Braun to Hold Auditions Sat. for 'Empire Strikes Back XXX'

LOS ANGELES—With Star Wars fever currently ramped up across the land thanks to the recently released trailer for Episode VII offering a glimpse of Han Solo and Chewbacca triumphantly returning "home," the time is ripe for director Axel Braun to return to the SW universe himself. And so Braun has announced an open casting call Saturday afternoon for The Empire Strikes Back XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, the long-awaited sequel to his still mega-selling Star Wars XXX: A Porn Parody, which took home eight AVN Awards in 2013. "Following the tremendous success of the first movie was a tall order," Braun told AVN. "I only wanted to do it if and when I could get my creative team back together, especially my co-conspirator Eli Cross, who took some time off to work on his own projects, like the multi-award-winning Wetwork. I am thrilled to say that, much like its mainstream counterpart, ESBX features a way better story and an excitingly varied cast of characters. That's why auditions are so important, and that's why I am really looking forward to tomorrow's casting call." Braun revealed that Lexington Steele will return in Empire as Darth Vader, Dick Chibbles will climb back into the Chewie suit, Chi-Chi LaRue will once again voice C-3PO, and in a bit of a suprise move, the retired Tom Byron will reprise the role that won him the 2013 AVN Award for Best Supporting Actor, that of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The auditions will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wicked Pictures offices, located at 9040 Eton Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91304. All represented talent interested in reading for a specific part are invited to contact their agents for sides, while unrepresented performers should contact Marc Weston at marc@axelbraunproductions.com.  The Empire Strikes Back XXX: An Axel Braun Parody is slated for release on DVD and Blu-ray in September 2015.