With the 2015 new dawn approaching for Star Wars and Disney, and early 2014 slated as the commencement for shooting, news will no doubt begin to tumble on with pace, with plot details, new and returning cast and locations likely to leak in the coming months for Star Wars VII. It is an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan, but with a number of large scale crimes committed in the name of the franchise since George Lucas took up his clapper board again to make the Prequel Trilogy, it is equally natural to feel some trepidation. Both Pixar and Marvel have benefited for their association with Disney, and hopefully Lucas Film can similarly profit from the power of the Mouse House behind them, and a new singular focus on giving new life to the space opera to end them all. But it would be foolish to think that Disney don't have an almighty mountain to climb, and they would do well to take heed of some of the lessons offered both by past Star Wars films, and more recent blockbusters...
Honourable Mention
Striking The Right Balance...
One of the single most important elements for Disney's potential success with Episode VII is the balance between established characters from the Original Trilogy and new characters and storylines entirely. Quite how much of each element Disney should or will depend upon remains up for debate: there may be concerns regarding the return of Luke Skywalker and Co with the actors advancing in age (and only Harrison Ford having enjoyed much of a career since the trilogy ended.) Disney need to decide how much of the original universe they need to bring back, with the spectre of disastrous returns to legendary properties looming large, and right now, there's no easy answer to that question.