The Sequel Trilogy: Your Ideas?

[Green Ranger]

It's going to be a long time till we get any concrete information on the new sequel trilogy Disney is developing for the Star Wars universe, so I think it'd be a good opportunity to discuss what you see happening in these new movies.

Now, keep in mind that Disney is under no obligation whatsoever to factor in the Expanded Universe, so they could disregard everything. On the other hand, however, George Lucas has in the past taken pre-existing ideas from the EU and made them canon (eg Coruscant), and he is still employed as a creative consultant, so both angles are kind of valid.

We've really got a blank canvas to work with, so a ideas discussion has a lot of potential.

Really, what this boils down to is this: What do you see happening in the new Sequel Trilogy? What would you like to see, and what would you like removed from the EU as well?

 

[Kaeb]

....what story is there left to tell?

It feels like trying to make more sequels to The Return of the King. Even after it's fifty different endings.

 

[Unreliable Genius]

What I want? Kyle Katarn battling the Darktrooper project. What I think will happen? Some stoopid descendant of Luke or Han's doing stuff.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I would imagine that the EU will be disregarded (which is smart from a filmmaking perspective), and that the trilogy will be about the early days of the New Jedi Order. Early as in a few decades later, but still fairly early. Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) will likely be in it as a Ben Kenobi-type figure training a new generation of Jedi Knights. It's those Jedi, probably the children of Luke and Han/Leia, that will most likely be the main characters.

 

[Matt]

Don't make it shit is my only real idea.

 

[Kiro]

I would imagine that the EU will be disregarded (which is smart from a filmmaking perspective), and that the trilogy will be about the early days of the New Jedi Order. Early as in a few decades later, but still fairly early. Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) will likely be in it as a Ben Kenobi-type figure training a new generation of Jedi Knights. It's those Jedi, probably the children of Luke and Han/Leia, that will most likely be the main characters.

Captures what I think perfectly.

And I believe they said as much in interviews, that it'll focus on a female main character, and bring the "Skywalker family saga" to a close. But I might be misremembering completely, so don't quote me on that.

 

[Galavant]

From what I've heard they are not going to be using any of the stuff written in the expanded universe, but that doesn't mean it won't make an appearance in some way shape or form. I imagine little bits will be added, but nothing really blockbuster, and apparently the guy doing the screenplay is Michael Arndt and to quote the article

The merger between George Lucas’s brainchild and Disney, announced October 30, caught the town by surprise. And talent agents were similarly astonished to learn that Arndt had been at work on the treatment long before the deal was announced, catching them flat-footed and cutting off any chance they’d have to proffer their own many eager candidates for the coveted job.

So it seems like everything story wise is being planned out rather thoroughly and from what's been said it's going to take place when Luke/Leia/Han are extra old so I imagine it would be something like what Brandon said.

 

[Kiro]

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_VII

Mark Hammil, Harrison Ford and... Samuel L. Jackson!?

 

[Brandon Rhea]

It's also been mentioned that Lucas provided notes for the sequel trilogy. Not really fully formed stories, from what it seems, but notes about his ideas and so forth. The idea of Luke being an older Obi-Wan-type character has been around since 1983, so I have to imagine that that's the direction they're going. The sheer marketing potential of "the return" of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo is enough to make me believe that.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_VII

Mark Hammil, Harrison Ford and... Samuel L. Jackson!?

Everyone and their mother has expressed interest or willingness to appear in the new trilogy.

 

[Kaeb]

I thought what Bac brought up was essentially the most obvious thing that can be done with the story, because it's really the only plot thread left over from the original films.

All we didn't know was the origin behind the Empire, some of the characters etc. But the prequels where supposed to take care of that. So all that's left is, does Luke rebuild the Jedi Order? And do Han and Leia have children?

You could stretch it a little and say...how long will the peacetime last? But that's pushing it for the sake of the sequel in my opinion.

I just don't see the point really. The original films where very well tied up.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I thought what Bac brought up was essentially the most obvious thing that can be done with the story, because it's really the only plot thread left over from the original films.

All we didn't know was the origin behind the Empire, some of the characters etc. But the prequels where supposed to take care of that. So all that's left is, does Luke rebuild the Jedi Order? And do Han and Leia have children?

You could stretch it a little and say...how long will the peacetime last? But that's pushing it for the sake of the sequel in my opinion.

I just don't see the point really. The original films where very well tied up.

I like the idea of saying that the characters had earned the right to create the New Republic, and now there will be a conflict to make them earn the right to keep it. It'd be interesting to explore if the former Rebels became complacent when their new government arose and they assumed the job was done, and all the while some sort of dark threat was brewing in the shadows. Basically, some sort of threat that would really challenge the fledgling New Republic and make it fight to come out stronger on the other idea.

 

[Nameless]

Needs more Vader. He should return and villain it up.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Needs more Vader. He should return and villain it up.

I hope they do exactly not that.

 

[Kaeb]

I like the idea of saying that the characters had earned the right to create the New Republic, and now there will be a conflict to make them earn the right to keep it. It'd be interesting to explore if the former Rebels became complacent when their new government arose and they assumed the job was done, and all the while some sort of dark threat was brewing in the shadows. Basically, some sort of threat that would really challenge the fledgling New Republic and make it fight to come out stronger on the other idea.

So it'd be like saying that the Galactic Civil War we witnessed between the Rebels and the Imperials was similar in effect to World War 1, in that it led to fragile alliances and unstable economies and societal issues, which finally gave way to another war entirely, albeit with a large array of other contributing factors, but the ideas remain the same.

