With the shock news yesterday that not only has Disney purchased LucasFilm for a whopping $4.05 billion, but that they are planning to move forward with Star Wars Episode VII, the Internet geek collective exploded with theories about who would be directing it, and what it might actually mean for the franchise as a whole. Being skeptics of Star Wars ever since George Lucas unleashed onto us his (mostly) abominable “new trilogy” of prequels, we can’t help but be equally skeptical now that another new film – and potentially another trilogy – is heading our way.
That said, without Lucas directing or even producing the project, it’s possible that it can be a hit, if his successor is sure to avoid these pitfalls, which range from mistakes that Lucas is frequently criticised for already, to errors in judgement that plague sequels on the whole.
10. Telling The Same Story
There was the definite feeling at the end of Return of the Jedi that the story was neatly tied up, and there was nothing left to tell; Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie and Lando had kicked the Imperial’s collective ass, Vader was dead, the Death Star was space dust, and the Ewoks even got to have a little dance. One sure problem is that in every piece of canonical sequel fiction ever written, that was far from the end, and the war continued to rage, with various Imperial administrators fighting for control, sparking a civil war that itself could probably take up a trilogy of films, while they also tried to contend with the rebels.
The issue with saying “oh, you thought the war was over? Guess again!”, is that it would forever devalue Episode VI’s ending because, to be completely frank, people pay a lot more attention to a new movie than they do a spin-off novel, which most would assume is just non-canonical fan-fiction anyway. The best thing they can do with this new Episode is to divorce it as far as possible from Luke’s legacy; perhaps make him a mythic figure of the past, and move on with a different, maybe more intimate but nevertheless epic story. Given the expansive nature of this Universe, and how successfully it has been re-interpreted in video games for one, it shouldn’t be too difficult, especially if people more talented than Lucas are brought on board.
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19 Comments
I reckon Disney ought to remake the prequels before making any sequels.
Thank you for saying that. Though I’d push for a remake of the entire series.
I 100% agree with your comment.That’s the firs thing they need to do. Those other prequels are just a disgrace, can’t believe I actually enjoyed them. Remember just after watching ROTS hearing that the new 3 were just prequels, and I was only 11 years old. They don’t even match up consistently with the original trilogy. Allowing them to stay would be a huge mistake, they should remake them pronto. Also, change the Jedi uniforms and their ‘code’, don’t let Yoda anywhere near a lightsaber, introduce Anakin as a teenager of at least 14 years old, make his and Obi-Wan’s friendship good and believable, and introduce the Clone Wars first thing. Either that, or just make a Star Wars film that ignores the prequels existence.
I don’t think they should remake any star wars episodes even if some of them were rubbish. they should look to the future and forget about the past. Move onwards and hopefully Upwards I say.
I agree.
+I am all for having Disney remaking the PT but the problem with that is you make everything set up to the remake PT that is set in the PT times null and void. Disney should put out the Theatrical Version of OT that way people can watch the OT with out all changes Lucas has made to the OT. There should be no more couch and walking and talking scenes unless it is need. Do not forget that Palpatine does come back after dying in RotJ in the EU through the use of clones created by Palpatine before his death. Palpatine reborn (4–11 ABY)
Here is Lucas take on special effects. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVq5QwMlaII
good read
please that was ridiculous
I really appreciate your writing style Shaun, it’s intuitive and refined, and your opinions are incessantly reeling me into a pensive state
I disagree with the politics. It actually shows how republic, even in advanced galaxy, is fragile as any republic now on our Earth. And it also shows that even one man can take over whole governcy of galaxy for himself, finding blind spots and making them the advantage.
I actually hope new SW won’t be children movie. Because, let’s face it, fans are even 40 now. I hope that it will be dark somehow, good example JK series (not the story, just the feel of Sith threat that was in the JK series).
I think they need to set it a good few years after the Original Trilogy to avoid the whole recasting beloved characters thing. If none of the original cast are to appear then maybe about 100 years in the future. If they go for 30 or so years to include original cast members then they will need to be supporting characters only. Plus I would avoid having Han turn up, do we want to see Han Solo the retirement years? Let Han Solo be remembered as he was in the original trilogy, not old, grouchy and with arthritis. You can include Luke since Jedi’s are long lived and by this point he would be head of a new Jedi order. I, for one, would like to see an older, fully fledged, powerful Jedi Master Luke.
There will need to be politics, as you assume, a new Republic has been set up, just as long as the politics is a little clearer and less, well, dull than the prequels. You don’t really want to focus on trade embargoes, more on actual threats to the current galaxy, backstabbing, sinister conspirators etc. Ok some of those were in the prequel but they never seemed to be fully fleshed out, more just a means to an end to show Palpatine as bad and to set up him taking power as the Emperor.
To be honest though, as long as their are Jedi and Sith, a decent story, a lack of Jar Jar Binks and a good director and cast then they will avoid the problems of the prequels.
I would like them set it with the Fate of Jedi Series.
That would be awesome. I loved that series.
Not sure if the writer here knows, but there is already a gold mine of material written about the future of the Star Wars universe after Jedi, there won’t need to be any retelling of the same stories, etc. Looking up the Star Wars timeline on wiki should give a good idea of what might be possible. Oh, and it’s written by Lucas, so I guess that’s a bad thing…
I totaly agree, all I seem to find on What culture are people writing articles about things they obviously know nothing about. Why would disney buy an “embarrising franchise”. The guy doesnt have an understanding of the star wars universe. Since George Lucas wrote the originals, prequels and ordained the expanded universe it’s all bad.
And whats with all the writers on here loving JJ abrahams’ (this is not)Star Trek. It was awfull, yes the sets looked nice, so did the uniforms. The writing was diabolically, so a stowaway got promoted from no rank to captain, for no apparent reason?
Absolutely awful. How has the franchise become an embarresment? This article is an embarresment.
What I dont want to see, the movie of what is in this writers head. Some of you old timers need to take of the rose tinted glasses and rewatch the original trilogy. Its quite sad the way you talk about the prequels.
Below is what I would like in a remake of the gosh awful PT.
I would have first shown that Anakin Skywalker was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior before Obi-wan meet him. Obi-Wan meets Anakin for the first time, Anakin requires R2-D2, a droid that does not even belong to him, and the fighter’s autopilot, to fly his starfighter for him against the Droid Control Ship. When fighting the Droid Control Ship, Anakin basically crash lands the on ship doing a belly landing sans landing gear. Most of Anakin’s piloting, in orbit of Naboo, could be described as random and chaotic. Blind luck and the whim of the script writer add significantly more to Anakin’s survival and success than any actual or perceived piloting skill. By means of contrast, Luke Skywalker, during his first space battle, conducted himself with great piloting skill, and starfighter proficiency, destroying the Death Star, during the Battle of Yavin. That is just one problem between the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy.
With Anakin being older you can get away from the age problem with Anakin and Padame how the child falls in love and marries the babysitter. Also show more of the friendship between Obi-wan and Anakin
I would change the what they show of the Clone Wars. Instead of just what little is show of the Clone Wars in my changes the clone wars would a bigger part of the prequel trilogy. That way it better explains the Clone Wars as a whole. You would exactly see how the Clone Wars was start instead ot the lame way the prequel handles. Such the creation of the clones. Also the following would be shown in the prequel trilogy. Princess Leia: General Kenobi. Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. we would see Obi-wan serving Bail Organa in the Clone Wars.
Padme would not have dies from a broken heart. Obi-Wan would not have been present at the birth of Luke and Leis that way when that Yodi says there is another that Obi-wan does not know about it for real.
Anakin would be annoying. He would not be self-centered, self-serving and ultimately trivial. I also might get rid of Anakin and being like Jesus when it comes to his birht
Lucas could have centered the first two films on an intelligent, thoughtful Jedi master who was lured to the Dark Side. The third film would have then chronicled the crusade of a tortured, badass Darth Vader who traversed the galaxy hunting down Jedi. I would have should Darth Vader hunting down and killing the Jedi. Anakian would not have be show killed youngling (use to hide the fact he is killing kids) as his first thing he does after becoming a Sith.
I would also let Lucas not have that much control and surely would not let him directed the films at all. In th original Star Wars, his only directions were “faster” or “more intense”.
There would be no midi-chlorians!
Here is another thing Obi-wan could be lying about which you get from the prequel trilogy. “ For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. ” — Obi-Wan Kenobi, “A New Hope” I would make What Obi-wan said in that quote actually fit instead of a 1000 as how long the republic last.
I would have the actor interact more with actor and actress in makeup and costume as aliens so that you could get acting of the actors. I would not make an over-reliance on CGI.
The following would be cleared up. Luke says, “Tell me about your mother, your real mother.” Leia tells Luke that she only remembers images of her mother, that she was “very beautiful, but sad.”
I would show more female character that actually have a part in the story instead of just Padme.
O would in the remake of the Pt show more weapons that are used in the Star Wars Universe besides blasters. In the PT remake I would also show more Jedi and Sith weapons such as a lightwhip (rare variation of the lightsaber). You would see in the remake of the PT what force powers the Jedi and Sith have instead of basically make the Jedi and Sith lightsaber users. People would learn more about the Jedi and Sith in the remake of the PT then what was shown in the PT.
The following saying by Obi-wan Kenobi about the force would be true in the remake of the PT.
“Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.”
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