The Death Star Human Resources Department: August 4, 2023
The mess that is the Hollywood strikes, our Inquisitor has a name, the book club returns, and all the usual nonsense
Hello there
Welcome back to the August 4th edition of the Death Star Human Resources Department newsletter. We’ve got a lot to talk about this week. The real world has seeped into the galaxy far far away, which means we’re talking about the Hollywood strikes currently happening. We also learned a little more about a new Ahsoka character and review an old book.
As always, if you like what’s happening here at Death Star HR, please subscribe and tell a friend. Now let’s get to it.
Fu…Fight the Empire: The Hollywood Strike and Star Wars
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or have made an conscious decision to ignore the news, a decision nobody would blame you for, you’ve probably seen there are multiple strikes going on in Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since May of this year. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has joined them, officially declaring a strike at Midnight on July 14th. The last WGA strike was in 2007-08 and lasted 100 days. The SAG last went on strike in 2000 and that one lasted nearly six months. This is the first time since 1960 that both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have been on strike at the same time.
I am not a labor lawyer so I am not going to get into the nuts and bolts of demands and strikes and contracts and whatever. Partly because like I just stated, I am not a labor lawyer. This is not my area of expertise. Partly because that’s not what the Death Star Human Resources Department is about. Honestly, I learned a lot just reading the Wikipedia entry about the strike. I also learned the Fran Drescher, best known for her rolls of publicist Bobbi Flekman in This Is Spinal Tap and Channel 62 secretary/reporter Pamela Finklestein in UHF, is the SAG-AFTRA President. The long story short is, the strike has to do with streaming residuals and AI, among other things.
Instead, we’re going to focus on one thing, does the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike affect our shows and movies about Space Wizards with Laser Swords?
The answer is yes, there will be Star Wars productions affected, to various degrees. One rule of the strike is that SAG-AFTRA members cannot go out and do promotions. The stars of Oppenhiemer walked out of the London premiere before even seeing the movie. I’m a big fan of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and their very good podcast has gone on hiatus due to those rules.
When you, my loyal subscribers read this, we’ll be less than 3 weeks out from the August 23rd premiere of Ahsoka. As I talked about last week, the last three live-action shows have been a mixed bag at best, The Mouse is going to want to make fetch happen and having Ahsoka get a Mando season 1 type of reception. Normally we’d likely be gearing for a Rosario Dawson media blitz. She’d be trying to post about the show on the flaming wreckage of Twitter or maybe doing Katee Sackhoff’s podcast where they could share stories about Dave Filoni’s cowboy hat or something like that? So what’s Ms. Dawson doing instead? This:
She’s not having a nice chat with Bo-Katan. She’s out on the picket line, telling Deadline:
“If it wasn’t for the people that fought for me to have residuals, I’d have been living on ramen for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful for what we have but a lot of the industry has changed and those contracts need to be updated as well.”
Doesn’t sound like she’s going to be doing the late night circuit, telling Jimmy Fallon the story about the first time she got to see Grogu, any time soon.
And if she’s not out there promoting Ahsoka, neither is WGA member Dave Filoni. You know, the guy who created Ahsoka Tano. What will this mean for viewership? Who can say. One point of contention with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA is that streamers are opaque with their numbers. But at a time where Disney could really use a hit1, having the faces of your new show on the picket lines instead of out talking about the show doesn’t bode well. All that to say, strictly from the standpoint of a viewer, there does not seem to be anything that will stop Ahsoka from dropping on August 23rd.
Around the rest of the Star Wars galaxy, the only other show that was supposed to be released this year is Skeleton Crew, which currently does not have a release date that I can find, other than 2023. There’s still not much known about the show, other than it stars Jude Law and has been described as a “The Goonies” style adventure with kids. And it takes place in the Mandoverse era. Filming has wrapped but it seems safe to assume the show is in post-production. The Acolyte, which is due out next year, wrapped up filming a couple months ago so while they are also in post-production, it seems likely they aren’t as far along as Skeleton Crew so there are things that can be done that don’t involve actors. But any sort of voice acting for CGI characters or redoing lines is a no-go now.
