1. Play Up To The Geeks
The Dark Knight Rises was not a Batman film in traditional terms, and Man Of Steel was not as much of a typical Superman film as some fans might have wished ahead of release, but both were undoubtely successful on their own terms. Regardless of his success in retranslating Star Trek into something different, and appealing to new fans, JJ Abrams cannot approach Star Wars the same way. Accusations have already been levelled that the director will simply make a third Star Trek film under the Star Wars banner with new characters, but that must be avoided at all costs. Though the idea of a Star Wars film is arguably more fluid than those of a Batman or Superman film, there are certain essential elements, and a general tonal conviction that might not fit with Abrams' work, but which must be channelled. If he hasn't already and it seems likely Abrams needs to spend as much time as possible studying the Star Wars canon, because he and Disney both face unprecedented fan scrutiny, and the only way to ensure success is to consciously play to those fans. That may mean bringing in Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Leia, or it may mean focusing on fan favourite wider universe characters and events, but the fans are the most important element to this particular dynamic. Do you think Star Wars Episode VII can possibly live up to the hype? Mouth off in the comments thread below.