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    McGregor says “Star Wars” TV series still on despite reports

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1437 Views
    In this Oct. 29, 2019 file photo, Ewan McGregor attends the LA premiere of "Doctor Sleep" at the Regency Theatre Westwood in Los Angeles. McGregor says any delay in completing work on in his new Obi-Wan Kenobi “Star Wars” series will be brief and is aimed at making the show better. McGregor addressed trade reports that the Disney Plus series had been placed on hold at an event Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, promoting his latest film “Birds of Prey.” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

    By Amanda Lee Myers

    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    Ewan McGregor says any delay in completing work on in his new Obi-Wan Kenobi "Star Wars" streaming series will be brief and is aimed at making it better.

    McGregor addressed trade reports that the Disney Plus series had been placed on hold at an event Thursday promoting his latest film "Birds of Prey."

    "It's only just slid back a bit," McGregor told The Associated Press. "But we're still shooting it. I think it'll still be aired when it was meant to be and I'm really excited about it."

    The series will focus on Kenobi, a Jedi master, in the years before the events of the first "Star Wars" film. Alec Guinness played Kenobi in the original film, introducing millions to the franchise's mystical power, The Force.

    McGregor played a young Kenobi during his early years a Jedi in three prequel films, beginning with 1999's "The Phantom Menace."

    "The scripts are excellent and they just want them to be better, and so we just pushed it back," McGregor said of the new series. "It'll be fun to play again."

    A return to the role for McGregor has been long rumored, and was announced last year at Disney's D23 Expo. McGregor has said he felt somewhat tortured by all the secrecy around the project.

    The show is scheduled to become the second live-action "Star Wars" series on Disney Plus. "The Mandalorian" has been a hit for the new streaming service, introducing audiences to new Star Wars characters, including the adorable, memeable Baby Yoda.

    Tags:Disney PlusEwan McGregorObi-Wan KenobiStar Wars



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

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