Elder Dragon
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rule0podcast.bsky.social
Elder Dragon
@rule0podcast.bsky.social
Used to co-host the awesome but short-lived podcast/YouTube show, Rule 0. RPGs, strategy games, hiking and camping. Sci-Fi foretold all of this! He/Him.

📧: [email protected]
Lillard seems like a joy to be around, so he's already lapping Tarantino, who has the dubious honor of unintentionally helping Fiona 🍎 quit cocaine just by being an "excruciating" hang.
Fiona Apple Quit Cocaine After An 'Excruciating' Night With Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson
The singer said every addict should be locked in a private movie theater with these two filmmakers.
www.esquire.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I think of this article all the time.

In Magic, every time they release a card that's like, "makes four tokens" instead of the standard three, or "now you get three times the mana" instead of double, I read it in this guy's voice.
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
So how does that nullify what Kurtz said later about Lucas' obsession with toy money?

And why is it insane to think that a multi-millionaire likes more money and makes decisions based on what makes more money?

I get that people like Jedi, but in what world is it not a toy commercial?
November 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Unlike most people on the internet, apparently I'm honest when I make a mistake. Horrible trait. If anyone can prove that Lucas didn't steer Jedi based on his love of toy $ vs love of cinema, I'll be happy to say, "you win!"
a man with glasses and a beard is saying " jar jar is the key to all of this "
ALT: a man with glasses and a beard is saying " jar jar is the key to all of this "
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
What facts? The people arguing with me have literally presented 0 sources or facts other than "I say so."
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
So you're arguing that they were not close or involved on every film George made together? Like, you act like you've won a fight but you haven't disproved that they were worked closely together and split dramatically. Or that what Kurtz said about Lucas is incorrect.
November 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
They were in film school together, worked on every movie together up to the split. They were tight. The cast and crew said as much. No idea why that's hard to imagine.

It seems harder to imagine a world where these people who are together in pictures, in credits and yearbooks, have no connection.
November 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Got any sources?

Just to be clear, you're going to argue that Jedi, and Lucas at the time, was NOT swayed by toy sales to make changes to Jedi's story. That Ewoks weren't made to sell toys.

Because that's the only thing I've insinuated.

Throw your Lotus into the ring!
November 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
It's also discussed in "People v George Lucas" from 2010, a Red Letter Media interview with Director Philippe in 2011, and the Netflix doc who talks with former Kenner toy company execs in 2017.
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
They came up with the film together when working on American Graffiti, trying to secure Flash Gordon. Kurtz named the second film. He talks about the outlines for Jedi that he was arguing with Lucas about, and how Lucas was changing it b/c of his concern over toys.

It's all in the article.
November 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM
A split that was described on set as "mom and dad breaking up" - Gary Kurtz who helped him create Star Wars and Empire.

www.latimes.com/archives/blo...
Did 'Star Wars' become a toy story? Producer Gary Kurtz looks back
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links.
www.latimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I like Jedi, but it's a movie that's trying to sell a metric ton of toys. Not a movie that's concerned with breaking new ground (second Death Star was a fight behind the scenes). It's still a ton of fun. It wraps things up happily (another disagreement Kurtz had with him).
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I misremembered from s1e1 of "The Toys That Made Us" doc on Netflix.

The point is that Star Wars was in the toy business, and wookies tested so poorly post special, that he came up with Ewoks instead. Lucas was making decisions based on toy sales, particularly in Jedi. It's why his partner left.
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
They did, but they canceled the whole line after seeing how terribly the special performed. It turned out people didn't love a special that opened with 10 minutes of a conversation wookie conversation and no subtitles, or a perverted grandpa Wookie who used VR to masturbate.
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
All that said, I still like an ewok. They're very fun and adorably outmatched. I also love the Transformers and He-Man. Doesn't mean a good movie can't be made out of toys, but it's important to recognize that Jedi had way more focus on toy sales than the previous films. That's why Kurtz left.
November 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I love TNG. That's the only series I can say I've seen everything in.

As far as the Kurtz interview, he says that Lucas changed the Jedi script based on toy sales. How much? 🤷‍♂️

There's a Netflix doc about SW toys, though. Wookies sold poorly. Ewoks were cute, short toys that tested well.
November 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Hey, I'm with it. Turns out Wookoe toys didn't sell well. This might sound like I'm being cynical, but there's a doc about Star wars toys on Netflix, and it highlights how the toys from the Wookie-heavy Christmas Special flopped. With Jedi, Lucas literally wanted cute, little wookies that would sell
November 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Ah, that's cool. I thought about going back to watch it post Andor but haven't yet.

I think it played off the idea that everyone knows the end. It had to operate like a WWII film. History buffs know how the stories go but that doesn't mean they don't enjoy movies about the time. Gilroy nailed it.
November 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I like Jedi. It's fun. But the history of its production is worth looking up. This article from 2010 highlights how it's much less of a movie and more of a toy commercial. That isn't controversial or conspiracy. It's from Lucas' partner.

www.latimes.com/archives/blo...
Did 'Star Wars' become a toy story? Producer Gary Kurtz looks back
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links.
www.latimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Where do you rank the Star Wars Christmas Special?
November 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM