10 Movies That Could Be The Mysterious Third Star Wars Spin-Off

Back in 1985, ABC commissioned two children’s cartoons based on the Star Wars mythos. One was the Ewoks - and the other was Droids, a single thirteen-episode season that followed C-3PO and R2-D2 from master to master. It had a catchy eighties Police-style theme tune written by Stewart Copeland, and was much better than it had any right to be.

Now I’m not suggesting an update or a retread of that show for a live-action feature film… but the Star Wars universe has always given us droids with excellent characterisation - even the ones which aren’t humanoid already.

R2-D2 is one of the major heroes of the original Holy Trilogy, and BB-8 fulfills a similar plucky underdog role in The Force Awakens. C-3PO is nothing but awkward, waspish personality, while other droids have been bloodthirsty, sadistic, heroic and sarcastic, amongst many other traits.

The premise would be simple enough: take a well-trodden story - Yojimbo, Reservoir Dogs, something out of Shakespeare, etc - and turn all the major characters to droids in the Star Wars universe. Have one or two human characters as well, if you like: but the majority would be droids.

Treat it in the same manner as Toy Story, or any other Pixar-style animated family movie. Silly, witty, charming and fun - but with the earned pathos that comes from great characterisation.

There's also room to explore a little of the social justice aspect to the story: droids are, technically, slaves. Some owners are enlightened, and some aren't: but no one really seems to agree that droids in the Star Wars universe should be free. Are they alive or aren’t they?