Disney Buys Lucasfilm, Episode II: What “I” would like to see in the next Film Series…
November 8, 2012
OK, now that the first Part of my rant is out of the way… We should start discussing the most important aspect of this whole deal…
NEW STAR WARS MOVIES!!!
Makes your brain all “splody, doesn’t it?
For years, we’ve heard George say there would never be a third trilogy. We’ve all come to the conclusion that was going to be the case and we went on our busy lives as they were, without the further adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia. But now that Disney has purchased Lucasfilm and everything with it… ILM, Skywalker Sound, Star Wars… Indy… Willow… (wait have we even discussed something could happen with Willow?!?!?… OK, one topic at a time), it would appear that we ARE getting that Third Trilogy… and a WHOLE LOT MORE!!!
Now I am going to be upfront and honest with you. I have NO inside information. Everyone always assumes I have some “inside track” on the happenings at Lucasfilm. I do not. When I worked with them on a regular basis, did I hear shit? Absolutely!!!
Anyway, this post is for me to vent on some ideas of what I think should/could happen in the upcoming trilogy. I will get vague in some spots and very detailed in others. It’s also likely there will be a point of great rambling. If you’re interested at all in what is floating around in my head, you’ll stick around.
OK, for starters, Who’s going to be in this thing…
If it’s Episode VII, a continuation of the previous trilogy, you MUST have Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford reprising their roles and Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo. It must happen. Whether all three or none make it through the entire Trilogy, they must be in the film(s). It seems, as far as I can tell, all three are completely open to this. This is good.
And with that, the series should definitely take place several decades after ROTJ. I think that I should state I am not a huge fan of EU. I’m really not. Aside from a few key points, I do not care if the 3rd Trilogy even recognizes those events. I feel as though Disney should do as George did. Ignore the EU unless it works for your purposes. Recognize the “Heir to the Empire” storyline. There are important characters that come from that series. Namely Mara Jade, who in this trilogy, should be married to Luke Skywalker and they should have their child, Ben (that is their only son, right? I don’t even know). Ben at this point, should be the age of Luke in A New Hope.
This also means we include Han and Leia’s children, Jacen, Jaina and Anakin.
I think one thing from the EU needs to be COMPLETELY ignored. The Death of Chewie. People who don’t give a rats ass about the EU, your standard fan. My Folks, my Siblings… they have no idea Chewie is dead. Neither do your average movie goer. I will explain why later…
Bring Lando into the mix. Wedge… you get where I’m headed… If they’re alive and kicking and made it through the battle of Endor, bring them in.
Story:
I only have an idea of what should happen, but there are ways to continue the “Redemption of Anakin Skywalker” story. This is the crucial piece of the puzzle for most fans. If Sith have been destroyed and Anakin redeemed, what is there now to do?
The story should take place roughly 35-40 years after ROTJ. The New Republic has seen a long standing peace throughout the galaxy. With the Jedi number flourishing, The Jedi Council, led by Master Luke Skywalker, continue to maintain peace and justice throughout the Galaxy. Leia Organa Solo is the Chancellor and her Husband, Former Smuggler and War hero, Han Solo… well, he’s retired. Seriously. I think it would be presumptuous to have Han Solo as some great Military leader. Han should be that “Go to guy” in a pinch at this point in his life. He and Chewie should be drinking and playing sabacc and getting into bar fights on a regular basis. Make Wedge the leader of the NR’s military… that’s who “That Guy” is.
Their Children should be all Jedi, but I think Leia should be a non-practicing Jedi. In fact, I feel as though Leia wound up never completing her training in order to maintain the NR’s peace. Any notable Jedi that might have survived Order 66 and the Purge should be on the Council alongside Luke… and Mara. She should be a council member.
Now, after decades of peace, sans minor shake ups here and there, a new threat comes into play. See, Vader should have had a Secret Apprentice.
