To my astonishment, several of my blogging peers have typed up their own surprise (or at worst, called bullshit) to
IESB's weekend story that
George Lucas is planning a new
'Star Wars' trilogy, probably set after the events of 'Return of the Jedi' - with brand new, non-Skywalker/Solo characters as leads. All I can say to IESB is -
well done for catching up and for
those doubters of the story- you're dead wrong. For years Lucas has spoke about the dozens of drafts and elaborate notes that are kicking around his ranch for what a third 'Star Wars' trilogy would look like. That's the size of this universe he had planned well before I was even born. I didn't realise this was a secret or new information to anyone? IESB's story, isn't really much of one. I could have wrote it. 'Star Wars trilogy 3' will be made when Lucas is ready to make it.
LucasFilm may have already denied it, but we know it's true. George Lucas won't be able to help himself. We already know the next chapter of that galaxy far, far away will be on the small screen with a 100 episode show (minimal) that will bridge the gap between the events of his last two trilogies, and that show is such a mammoth undertaking that itprobably won't be in shape to film until at least 2012. Once the whole series is done and Lucas manages to bleed as much money out of the 3D re-releases & blu-rays of his universe as he can, then you can begin to seriously start talking about a new 'Star Wars'. Which WILL happen. Maybe not for 6, 8 or even 12 years, but it'll happen. Lucas has a lot more 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' that he wants to deliver. And by gosh when he's long dead, the heritage he leaves behind will be making them for some time to come too. Get used to the idea.