Star Wars Rebels Press Conference was held in Beverly Hills to promote the new the new Disney Series Premiere which starts this Monday, October 13, 2014 on Disney XD. (check local channel for time) . The series is set between the events that happened in Star Wars Episodes III and IV.
The press conference began with a visit from R2-D2 and C3-PO who entertained us while waiting for the event to begin. In attendance at the conference were Freddie Prinze Jr. (“Kanan”), Tiya Sircar (“Sabine”), Vanessa Marshall (“Hera”), Taylor Gray (“Ezra”), Steve Blum (“Zeb”), Dave Filoni (Executive Producer)
Q: For the cast – Was there any pressure to play these roles and were you intimated by the roles?
A: Freddie Prinze Jr. shared that for himself there was pressure. because for him, “this was in your DNA” Growing up as a Star Wars fan, “you want to make it special and want people to remember you”.
Tiya Sircar did not feel the same kind of pressure as Freddie did because “I didn’t grow up as a girl playing Jedi but I also knew what I was getting into”
Q: Mr. Filoni was asked if he was a Star Wars fan?
A: Dave Filoni responded how he did not consider himself a “fan” it was just something that started when he was born and he and his brother grew up with it as a part of their lives. Although the movie is made for kids, the best compliment I get now about the Star Wars, is that “it’s something people watch with their whole family.
Q: How far in advance are you provided with the storyline?
A: Dave Filoni talked about how they are constantly changing things and re-writing scenes and situations, sometimes sending the script in with just general ideas. Giving the cast the script most times the night before. “it’s a very creative, evolutionary experience” making Star Wars. Cast and crew need to adapt and they do.
Q: For Freddie Prinze Jr. – Do you feel your acting is affected by just doing the voice?
A: Freddie Prinze Jr. joked about how he was old enough to remember when cable was invented and his first movie was Star Wars and said that in voice acting – at first he “felt handcuffed” and did not feel he was good at it. But he started to get more comfortable and when you see other going for it, it helps.
Q: What is your favorite trait about each of your characters, and for Freddie, who would win in a battle between Kanan Jarrus and Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
A: Freddie Prinze Jr.: “Buffy probably has more experience than Kanan does in her career, BUT, she doesn’t have the Force” “The Force pretty much trumps all. Superman doesn’t mess with Jedi.” Tiya Sircar shared a comment Prinze Jr. made “You once said something I really liked, he said “Buffy might be international but Star Wars is intergalactic!”
Vanessa Marshall: plays Hera Syndulla, “she’s the lead pilot and I would say her courage”.
Taylor Gray: is Ezra, “I like his self confidence. I think it’s a lot of fun”.
Freddie Prinze Jr: Kanan’s best quality is he’s hyper loyal. I see him as that one dog that follows you home and that appreciates the thing you did so he’s going to stick with you forever and if anyone comes in he’s gonna bite ya. Hera is his master. He’s on a leash.
Tiya Sircar:”I play Sabine Wren, gosh I don’t think I have that one word but I think she’s really savvy and smart in a way that I feel honored to play a young female character that is so whips mart and she gets down to business. I really like that about her. She’s not concerned about the superficial.”.
Steve Blum: “I see Zeb as kind of a work in progress. He’s a big dude, he’s a warrior but he’s got a lot of growth potential.”
Q: For Freddie Prinze Jr or anyone else in the cast with young kids, how many cool points did you get for voicing your characters?
A: Freddie Prinze Jr: said he tried to keep it a secret from his daughter, Charlotte, to keep the magic alive, but her friends at school found out and were all “HER DAD’S A JEDI, OH MY GOSH!” so she knows. I definitely gained some kid cool points when I picked up my daughter from school the boys would be all “you’re a jedi!” they think they know something.
Steve Blum: “My kids are in their 20’s and I got a lot of cred by doing this. It’s cool. They’re pretty excited”
Q: For the cast — Who is your favorite Star Wars character? And is it easier joining a franchise playing new characters or taking on our old favorites?
A: Taylor Gray: I like Jabba the Hutt. I also like Han Solo. Vanessa Marshall: I like Chewie. I have a soft spot for Chewie. female icon: Leia. Steve Blum: (as Zeb) Love Artoo, Hate Chopper. [laughs] Tiya Sircar: Getting to play Sabine I really appreciate so many things about Leia. but I really really love Han Solo. He’s hard not to love. (laughs)
Freddie Prinze Jr: The correct answer is Boba Fett (laughs and cheers). He’s the coolest. He’s the best.
Q: for the cast — We left off with the prequels, we were introduced to some dark themes, especially where we left off with the Clone Wars. The characters seem to have really dark back stories. What’s it like handling these darker themes in a children’s show? Is it a hard balance to strike?
Dave Filoni: “I don’t think so. When you look at any classic fairy tale which has always been for kids, there’s some dark stuff going on. So rather then shy away from things that I think might be perceived as scary or dark or intense, I think there’s a tradition of storytelling that was always a way for kids to kind of learn about things that are bad or evil.
Freddie Prinze Jr: “And kids are sharp, man. Remember the movies that we saw when we were kids. I mean, The Never Ending Story wasn’t a feel-good feel-good, I mean but the horse dies! So it hurts and you have pain. The Wizard of Oz… I mean the witch is legit! But kids are smart, so I think the stakes need to be as real as they can be or they smell out fluff, man. Kids know. It needs to feel real to an adult for it to feel real to a kid.”
Steve Blum: “In the real world we’ve all had levels of dysfunction that we’ve grown up in or known somebody who’s had severe levels of dysfunction and I think its great that its addressed in this in that way. And it gives the opportunity for growth for my character and everybody. We’ve all been wronged by the Empire (laughs) in one way or another in real life and on the show and its always an opportunity to see that there is hope and it’s a great element to the show”
“Star Wars Rebels: series premieres on Disney XD beginning October 13 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT). and is produced by Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman.
Don’t miss this exciting series on Disney XD
This is Loretta Garcia, Entertainment Writer for Chip and Co. Follow us on Facebook and our website for all the latest and greatest news, updates and promotions.