Before you all jump down my throat, I do NOT mean Starkiller. In my mind, Starkiller was just one of Vader’s apprentices. I don’t get the impression that Vader would have put all his eggs in one basket and so another Secret Apprentice emerges after all this time, having built a Sith army in secret. This Apprentice makes Vader, Starkiller and Maul look like an Ewok. This guy should be the Horror that the NR never sees coming. By the end of the first movie, you know shits about to hit the fan
Now, I do believe that Luke needs to make it through at least the first movie. In fact, I think the second film is where the Body Count needs to come into play except for ONE. I say this because I have specific things I think need to happen in the first film…
Luke should no longer confer with Obi-Wan. He should seek counsel from his father. Yes people, I’m suggesting Anakin Skywalker’s Spirit (Hayden) should be a major factor in this series. Anakin Skywalker being redeemed allowed him to have the spirit of his Jedi self. This could be a small hint as to what George was thinking when making Episode III. Who better to counsel you on not only the ways of the Jedi… but who could give you insight into the Sith. I think it’s important. If you’re worried about his acting, don’t he is a very good actor. George’s directing style is simple… an actor should know how to act and not be told how to do their job. Hayden is one of those actors who needs a different kind of directing style.
Forget Chewie died in the EU. Chewie being dead already is a BAD thing for this trilogy… but it’s because Chewie needs to die on screen, second film preferably and it needs to be as gut wrenching as Dobby’s death in “The Deathly Hallows”. People were sobbing openly in the theaters. I was one of them, and this needs to happen by the end of the first film. It should be heroic and meaningful and this will set the tone for Han’s storyline the rest of the series… or as long as he survives.
Luke should barely make it through the first confrontation with this new Sith Lord. It should be almost something the Sith allowed to happen and controlled. As if a warning… A Dark time, possibly the darkest, is upon them.
The Second film…
All Hell should break loose. It should open with full scale war happening. Coruscant should be falling apart and should be the focal point of what’s happening at the opening of the film. In the outer atmosphere (like EpIII) and on the ground. Buildings should be collapsing. Convoys of Starcruisers Shuttles with civilians should be leaving the planet and under attack by the Sith Army. It should be Pearl Harbor, D-Day, 9/11 and Hiroshima wrapped up in one. Horrible.
Han and Lando should be working together in the Falcon. Han should also be at the end of his rope. He’s on edge and he’s flying into battles as if he doesn’t care if he comes back. He and Leia should be distant and that’s all because of what happened with Chewie. Their children are on the front lines leading the NR Army as Jedi Generals and they’re not winning.
In fact, One of the Children should succumb to the Dark Side. I personally would like to throw a curve ball and it be Jaina. And it should happen midway through the film and she should kill one of her siblings. Take it up a notch, she kills Mara… or possibly even her own Father. Han could die at the hands of one of his Children. That would be pretty messed up. Done right and that’s the second gut-punch.
The Second film should end with the Coruscant in flames, The Sith have taken control, A Solo child has turned to the Dark Side and the body count is growing. Leia and the remaining Senate leaders are on the run, Luke and the Jedi are scattered and fighting their way off Coruscant and it should be the absolute darkest time the galaxy has seen… but as the second film ends, Anakin Skywalker tells Luke that all is not lost…
The Third and final film of the Skywalker story…
The third film should open with Luke and a few Jedi headed towards a system. They’re in search of three Jedi survivors of Order 66. These three will help the Jedi and the NR take back control and defeat the Sith.
See, I’ve secretly had it in my head for years that Mace Windu did survive that fall. Survived, left Coruscant and has been in hiding for 50-60 years. I also believe that Ahsoka is alive and is the second of the three. Once Anakin was redeemed and he became a spirit, his former apprentice, who either goes into hiding after Order 66 or was banished before the events of Episode III. I believe Filoni and Lucas will not kill her off at the end of the Clone Wars run. I think she survives and will be a major factor in the end game of the third trilogy. Anakin’s spirit has been in contact with Ahsoka for as long as he’s been one with the Force… a lot to work with there.
The third they seek is in fact “Starkiller”.
I have this way of describing the EU. Be it books, games, Comics… It’s all rumors and stories passed around the galaxy. This is the best way to overcome the glitches people lose their mind over in continuity. “Well, have you heard about…”, “Well, my father always told me…”… etc…etc. As a SW fan, if you live your life with that in your head, you’ll gradually begin to enjoy it more. No sense in losing your shit over bits and pieces that don’t fit perfectly. That’s no way to live.
