Here's the Scoop...

Okay, with all of the production troubles that has been going on with the Han Solo movie, Disney and Lucasfilm have an announcement...an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie is in the works! Yep.

Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry is in early talks to helm the film, Variety reported.

Disney and Lucasfilm are said to be at the earliest stages of development on the project with no script, noted The Hollywood Reporter. If Daldry takes the job, he would begin to oversee the script along with Lucasfilm brass.

The Obi-Wan Kenobi film could potentially be the next standalone Star Wars film that Disney plans on releasing in-between main numbered entries in the series. The studio has already released Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and is currently shooting an untitled Han Solo film.

A Jedi master, Obi-Wan Kenobi was first portrayed by Alec Guinness in Episodes 4-6 and then by Ewan McGregor in the prequel films consisting of Episodes 1-3. The character was the mentor of Anakin Skywalker who goes on to become Darth Vader. Kenobi then lived in isolation to take care of Luke Skywalker whom he trains before meeting his end at the hands of Vader.

In March 2016, McGregor expressed interest in reprising the role in a potential spinoff film. "I'd very much like to do one," he said before outlining when the film could take place.

"I think the story between Episode III and Episode IV, I think there's a story there," he continued. "I think that's the Obi-Wan Kenobi movie, if there is one. The one that bridges my Obi-Wan Kenobi and Alec's Obi-Wan Kenobi because there's a -- I don't know how long he's in the desert there, but it's got to be twenty or thirty years."

Hey, I love Star Wars! But the prequels and Rogue One stunk! Almost unwatchable. The Force Awakens was good, and we'll see how The Last Jedi and Han Solo pan out.

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve



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Ben Affleck may not return as Batman according to brother Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck believes his brother Ben Affleck will not be returning to portray Batman in Warner Bros. upcoming standalone film, The Batman.

Affleck made the comments Tuesday during an interview with WEEI's Dale & Holley With Keefe radio show.

"I thought he was an okay Batman," Casey joked when asked about his brother's role as The Dark Knight. "No, he was great. He was great. He's a hero, so he had something to channel and work with there."

"But he's not going to do that movie [The Batman] I don' think. Sorry to say," Casey continued before backtracking his statement. "Is that breaking news? Because I was just kind of making that up, I don't know," the Oscar winner said.

Casey's comments come after Ben denied rumors at the San Diego Comic Con in July that he was going to be departing the role of Batman following the release of Justice League.

"Let me be clear. I'm the luckiest guy. Batman is the coolest [expletive] part in any universe, DC, Marvel," Ben said while speaking onstage during a Justice League Hall H panel. "I am so thrilled to do it. I know there's this misconception that because I'm not directing it, that maybe I wasn't enthusiastic about it. It's [expletive] amazing! I still can't believe it after two films."

Ben was originally tapped to also direct The Batman before he stepped down from the position citing a need to focus on starring as the superhero. "There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require," he said in a statement at the time.

Filmmaker Matt Reeves is now helming the solo Batman project which still has no release date.


Bonnie Tyler to sing 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' aboard cruise ship during eclipse
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has been booked to perform her 1983 song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during Monday's solar eclipse.

"It's going to be so exciting," Tyler told TIME magazine. "It doesn't happen very often, does it?"

"Bonnie Tyler was a natural choice for this once-in-a-lifetime moment," added Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean International.

The pop-rock group DNCE will back Tyler up during the performance on the Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean promised in a June press release that its "Total Eclipse Cruise" would feature "a bucket-list-worthy viewing party with a live concert performed by a major headliner -- to be revealed at a later date -- to celebrate the celestial phenomenon that is poised to become the most photographed, most shared and most tweeted event in human history."

"We're set to take vacationers on an unprecedented experience that is nearly a century in the making," said Bayley at the time. "A total solar eclipse hasn't crossed the entire U.S. since 1918, and with many of our ships sailing to the Caribbean along the projected path, the stars aligned. Oasis of the Seas will have the vantage point of the century and an unforgettable celebration out at sea that adventurers won't want to miss."


LOOSE LIPS:
"Having your second kid is like you just learned how to play a song on the guitar and then someone is like, 'OK, play left-handed! And hold this baby.'"
--Chris O'Dowd, on fatherhood, on Live with Kelly and Ryan



??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar winner has joined the cast of Tim Burton's live-action 'Dumbo'?


Ric Flair: Rep is 'cautiously optimistic' about wrestling icon following surgery
Ric Flair's representative Melinda Morris Zanoni has offered another update on the wrestling icon as he continues to be hospitalized.

"He had surgery and it went successful and he is resting. We are all cautiously optimistic," Zanoni told Fox News recently.

"This man survived a plane crash and two lightning strikes," she continued about how Flair has always pulled through during close-calls.

The 68-year-old was hospitalized Sunday. Zanoni orginally raised concerns about Flair's health when she asked on Twitter for "prayers & positive energy" from fans as he dealt with "tough medical issues."

The WWE acknowledged that Flair had undergone surgery on Monday Night Raw but was unable to comment on what exactly necessitated his hospital stay. On Tuesday, Flair's daughter and WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair gave an update on Instagram, noting that her father is a "fighter."

On Wednesday, Flair's fiancee Wendy Barlow noted in a personal Facebook post shared by TMZ that the WWE Hall of Famer was in critical condition.

"I took Ric to the hospital Friday night with severe abdominal pain. From that moment on it all seems like a nightmare ... multiple organ problems," Barlow wrote. "Not to go into too many details I want everyone to know he still needs prayers as he is still in critical condition."


Taylor Swift donates to Mariska Hargitay's charity after win in court
Taylor Swift celebrated her win in court this week by donating to Mariska Hargitay's charity.

The 27-year-old singer gave a "generous" sum to Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation for sexual assault survivors after emerging victorious in her groping case.

"Joyful Heart is honored to be recognized by Taylor Swift for our work on behalf of and in service to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse," a representative for the organization told E! News.

Swift announced her intent to support "multiple organizations" in a statement Monday after a federal jury ordered former DJ David Mueller to pay Swift a symbolic $1 settlement. Mueller was accused of groping Swift during a photo-op in 2013.

"I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this," Swift said after thanking the judge, jury and her lawyers.

"My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves," she added.

Swift and Hargitay are longtime friends who collaborated on the singer's "Bad Blood" music video. Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson on the NBC series Law & Order: SVU, established the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004.


??? Guess Who ???
Which Oscar winner has joined the cast of Tim Burton's live-action 'Dumbo'?

Alan Arkin has joined the cast of director Tim Burton's upcoming live-action remake of Disney's Dumbo.

Arkin will appear in the film as Wall Street tycoon J. Griffin Remington, Variety reported.

The actor joins a cast that includes Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito.

Dumbo, written by Ehren Kruger, will follow Farrell as a former circus star who returns to work with a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him the laughing stock of the show, noted The Hollywood Reporter.

Arkin was last seen alongside Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine in comedy Going in Style and will also be seen in the Chuck Lorre series The Kominsky Method.

Dumbo is set to arrive in theaters on March 29, 2019.