Once a month, writer/director Jason Reitman has been holding live-reads on stage of popular movies. These one-night-only events are adaptations with no sets or costumes — just actors and microphones. It's kind of like a radio drama.
Recent live-reads have featured the likes of American Beauty, Ghostbusters, The Princess Bride and more. But it's his next one that's going to get you excited. Reitman is tackling The Empire Strikes Back, the most beloved of Star Wars films. And he's bringing in some fun and fascinating choices for his stars.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad is Reitman's unlikely choice for Luke Skywalker, the fledgeling Jedi Knight who spends much of Empire training with Yoda. J.K. Simmons of Juno and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films will play Darth Vader. Stephen Merchant is an inspired choice for C-3PO, a role he should take to easily having already played an unforgettable A.I. in the video game Portal 2. Dennis Haysbert will bring his smooth-and-deep voice to Lando Calrissian, while Kevin Pollak will bring one of his many vocal impressions to Jedi Master Yoda.
Reitman's choices for Princess Leia and Han Solo have not yet been announced.
The Empire Strikes Back live-read is set for this Thursday night, December 18, 2015. Reitman's live-reads are usually held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, but for obvious reasons this one has been moved to a larger venue, over at the Theatre at Ace Hotel.
Sadly, this event is already sold out, but perhaps an enterprising audience member could video it and post it online (hint, hint)?