So Starkiller, now a hermit like Obi-Wan was, is the final key to the puzzle.
Elsewhere, Leia and the remaining bits of the NR during this time have been building a coalition to retake Coruscant. We should see a fleet made up of every possible species in the SWU.
Luke needs to die in the second act of the third film. The second act should begin the battle for Coruscant and this is where Luke bites it at the hands of the Sith Lord. Thus leaving Leia as the last remaining of the three. Ben Skywalker, and the Solo children along with Ahsoka, Starkiller, the NR army being led by Mace Windu take the remaining Jedi into a massive, all out fight against a Sith Army. Sith dueling Jedi. Losses heavy on both sides until the Chidlren come face to face with their Sibling/Cousin. She has with her her own apprentices (the rule of two no longer applies) and while they duel, on the other side of the Battlefield The Three fight Vader Apprentice/The Sith leader.
Elsewhere, while the Sith’s Navy is engaged against the NR fleet, Leia and a squad of Commandos are taking back the Senate.
More deaths…
Mace should die, Starkiller should die, Ahsoka should live, as should all of the Solo children and Ben. Jaina (or whoever becomes the one who falls) should turn back. something should trigger it in the mists of the fight. In the end, all should be made right and while at a great cost, The heroes still prevail.
the end… maybe.
I only say maybe because there’s always a possibility of 10-11-12. The original outline had four trilogies, not three.
Anyway, that is my idea for the 3rd Trilogy. Probably WAY off on all of it, but in my head, this would be freakin’ INSANE! I should note I did NOT mention the droids, only because their involvement is a given.
After this trilogy, let Joe Johnston make his Fett film(s). Let there be an “Old Republic” trilogy. Make some movies based on books that don’t directly effect what has happened… Bounty Hunter/Underworld tales. Make a CGI “Shadows of the Empire”. by the time that comes around, ILM can perfect humans. Look at Avatar. Love it or hate it, it’s ground breaking. And that way, SOTE can be done in the proper time frame without recasting. Hamill and Fisher can do their voice work.
I just mentioned Joe Johnston… He is one of the directors I feel should be considered for the trilogy. I also think the following should be talked to:
Darren Aronofsky
Brad Bird
JJ Abrams
Ron Howard (HEY DISNEY! Make more Willow movies!!!)
Steven Spielberg
Alfonso Cuaron
David Yates
David Fincher
That is my wish list of directors… no particular order, but I would give the first one to Brad Bird, the Second film to Fincher or Yates. and the final one to Cuaron.
Star Wars is alive and well and in good hands at Disney, Gang… the Fanboy Stress levels be CRAZY!
Hopefully before I leave for vacation, I will address the haters…
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Comments
Brilliant ideas for the movies and a helpful way for fans to accept change.
I would pay to see these 3 movies.
OMG! I REALLY want to see your movies Tom! Just reading your idea of what should take place has me on the edge of my seat! BRAVO! Let’s do it!
I think this story ideas is …the very direction they should not go. I am fine with Luke being in there as I feel he needs to bridge the gap but I think it is time to move past Han, Leia and the OT story. To continue the Skywalker name with in the new Trilogy would be the best bet. Being able to breathe new life and new characters should be priority. I don’t need to see old dogs in space. I loved the OT for what it was now it is time to move forward to braver, bolder shores of the Skywalker blood line. Having them have a long time of Peace with a small appearance by all the characters is completely except able and needed in order to hand off the next set of movie s and give a sense of legitimacy and cohesiveness amongst the films…but it would be over kill to base a story about an all aging cast. Having said that, Luke should die in the first film…no doubt. The search should be about finding the true source of the DARK Side and while these kids are stumbling into that they unleash a new kind of Dark Side Hell on an unready and unsuspecting Galaxy. This should be their story and Luke should start the fire.To make them ask why.
Luke dying in the first film is too much a rehash of the first two trilogies. This needs to be not so formulated. And yes, this series needs Han and Leia. Not having them is a major flaw.