Looking ahead to next year and beyond, it was reported back in May when the WGA strike started that Tony Gilroy has stopped all work on season 2 of Andor. Andor itself is filming in the United Kingdom and most of the actors on the set are not SAG-AFTRA but instead part of a U.K. union, Equity, that is not permitted to strike in solidarity per U.K. law. As far as I can tell, they are still filming although Diego Luna, a SAG-AFTRA member probably isn’t there. Per the WaPo, production on season 4 of The Mandalorian and two upcoming Star Wars movies have been pushed back to at least 2026. At the end of June, Michelle Ang, who voices Omega on The Bad Batch shared an Instagram story that would seem to suggest she was done recording her lines. But no idea if the rest of the cast was done or if there would be any re-recording needed, which again wouldn’t be permitted under the strike.
That’s a lot of text and it’s a lot less funny than the usual dry humor/snark that I go for here at the Death Star Human Resources Department. At this point, it’s too early to say just how much any future Star Wars productions will be affected. After all, if someone as wise as Master Yoda said “Difficult to see; always in motion is the future,” then what hope do I have to figure when and how the strike will end?
All Your Fan Theories Are Wrong
Long time Death Star HR readers will remember the first topic of the first newsletter: the identity of the new Inquisitor that was shown in the Ahsoka trailer. I suggested, well not suggested, but reviewed a video suggesting it was Ezra Bridger and offered some thoughts of my own. Then in the second newsletter I contradicted myself and said I thought it could be Legends fan favorite and yet to be seen in Canon Mara Jade. Given the choice between the two, I’d prefer it to be Mara Jade and have Ezra introduced some other way. But no one asks me. Hey Dave Filoni, my DMs are open. I’ve got thoughts.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter because the identity of the Inquisitor has been revealed.
Just a reminder for any new readers, we do post spoilers here at the Death Star Human Resources Department. So if you don’t want to know, skip to the next section.
Introducing, Marrok. Yes, Marrok. All we know so far is what has been posted on StarWars.com:
Once an Inquisitor hunting Jedi for the Empire, the mysterious Marrok now works as a mercenary hired by Morgan Elsbeth to carry out dark deeds. Fully encased in battered battle armor, the warrior still carries a red double-bladed saber with a circular hilt.
This would seemingly rule out Ezra, at least at first glance. The Inquisitors were already a thing during Rebels. And they were gone by 0 BBY at the latest. It seems unlikely that Ezra would join the Inquisitors in the one year between when Ezra and Thrawn hyperspace jumped to the Unknown Regions, and when the Inquisitors were disbanded. Especially since Ezra fought The Grand Inquisitor, along with the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister. Stranger things have happened and releasing the name could be a red (double-bladed) herring.
It’s also possible that Marrok is Ezra and he’s undercover. Having the character appear human while wearing a mask just sets up a dramatic reveal. Having Ezra undercover would track. Marrok works for Morgan Elsbeth. Elsbeth was first introduced in The Mandalorian season 2 as an Imperial Magistrate. Ahsoka is trying to use Elsbeth to get to Grand Admiral Thrawn. We’ve also seen Elsbeth in the Ahsoka trailers. Ezra could be working undercover as Marrok, either to keep tabs on Thrawn or to try to find Thrawn himself. The more I think about it, the more likely I think this is the case.
I still hope that Marrok is actually Mara Jade. But I’m prepared to be disappointed.
Death Star Human Resources Department Book Club
You don’t actually see the Clone Wars in the movies. That’s something I think I subconsciously knew, but never really thought about until recently. Attack of the Clones ends with the unveiling of the Grand Army of the Republic and Yoda saying “Begun the Clone War has.” Fast forward to Revenge of the Sith, and the movie starts with Anakin and Obi-Wan killing General Grievous and what is essentially the end of the Clone Wars and the Republic. But don’t worry, if you want to know what actually took place during the Clone Wars, there’s plenty of other sources out there. Obviously, you have a cartoon, aptly called The Clone Wars. There are plenty of books that take place during the Clone Wars as well, like all Star Wars books the quality varies. It is nice that you really don’t have to read them in order. They all more or less follow the same plot: Anakin and Obi-Wan are off to stop the Separatists on some random planet. They come close to catching General Grievous and/or Count Dooku but don’t quite manage. The Jedi Council try to figure out of Darth Sidious is real and who he is, but they can’t quite figure it out. There can’t be any real resolution because the real resolution is saved for the movies.
All that to say, this week’s entry in the Death Star Human Resources Book Club is a Clone Wars era read.
Title: Labyrinth of Evil
Author: James Luceno
Date published: January 25, 2005
Pages: 362
Status: Legends
Summary in less than 20 words: What you wish you knew you before seeing Revenge of the Sith. And Obi-Wan gets high.