So, Luke goes off to rebuild the Order, cradling the broken legacies of his now fallen teachers. While Han and Leia attempt to secure not only their own future, but the future of the galaxy. So although the evil has been defeated, good has yet to become all encompassing, the galaxy may have been cured of the imperial disease, but it is still licking it's wounds, it is still vulnerable, weak.

Perhaps, the last remnants/some loyal acolytes of Palpatine who had been lying in wait for the return of the Sith, are angered by his murder and the betrayal of Vader. So, like crazed and insulted religious fundamentalists, they start to terrorise the New Republic.

This would teach our heroes that peace is not an immediate process, it takes time, it takes constant attention, it takes a lasting legacy. The Jedi Order must be rebuilt, the government must be reformed, the galaxy must be united.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

So it'd be like saying that the Galactic Civil War we witnessed between the Rebels and the Imperials was similar in effect to World War 1, in that it led to fragile alliances and unstable economies and societal issues, which finally gave way to another war entirely, albeit with a large array of other contributing factors, but the ideas remain the same.

So, Luke goes off to rebuild the Order, cradling the broken legacies of his now fallen teachers. While Han and Leia attempt to secure not only their own future, but the future of the galaxy. So although the evil has been defeated, good has yet to become all encompassing, the galaxy may have been cured of the imperial disease, but it is still licking it's wounds, it is still vulnerable, weak.

Perhaps, the last remnants/some loyal acolytes of Palpatine who had been lying in wait for the return of the Sith, are angered by his murder and the betrayal of Vader. So, like crazed and insulted religious fundamentalists, they start to terrorise the New Republic.

This would teach our heroes that peace is not an immediate process, it takes time, it takes constant attention, it takes a lasting legacy. The Jedi Order must be rebuilt, the government must be reformed, the galaxy must be united.

Yeah, exactly. You said it perfectly.

 

[Green Ranger]

Anyone else hoping they conveniently time it smack bang in the middle of the Vong arc so it makes it non-canon?

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Following off of what Kaeb said, I would go further with the World War I analogy and actually make Endor look like a failure in retrospect. World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and its ending seemed like a success—until World War II. The European allies pushed the idiotic Treaty of Versailles and then didn’t pay attention to the forces at work that were changing Germany into something even worse than it was in the first war. As it turned out, it was not the last Great War. It was the second to last Great War.

So let’s do that for the new trilogy. It’s always been talked about that the ending of ROTJ could not realistically be the total collapse of the Empire, because there will always be remnants. The EU explored that too. Some of the characters, however, could have treated Endor like the final battle they would have to fight. They would consider the threat of the Empire gone, even though a remnant of it would exist, and all the while they’d ignore dark forces at work inside of it.

That takes the happy ending of ROTJ, turns it on its head, and creates an interesting story about a war, about exploring failures, and exploring legacies. Luke would have to contend with the legacy of the old Jedi and of his time with Ben, Yoda, and Vader while trying to keep the New Jedi Order held together. Leia would have to contend with the legacy of the Rebel Alliance and its now-realized failings, all while trying to prevent everything that she worked her entire life for from unraveling.

Once again, Kaeb and I have proved that Lucasfilm made a mistake in not hiring us.

 

[Kaeb]

I'd like if Luke essentially became an amalgamation of Yoda and Ben. Old, wise, stern, cunning, vague and slightly bonkers.

Leia becoming somewhat maternal, nursing the galaxy back to health. Han perhaps being a Sergeant of sorts in the New Republic military, who could perhaps die in this new trilogy like he was originally meant to. I like the idea of him having a slight rapport with a young rookie soldier, who witnesses his last breath or something. A character who should mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but ends up being thrust into the big leagues.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I'd like if Luke essentially became an amalgamation of Yoda and Ben. Old, wise, stern, cunning, vague and slightly bonkers.

I like that. Being slightly bonkers could be the effects of war and all the emotional turmoil from the original trilogies. Mark Hamill was the Joker so we know he can play crazy to the extreme. I'm sure he could do it more subtly too.

Leia becoming somewhat maternal, nursing the galaxy back to health.

In terms of dealing with legacies, I'd also like to see how she deals with the fact that Darth Vader was her father be explored. It was done in the EU but I wouldn't want to see it glossed over in a trilogy that will likely ignore the EU.

Han perhaps being a Sergeant of sorts in the New Republic military, who could perhaps die in this new trilogy like he was originally meant to. I like the idea of him having a slight rapport with a young rookie soldier, who witnesses his last breath or something. A character who should mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but ends up being thrust into the big leagues.

I think Han should die early, perhaps as part of the entrance of this new threat. It should be a sacrifice rather than just getting caught in the crossfire or something. Perhaps this is the catalyst for the young rookie soldier's story throughout the rest of the trilogy.

It'd also be interesting if Han felt out of place, like he wondered what he was doing with his life and in the New Republic. Harrison Ford has always felt that Han had no story left and no place, and he did kinda just wander through ROTJ, so adding that to the character itself for one final Han Solo outing could be interesting. Then, as he dies, he could realize who he was and what he always was: he was somehow who, through thick and thin and against all odds, was there for his friends and would do anything to protect them.

Seriously, I want to be the writer for this thing so bad now.

 

[Nameless]

Or the Ewoks could turn out to be the true enemy. Only aiding in the destruction of the Empire so as to leave a void that they would rise up to fill. They could be aided by the Gungans who had been in hiding after the prequel trilogy waiting for their chance to strike and rule the galaxy at large.