Secret Star Wars Production Shooting In Hollywood

By Peter ScirettaMay 1, 2009 6:00 am EST

Yesterday was the third day of a secret LucasFilm film shoot in West Hollywood. If you were allowed to enter the "LODESTAR" production stage, you would've seen Boba Fett, Admiral Ackbar, a Tusken Raider, and even some Jawas. C3PO himself Anthony Daniels will be filming later this week.

So what is LucasFilm shooting? The good news is that George Lucas isn't making a another Star Wars movie (not yet anyways) or additional scenes for some super duper special edition. And No, the Star Wars live-action television series has yet to begin production. So what is it? Answer after the jump.

Sorry guys, had to do the big tease. It was too good not to...

The ride really hasn't been updated since it opened in 1987. It's not the total podracer reboot that was rumored a few years back, thank God. I'm hearing that its essentially the same ride but updated. It sounds to me like they might be shooting the footage in 3D, but I'm not sure.

Our source reveals that the revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish. Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett. C3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts, and Anthony Daniels will be recording his parts this week. Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they're shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline.

I was a huge fan of this ride as a kid, but when I revisited it a few years back, it did feel dated. Not in a "Back to the Future... The Ride" way. The experience of entering the Star Wars universe was still there, it was the technology that felt dated, especially compared to some of the rides that have been opened in the last decade. If the revamp incorporates 3D as I suspect (there is a convergence tech on set) and features new action sequences (ie Boba Fett), it would add new life to the aging theme park attraction.