1. George Lucas
Haters are gonna hate but anyone thinking that Star Wars is definitely going to be better without George Lucas is talking bantha poodo! Im not saying it isnt possible for a simple treatment from Lucas handed over to a team of writers and ideas-men wont make for a great Star Wars movie but honestly look at the state of big budget blockbusters of late. Multiple writers, re-writes, re-edits, glaring plot holes, iffy editing, the list goes on. Even if the first film in a franchise is great, the sequels always seem to struggle once the studio know they have a hit and thats just the Superhero movies. This is Star Wars. Disney have just dropped four billion on the ultimate franchise and they wont let it fail. Unfortunately, thats usually where failures stem from when it comes to movies *cough* Pirates of the Caribbean *cough*. George Lucas was the maker. He wrote, directed or produced (produced on Lucas terms means make the film he wanted to make in the editing room for the most part remember). He knows how Star Wars works because it was his. He followed his own rules and kept his franchise, which in the wrong hands could go wildly over the top, coherent and to a well working structure. He never really showboated (another issue with modern special effects driven movies), his edits always drive the story as opposed to hide indecisions and unlike most modern blockbusters that feel the need to spell Every. Little. Thing. Out. He was unafraid to remain focused on his core story and allow the world behind it to carry on, only to play a part when he needed it to. Yes, some of his decisions have been questionable over the years (Special Edition additions etc). Yes, some of his choices in performance and dialogue are fairly frowned upon and the overkill of effects work is much discussed but make no mistake everything you love above Star Wars is because of George Lucas. Of course, countering that, everything you hate is because of George Lucas as well. However everything you've ever imagined a Star Wars movie to be is because of what George Lucas put into his franchise and what he enabled others to put in is due to his ability to make Star Wars collaborative, while still holding on to the reins. Those who flippantly cheer for Lucass separation from the Star Wars Saga may very well end up being the first ones to ask for him back. Star Wars Episode VII isn't just a sequel. Its something very new for the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars just became much more akin to any other major franchise. Its lost its unique perspective, its lost the guy who knew the story he wanted to tell with the characters that he created. In books and comics and other areas of entertainment this has led onto great things but really within the world of movies this is usually a devastating move. Out of all of the concerns we may have for this new era of Star Wars, the lack of George Lucas is one that will soon become a hot topic of discussion. Like or love Uncle George, pretty much everything great about Star Wars came out of this mans head and creativity (or at least his willingness to take on other's ideas within his Saga and run with them). Now were getting that through a prism, once removed from the one guy who knew what was right and wrong in his the story he wanted to tell. Star Wars could literally go anywhere now, Disney could even drop the dreaded 'reboot' word on us in a few years time if they wanted to. Whatever happens fans are waiting for the results as we edge ever closer to Episode VII. I wish you good luck Kathleen Kennedy... youre gonna need it.