Introducing new characters (The Solo Children) without Han and Leia for the NON-SW EU fans, you know, literally 50-75% of the people going into the theater will only confuse and piss them off. The idea is to bridge the gap. Your idea doesn’t do that. Even with only having Luke, it’s not enough and Luke cannot be the only sacrifice… which is why Leia is the only one from the old Gang to survive.
The aging cast as you put it is going to be what gets the older fans/random person who enjoys SW excited… the newer additions won’t.
I don’t buy that for one reason alone. The first Ep 1 – 3. Luke and Leia were born and handed off to where they needed to be at the end.They have already established the hand offs and sacrifices that need to take place in the name of change. That is as tradition and back to basics as Lightsabers and The Force. It is defining characterization. Ep 1 – 3 was never about Luke it was about all new characters with a few familiar faces. Ep 1 – 3 was all about Anakin and his fall to the dark side…Ep 4 – 6 was all about Luke’s rise into the Force and getting his father back. Ep 7-9 should then be about Luke’s and Leia’s Children finding the very source of The Dark Side while growing The New Jedi Order. If they do what you are suggesting it would be a slap in the face to fans…..a kin to Kingdom of Crystal Skulls for Indiana Jones Fans. Growing the series in a different direction is what is needed and you don’t need to focus it on the old crew just like Ep 1 – 3 didn’t rely on a young Han and Chewie at all. Sure Chewie shows up for a few in the last one but that is it. The Star Wars name is what will get fans back into the Theatre…seeing Luke again will be what gets fans back into theaters but having the story still stuck in Ep 4-6 is what will make fans get angry all over again. Sometimes the story you dream up in your head for the original characters is better than anything on the screen. You can still have R 2 and 3P0 but that should be it..bare minimum.
Keep in mind I am not saying your idea isn’t fun I am just saying it won’t be the way they use because they are always looking for new ways to grow and change the property. Having a new cast with very minimal OT cast members is the only thing that makes any sense. They are all creeping up there in age so they need to tell a new story and allow other people to play in that universe..not rehash the same old characters and ideas from Ep 1 -6. They will always have the Opening Crawl, deal with the force and light sabers and spaceships. Those things are guaranteed.
Um… Ep 1-3 were SUPPOSE to be that way. This Trilogy is not.
And what I suggested is FAR from rehashing 4-6 and OT fans WANT to see the old crew pass it on. NOBODY will be angry to see these characters again.
You can disagree with me all you like, I’m pretty sure putting my idea vs. your ideas in front of Star Wars fans (except the EU nerds… they will cry no matter what), they’re going to want something not unlike what I posted.
A film filled with “Who the fuck is that character suppose to be?!?!” will have people leaving the theater asking more questions and pissed off more then any Prequel hater.
The prequels HAD characters we knew. Anakin (Vader), Yoda, Obi-Wan, Palpatine. We knew who was suppose to be involved… Luke and Leia’s Mother, Anakin’s Mother, Obi-Wan’s Master, A Jedi Council, The Republic. The Clone Wars. This was all told to us in the Original Trilogy.
You can’t cold start this trilogy, not like with the OT, not with whats on the table. There needs to be a complete bridge, and that bridge involves Han, Luke and Leia. The Droids, Chewie.
Argue all you like, I’ve said what I’ve wanted to say. Disagree, agree, doesn’t matter. If the story isn’t told properly, it’s going to have “Sequel Haters” all over the place. Just like the Prequels.
NOTHING I said is a rehash, Sheldon. Not even a bit. Having Luke die in the first film, THAT’S a Rehash of Ep1 and Ep4. Having the Children try and find the Dark Side in the NJO, That’s a Rehash of the Prequels.
Nothing in my concept is a rehash.
I when I say rehash I am only referring to characters used. Again I am not saying yours is not fun to read it just wont be the way they go.
Personally, I’m excited for WHATEVER they decide to do…as long as there is no Jar-Jar
I think the next films should include the aging OT cast to take advantage of that fact but should have the main story be set in the time before the Republic. Perhaps told using flashbacks, the plot should be about the origins of the Sith and the Jedi which is much more compelling than what happens after. I think KOTOR was successful in this aspect because it had much room to create while remaining faithful to canonical details which keep the Star Wars community entertained.