As all of you know (or should know by now), Lucasfilm was acquired today by Disney in a 4 billion dollar deal. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that they plan on releasing a Star Wars Episode VII in 2015. I have deeply mixed feelings about this, because for a lack of a better term, I am a complete fanatic about Star Wars especially when it comes to the extended Universe that exists within the various video games and books that have been made and written revolving around the Star Wars Universe and its characters. It has become something much greater than George Lucas ever imagined.
My mixed feelings stem specifically from the uncertainty that exists on what they may make this movie about. In my mind, they have three options. First, they can create a story based on one or more of the books that have been written; this is unlikely, because the actors for the characters are too old. Second, they could create a story that does not contradict the books at all, and takes place either in an untouched time period following the movies or coinciding with events that take place within the books but following different characters than those in the original trilogies. Third, they could commit a complete heresy in my mind; create a story that contradicts the books and rewrites the Star Wars history.
I would like to make the claim that the most likely or the best decision by Disney will be to initiate the second choice for a couple reasons. First, it would appease a large fan base that have avidly followed the literature over the two decades that it has existed. Furthermore, it would allow them to use much of the material in the books to base their original story off of. Next, I believe that the most likely time period for this story to take place in would be following the death of Luke Skywalker. While it would be possible to bring back actors from the original stories, it is within Star Wars tradition to create a large time gap between each trilogy (and between each film). 20 years take place between the first two trilogies, with anywhere from 1 to 10 years between each movie within each corresponding trilogy. Something like a series taking place 60 odd years after the Battle of Endor would make sense, given the time that has elapsed since the creation of Return of the Jedi.
What I find most compelling about this purchase, however, is that this now places Disney in control of both Marvel and Lucasfilm. Having seen what Disney has done with Marvel in the form of the Avengers series and placing people like Joss Whedon in the directors chair shows that they know what it takes to make a science fiction universe come to fruition in its right form. The potential that exists within the Star Wars Universe for a great new series is unlimited- and I have faith that Disney will do it in such a way that adds even further depth to an already rich and vibrant Universe that extended well beyond Lucas’ original intention.
A New Hope has been brought to Star Wars.
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