Released a few months before Revenge of the Sith hit the theaters, the book forms what is basically an unofficial trilogy with the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, also by James Luceno.
Getting back to Labyrinth of Evil, we have all the usual hits. Anakin and Obi-Wan are on a mission in the Outer Rim when they capture Nute Gunray’s mechno-chair and a recording of Gunray talking to Darth Sidious. Everyone, from the Jedi Council to Chancellor Palpatine, agree that this Darth Sidious character needs to be tracked down. Palpatine decides he needs to wrap up his whole “take over the galaxy” plan and get things moving. While Mace Windu and Republic Intelligence are tracking down Sidious, General Grievous invades Coruscant and “kidnaps” Palpatine. The book ends with Anakin and Obi-Wan entering hyperspace to go to Coruscant. Which is where Revenge of the Sith then picks back up.2
What works:
As I was reading this, I found myself thinking I wish they would have tacked on another hour or so to Revenge of the Sith and added some of the elements into the movie3. At the very least add Mace Windu’s investigation and almost finding Sidious and Grievous attacking Coruscant.
The Republic Intelligence officer “discovering” Palpatine’s true identity at the end was a nice touch. Although the book doesn’t actually say Palpatine and Sidious are the same, it’s strongly implied. And we all know Palpy and Sidious are the same. It would be very weird if you read the book and didn’t know that, like you decided you finally wanted to give this “Star Wars” thing a try and Labyrinth of Evil was the first piece of Star Wars content you consumed. That wouldn’t make any sense.
What doesn’t work:
The first third to half of the book follow the standard Clones Wars outline I mentioned above. At least there’s more of a payoff.
Unless you read this in hardback before seeing Revenge of the Sith, there’s really no suspense. You know how everything ends.
Wild card:
Obi-Wan gets drunk, or maybe high. It’s not clear. Either way, it’s great. I’d like to see more drunk Jedi.
Overall, Labyrinth of Evil is one of the better Clone Wars era novels, because it builds toward something. I suppose if you want to get pedantic about it, all the Clone Wars eras novels are building towards Revenge of the Sith. This one feels like it’s a little more “essential” because it gives the extra background on the immediate events before Revenge of the Sith.
Final rating: 3.5/5.
From the Depths of Wookieepedia
We’re going to the comics today and meeting Kakan. You know Kakan, right? The Jedi-obsessed, Mustifarian lad? No? OK, guess we’re talking about him then.
Kakan was into Jedi. The whole deal. Watched the vids on the HoloNet, collected the trading cards. His prized possession was a Plo Koon rookie card. At the end of the Clone Wars, he heard there was a Jedi on Mustafar. Gathering up his cards4, he went to seek out said Jedi. Hoping for an autograph and maybe get his picture taken with a real live Jedi. Unfortunately for Kakan, while there was a Jedi on Mustafar, it was Darth Vader. On Mustafar under orders from Darth Sidious to take care of the Separatist Council. When Kakan saw Vader’s yellow eyes5, he realized that he was in some serious trouble and attempted to flee. But like almost every other youngling that encountered the Dark Lord, Kakan didn’t make it.
News From the HoloNet
Sir, this is a Wendy’s
Billy Dee Williams has written a memoir
Upcoming entry to the Death Star HR book club.
Han Solo has an invisibility cloak
Whoa boy…this one is something.
Disney+ may crack down on password sharing
Come on, it’s OK if Chewie’s family back on Kashyyyk uses Han’s account. What, will Bob Iger not be able buy another ivory back-scratcher a la Mr. Burns?
That’s it for this week. If you like what I’m doing, please subscribe. I’ll catch you next week, and may the Force be with you.
Was it a coincidence that the news Justin Simien was off the Lando show the same weekend his Haunted Mansion movie opened to both poor reviews and poor box office numbers?
I know it’s a shorter book review/explanation than the last one I did. Still trying to find the right number of words for the book club reviews.
Release the 4 hour cut, you cowards!
I made up the part about the trading cards, but I’m hoping it was close the real story.
This took place before Anakin’s duel with Obi-Wan, if you’re wondering how Kakan could see Vader’s eyes.
> I also learned the Fran Drescher, best known for her rolls of publicist Bobbi Flekman in This Is Spinal Tap and Channel 62 secretary/reporter Pamela Finklestein in UHF, is the SAG-AFTRA President.
Ahh yes, that’s where I remember from. UHF is great! Badgers? Badgers?! WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ BADGERS!!