8. Luke Skywalker
For me, at this stage in the game at least, the core to starting things post Episode 6 is Luke Skywalker. He was always my favourite character (mainly because I was a real Return of the Jedi kid growing up) and his story is far from over. Luke has helped to bring balance to the force. He did the impossible and pulled his father back from darkness. He fixed his family. He became a Jedi whose strength came from emotion, family and love, unlike many before him. He took the Jedi ways and his fathers emotions and combined them to make the galaxy a better place. So whats next for the young Skywalker now that he's old Skywalker? The way I see it, Luke would have had to have left to find himself a bit more after Episode 6. Spent some time with the blue ghosts, worked out what felt right as the next steps for the Jedi. Of course coming in 30 years later for Episode 7, means that were either coming in after a new Jedi order has been well established or Luke hasn't really worked out what to do next for 30 years and is still the only remaining Jedi. Arguably, he helped fight with the Republic in any post collapsed Empire battles around the galaxy, so we can write off 5-7 years maybe. Then, he potentially honed his skills to become the ultimate Jedi Knight. Which gives his sister and her man time to spawn some future Jedi younglings of their own and for Luke to have been training them for, lets say the last 15-19 years? I think Id much prefer a small Jedi order to begin Episode 7 with. A slowly growing flock of gifted force sensitive kids helping Luke to share his knowledge of the Force. Remember, the Jedi path should be slow and careful, almost working at a natural pace. Now, while I said I would avoid expanded universe stories, it makes logical sense that Han and Leia would have force sensitive kids that Luke could train. Additionally, even though I love Luke Skywalker, having Leia and her children as the focus in the new trilogy makes more sense. Luke would become more of an Obi-Wan figure, supporting the core story and new Jedi kids but now its time for Leia Solo (presumably) to play her part in the Skywalker saga. (oh and therell be more on the kids later too).