn they may be evicted on Christmas Eve. </p><p>"It does have a cult following now and people really like it," Wilson said, "so I recommend 'Mixed Nuts.'" </p><p>But the movie bombed when it released, grossing less than $7 million by the end of its run and even landing on some "worst movies of the year" lists.</p><p>"Jingle All the Way," by comparison, made $12.1 million in its first weekend alone and went on to gross $129 million worldwide.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-starred-holiday-movies-2020-12"> 16 celebrities you forgot starred in holiday movies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-nightmare-before-christmas-clever-details-you-probably-missed">20 details you probably missed in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/best-movies-of-2020">The 21 best movies of 2020 that you have to see, so far</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/christmas-holiday-movies-shows-coming-to-netflix">The 7 best holiday movies and shows on Netflix right now</a></li></ul>

Rita Wilson says 'Jingle All the Way' haunts her because her character was 'just a little too stupid'

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>When "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" opened in theaters May 19, 1999 the anticipation for the continuation of the saga was palpable. Fans would finally get the first three installments leading up to "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." All those hours of discussing what led Obi-Wan Kenobi to live in seclusion on Tatooine or why Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side to become Darth Vader would finally be revealed.</p><p>Though the film earned over <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars.htm">$1 billion dollars worldwide</a> in its theatrical run, many critics and loyal fans weren't that impressed by George Lucas' return to his galaxy far, far away. From the strange sexual connection between 9-year-old Anakin (Jake Lloyd) and 14-year-old Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) to Jar Jar Binks, there was a lot to pick on Lucas about.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>But one exception - and watching it 16 years later still gives me goosebumps - is the fight at the end of the movie between Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) versus the Sith Lord Darth Maul (Ray Park) during the Battle of Naboo.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Doing a deep-dive of the scene, it's shocking to see what George Lucas and his team needed to use to pull off one of the pinnacle shots in the duel. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">But first, let's get ourselves familiar again with the scene.&#xa0;</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Accompanied by a new piece of music from John Williams, who has been responsible for all of the iconic scores in the "Star Wars" saga, the scene shows that Lucas was prepared to elevate the lightsaber battles from episodes IV-VI. Faster, more complex moves and the inclusion of a new-style lightsaber sported by Maul, which had double blades, the scene gives the movie the jolt it needed following a drawn out podrace on Tatooine earlier and heavy dialogue-driven diplomatic scenes.</span></p><p>Lucas pushed his stunt team to create a fighting style different from the previous films as this is the era of Jedi in their prime. And in casting Maul he turned to Park, who was already doing stunts on the film. When Lucas saw a tape of him doing moves with the double-bladed lightsaber he gave him the role.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="LucasFilm" title_caption="Here's a sample of McGregor and Park's training from Jon Shenk's behind-the-scenes documentary, " the="" beginning:="" making="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5509e1aa6bb3f767359c145a-960/ewan%20park%20duel%202.gif"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">During the fighting, Kenobi is kicked by Maul and falls down a lower level of the room and finds himself hanging from one of the catwalks in the generator room.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">With Jinn fighting Maul one-on-one, Maul leads him towards a narrow hall with laser fields.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Kenobi finds the strength to force-jump back on the catwalk. He jumps once more to the level Jinn and Maul are on and races back to the action. But is held up when the laser fields turns on. Jinn and Maul are also separated by the fields, leading to a pause in the action.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When we return after checking in on Anakin, Jar Jar and Padmé's progress, we find Jinn, Kenobi and Maul preparing for the fields to open.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Using The Force they are prepared before the fields are opened with Jinn and Maul instantly going back at it. Kenobi is still racing to assist his Master.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The fields close just before Kenobi can enter the fray and he is forced to watch as Maul kills Jinn.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Once you get over the shock of seeing a lightsaber go through someone, you can't help but find the reaction of Kenobi&#xa0;e<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">erily similar to Luke Skywalker watching Kenobi's death by the hand of Darth Vader in "A New Hope."</span><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In the commentary track of "The Phantom Menace" Blu-ray, Lucas explained the challenges of this portion of the scene.