As most of you know, Robert Iger (CEO of Walt Disney) announced a week or two ago on CNBC something everyone pretty much already knew: Disney is planning to make standalone films set within the Star Wars universe. He also added that Laurence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg were the ones in charge of the development of these stand alone films. Kasdan is a great choice to be in charge of this honestly, great choice. He is someone who understands what it takes to make a great Star Wars film, having been one of the writers on Empire Strikes Back. Anyway, what Iger failed to mention during his appearance on CNBC yesterday was just what exactly were these stand alone films going to be about. What characters would be featured?
That last question was answered with the announcement that ‘Han Solo’ and ‘Boba Fett’ each had their own standalone films in development right now. With Han, it would be a young Han Solo adventure. ‘Boba Fett’ will most likely be a story set in the grim and dangerous world of bounty hunters and gangsters. Both films feature main characters who are deeply beloved and whom drive merchandise sales very well. That is kind of the key here, isn’t it? These standalone films were always going to feature characters that are hugely popular (read: highly profitable). It certainly makes good business sense and Disney is all about numbers, projections, and profits. But does it make sense from the larger perspective of the overall saga?
Sure, I am certain with the right production team in front of and behind the camera, a young ‘Han Solo’ film could be great fun. But is it really necessary? Do we need to really know how Han became a smuggler? Or how he met Chewy or got that iconic black vest? No, not really. When I think of unexplored areas within the ‘Star Wars’ universe that need their stories told, a young ‘Han Solo’ film is not one of them.. In fact, let’s have some fun here shall we? I am going to go ahead and give you my top five choices for characters and/or stories that should be explored in a standalone ‘Star Wars’ film:
1) A Seven Samurai style film
This is one that was rumored as well for a standalone film among major online film news sites some time ago. So far there has been no announcement that Lucasfilm and Disney are considering this type of story for any of their planned standalone films. That of course does not mean it could never happen, just that no one is officially talking about it right now.
Personally, I think a story modeled after Kirosawa’s classic could be great. True, ‘A New Hope’ supposedly borrowed heavily from this film. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be drawn from again, right?
Imagine that prominent members of the still emerging Rebellion are captured by the Empire, perhaps Bail Organa among them, and are being held at an Imperial stronghold. A member of the Rebellion comes to Yoda on Dagobah and asks for his help in freeing those who were captured. Yoda agrees and recruits a team of other Jedis to help in his mission. They go on and free those Rebellion members and avoid capture themselves at the hands of the Empire. Yoda settles back in for a quiet life on Dagobah again and the young Rebellion is saved.
Of course this is again something I think, personally, would make for an interesting Star Wars standalone film. I mean you would have the chance to show Jedi being badasses, add some valuable backstory to the Rebellion, and also make a film that features Yoda as a main character (again read: profitable character).
A film of this nature could still happen. But right now it seems very unlikely.
2) A clone on the run adventure story
Imagine a story that follows a clone trooper who realizes he is fighting for the wrong side and defects. Maybe he seeks out the Rebellion and helps them or perhaps he simply wants to defect and live a simple life in hiding. This story could very well be set between Episodes III and IV, while the Rebellion is in its infancy. It could also allow for the inclusion of some pretty well known characters from the overall trilogy, such as Bail Organa, Darth Vader, Mon Mothma, and even perhaps Tarkin.
We could follow this defector as he runs from a brigade of clone troppers tasked with his capture. Perhaps he has secrets or knowledge that could be useful to the Rebellion or better yet those in the Empire think he does and he actually knows very little. We could introduce new characters into the mix as the defector meets new people and allies as he continues to run from place to place.
It really could be a great film, one which would go in a new direction, while also making stops at tried and true terrain. Plus it could flesh out the clones a bit more and really show they are not all mindless drones. It would be a nice mix of man on the run with dashing adventure/sci-fi story.
3) A single Obi Wan adventure
To me the one character who could really use a standalone adventure is Obi Wan. There is those 20 years between Episodes III and IV to consider. Those lost 20 years. I find it hard to believe that Obi Wan stayed holed up in his little home watching over Luke for all of those years. No, I am certain he still had a few adventures in there. Why not tell one of them?
You could use so many different things to incite Obi Wan out of exile. Perhaps a Jedi comes to Obi Wan and asks his help in finding his or her master, just before dying. Or maybe a member of the Rebellion seeks Obi Wan out and asks for his help with a matter of importance. In any event, it would be rather easy to create a situation where Obi Wan has no choice but to help.
I just really love the idea of Obi Wan coming out of hiding to help save someone or a group of people from danger. It allows for there to be some idea of what Obi Wan may have been up to during those lost years. Plus if you were able to convince Ewan McGregor to reprise his role as the Jedi master and surround him with an interesting cast of characters, played by quality actors and actresses, you could have a very entertaining and ultimately enjoyable film.
4) Vader hunting down Jedi film
Even with or perhaps despite of the lame “NOOOOO!” ending of Episode III, fans still would be jazzed to see a film that shows Vader methodically finding and hunting down the surviving members of the Jedi Order. It is a very compelling story and one which allows Disney to make a Darth Vader film without having to twist themselves in loops to do so.
I would suggest though changing things up and making the main character be Vader. It is his story and he is the one we follow as an audience. The Jedi would in this case serve in the antagonist role, always disrupting the plans of Lord Vader. I know, make the Jedi more the villains? Yes, I think you could do that and still maintain the Jedi Order as the good guys overall in the saga.
I just think this could kick all kinds of butt and be a heck of a lot of fun. Plus with the ability to use Vader in the marketing, Disney would make a killing.
5) A New Jedi Order film
By no means am I suggesting that Disney make any standalone films based on any of the extended universe stuff related to the New Jedi Order. Rather, what I am suggesting is an original story set between Episodes VI and VII. One which shows Luke rebuilding the Jedi Order and making it a force for good in the universe.
I like the idea of a film that shows Luke assuming the mantle of wise sage and mentoring many of the young and ultimately hungry Padawans in waiting. You could have a threat from elsewhere play a part in this or you could have the crisis of the story be within the Jedi Order itself. What if some Jedi stumble onto the old teachings of the Dark Side and succumb to its allure. Perhaps Luke and others would need to hunt down these Jedi before they did too much damage.
I mean that is just one idea of course. There are many more which can be explored as well. But they should all be set during the time when Luke is either just starting up the new Jedi Order or when the Order is in its first few years.
That is the list, folks. I think all five of these are excellent ideas and starting points for any standalone ‘Star Wars’ films that Disney may then consider. I hope we can get a standalone Obi Wan story, as I suggested above, at least. Time will tell of course. But for now I cautiously wait to see what standalone films are announced in the weeks and months ahead.
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