6. The Galactic Empire
LucasfilmGoing into Episode VII, the state of the conflict between the Rebellion and the Galactic Empire is a huge question mark. Did the war end with the death of the Emperor and the destruction of the second Death Star? Or has the battle raged on until the events of Episode VII begin? If we surmise the war came to an end, based on the conclusion of Return of Jedi, then the galaxy should finally be at peace, leaving Episode VII to pick up the narrative with no trace of the Empire. The only problem with that line of thinking is that it blatantly contradicts with what has since been laid out in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU). Within the Expanded Universe, the Rebellion goes on to fight the Empire for many years before finally establishing a ceasefire. The Rebellion evolves and forms the New Republic while what is left of the Empire becomes the Imperial Remnant. Stating that Episode VII wont follow a precise story line doesn't mean the filmmakers wont use fragments of this material for inspiration. In much the same way Marvel uses a number of different comic book story arcs for their films, theres no denying Disney could do the same with Star Wars. If the story picks up 30-years later, with the galaxy at peace, its probable fans could witness an attempted rise of an Imperial Remnant. From any of the Imperial Moffs to EU darling Grand Admiral Thrawn, it is plausible that the Empire will have some sort of an influence in Episode VII and could end up being the source of the mysterious Ancient Fear.