</span><p>"One of the most difficult parts of this sequence was figuring out a way to separate Obi-Wan from Qui-Gon," he said. "I had to have a situation where Qui-Gon could get trapped and Obi-Wan would have to look and watch him get killed and not be able to do anything about it."<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p><p>Kenobi finally gets his chance to avenge Jinn's death as the final laser field opens.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Lucas remarked on McGregor and Park's intensity in this duel.</span><p>"This was a fun sword fight between Ewan and Ray because they were really into it and they were very much out to prove who was the better swordsman," he said in the commentary. "They were very much challenging each other, which made for a challenging shoot but very exciting. They finished this and their swords were almost bent in half they were hitting each other so hard."<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p><p>But things don't go well when Maul force-pushes Kenobi into a pit, leaving him hanging for his life as Maul kicks his lightsaber into the dark void.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Lucas notes that this moment is a theme in the saga.</span><p>"[Obi-Wan] falls over the ridge earlier [in the battle], falls over here. Copying kind of what happens in 'Empire Strikes Back' with Luke in the same kind of sword fight with a Sith and falling over the edge."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">But in a move that surprises Maul, Kenobi force-jumps out of the pit while using The Force to get Jinn's lightsaber, flips over Maul, and slices him in half.</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p class="source"><span>YouTube/LucasFilm</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Lucas says the four battles were switched around in the way they ended numerous times in post production. But he finally settled on the Kenobi/Maul battle to conclude them all.</span><p>"When you have four endings basically you have to figure out which is the most important and save it for last and the most shocking," he said. "Which is Darth Maul being cut in half, and you make it the last one."<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In looking back on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354408/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">"The Beginning" documentary</a> we also get a glimpse into the making of the Jinn/Kenobi/Maul duel.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's Park getting his Darth Maul makeup applied.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Though the generator room looks like a giant section of </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Padmé's palace, it actually was a portion of a soundstage the first three films were all shot on in London. Most of the vast space created in post production.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"The Beginning" shows the section of filming where Kenobi pulls himself from the catwalk to get back into the fight. Here </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">McGregor is shown a model of the generator room and where the catwalk he's hanging from is located.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A challenge making that sequence was finding a way for McGregor to leap back onto the catwalk in a "graceful, Jedi-like move."&#xa0;</span></p><p>First they tried a trampoline.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>That didn't work.<p>A<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">fter the shot, Lucas came over to say that from his monitor "you can see that he's bouncing on something."</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This leads to a practical solution, but one that's surprising to see on the set of a "Star Wars" film. The stunt team decided to lift McGregor up while he's standing on a wooden plank.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">That turned out to be successful.&#xa0;</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Again, here's how the final sequence looks:</span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p class="source"><span>YouTube/LucasFilm</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Pretty incredible that even on a $115 million budgeted movie sometimes what works best is some basic DIY ingenuity.&#xa0;</span></span></p><p>Though it's hard to justify many things in "The Phantom Menace," the Jinn/Kenobi/Maul duel shows the strength of the "Star Wars" saga. Unique battles with a thrilling score is the hallmark of "Star Wars" and this one especially stands out as it highlights the beauty of the lightsaber duels and its ferocity.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It brings us some hope that all those years of waiting for the prequel wasn't all in vain.</span></p><p>Watch a portion of the fight below.</p><div><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"></span></span><div><br><a href="http://www.starwars.com/video/obi-wan-fights-darth-maul">Obi-Wan Fights Darth Maul on Disney Video</a></br></div></div></br></br>

How a simple wooden plank helped create the greatest fight in 'Star Wars: Episode I'

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George Lucas says he was warned that doing a young-Anakin Skywalker 'Star Wars' movie would 'destroy everything'

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Rita Wilson says 'Jingle All the Way' haunts her because her character was 'just a little too stupid'

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How a simple wooden plank helped create the greatest fight in 'Star Wars: Episode I'

Jason Guerrasio

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