Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Pre-release)

[Solo4114]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

The EU is alternate universe. There's no need to accommodate them or to accommodate the EU to the films. They are two separate entities and the filmmakers should not be bogged down by having to adhere to something that is largely not even considered canon.

Yeah, that's true, but at the same time, if you want to not **** off the fans royally, you just sidestep the whole thing and set it way far in the future.

Personally, I'd rather get away from the OT characters at this point. They've been done to death (in some cases, literally), and I really don't see a good way to bring Mark and Carrie back (and Harrison DEFINITELY ain't coming back). I also think that the whole battle against the Empire or yet another Imperial wannabe is...tired. You want to bring the Sith back, ok, maybe. You want to just talk about dark Jedi or some other civil war, eh, possibly. But not empire vs. republic stuff.

Really, I just think it's easy enough to say "1000 years after the battle of Yavin...." and go from there. It worked fine for 4000 BBY and 10000 BBY stuff with the various KOTOR products. Why wouldn't it work in the future?

 

[niennumb1]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Really, I just think it's easy enough to say "1000 years after the battle of Yavin...." and go from there. It worked fine for 4000 BBY and 10000 BBY stuff with the various KOTOR products. Why wouldn't it work in the future?

Because then you'd have to change the beginning text to say:

Not as long of a time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

 

[CessnaDriver]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Frankly, things can only get better is my thinking.

 

[TURINSBANE]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

awesome news Lucas planned this along then, its not just carry who's lost 50 lbs mark hamill as lost loads of fat too, they want too be fit and able to play jedi's??

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, that's true, but at the same time, if you want to not **** off the fans royally, you just sidestep the whole thing and set it way far in the future.

Honestly, at this point, screw the fans. Seriously... just because there are decades worth of EU shouldn't stop the movies from dealing with the main characters that we know. The off-shot movies can deal with whatever, but having part 7-9 and not have it be in conjunction with and deal with Luke, possibly Leia and even Solo would in my opinion be the worst mistake EVER - even worse than the fart jokes in TPM.

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, I hate to tell you guys this, but the EU is toast. These stories, it has pretty much been confirmed, will be all original so the canvas is blank. I say this as a fan of the EU but also one who understands that film content and creative direction takes precedent. So setting this story in an age appropriate timeline featuring Luke and Leia and all the other characters will be easy to accomplish. Do yourselves a favor and except that now, it will make the next few years less traumatic.

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, that's true, but at the same time, if you want to not **** off the fans royally, you just sidestep the whole thing and set it way far in the future.

Personally, I'd rather get away from the OT characters at this point. They've been done to death (in some cases, literally), and I really don't see a good way to bring Mark and Carrie back (and Harrison DEFINITELY ain't coming back). I also think that the whole battle against the Empire or yet another Imperial wannabe is...tired. You want to bring the Sith back, ok, maybe. You want to just talk about dark Jedi or some other civil war, eh, possibly. But not empire vs. republic stuff.

Really, I just think it's easy enough to say "1000 years after the battle of Yavin...." and go from there. It worked fine for 4000 BBY and 10000 BBY stuff with the various KOTOR products. Why wouldn't it work in the future?

They will be more then willing to **** off these fans, you exaggerate their overall import. The vast majority of those who will be buying tickets to these films don't care about the EU. Sorry.

 

[gizmo]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Honestly, at this point, screw the fans. Seriously... just because there are decades worth of EU shouldn't stop the movies from dealing with the main characters that we know. The off-shot movies can deal with whatever, but having part 7-9 and not have it be in conjunction with and deal with Luke, possibly Leia and even Solo would in my opinion be the worst mistake EVER - even worse than the fart jokes in TPM.

I agree with what you're saying Carsten. Continue the story and have the offspring of the original characters included.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I wonder if they will make, completly seperate from EP 7-8-9, a post-EP3 movie showing Vader hunting down and destroying the Jedi. Make some Jedi the main character and have Vader as a major character.

Isn't there a book about that somewhere ? I'm not saying make that book but make that story. Sure would help Disney sell a billion Darth Vader action figures.

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I wonder if they will make, completly seperate from EP 7-8-9, a post-ANH movie showing Vader hunting down and destroying the Jedi. Make some Jedi the main character and have Vader as a major character.

Isn't there a book about that somewhere ? I'm not saying make that book but make that story. Sure would help Disney sell a billion Darth Vader action figures.

A good book as well. The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno. Doubtful they will even touch Anakin/Vader story. He's dead and that was George's tale. It will end with ROTJ, no more Vader.

 

[Darth Lars]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, I hate to tell you guys this, but the EU is toast.

I think that it would be a bad move by LFL to ignore the EU. OK if they introduce a new story that is not in the EU already, but I think that it would be in LFL's best interest to use side characters and to reference various events on the side that are in the books so as to reintroduce interest in those stories and characters. Then, they could sell more of the old books than otherwise not.

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I think that it would be a bad move by LFL to ignore the EU. OK if they introduce a new story that is not in the EU already, but I think that it would be in LFL's best interest to use side characters and to reference various events on the side that are in the books so as to reintroduce interest in those stories and characters. Then, they could sell more of the old books than otherwise not.

As a Financial Advisor, I complete disagree and I have no doubt I am correct in my assessment. The EU never and will never be have any relation to the creative product of LucasFilm. LucasFilm has every right to mine whatever bit and pieces of EU it wishes for their content, see the CLone Wars for examples, but to suggest they are making a mistake by not limiting their creative content to match up with the EU is naive at best.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

There's also absolutely no reason to just declare the EU null and void and run all over it. You have a bunch of extra stuff that is cool that you could use or go around when you have to. Sure there's crap, but you don't need to even acknowledge any of that. There's more choices than DESTROY THE EU! and MAKE THE ZAHN TRILOGY. You can easily balance the two and have them play nice.

The Sequels have to follow ROTJ. It wouldn't make sense to do those and have them 200 years in the future. If Disney and Lucasfilm do intend to do more movies than that, THEN they can explore that. Plus Lucas has already said as much when he said he left a rough outline he had for the last three movies. Everyone assumes Lucas is out, but like the Clone Wars, I'm betting he still has final say to make sure no one destroys the property.

Check out this comment from Zahn: http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Disney_Buys_LFL_Timothy_Zahn_Talks_EU_Ep_7_148708.asp

 

[Bryancd]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

They won't put it 200 years in the future, they will put it 30. Read the thread. And they won't do a rehash of Tim's work despite what he might want. You need to move on from this notion, believe me. Financially the EU is a drop in the bucket compared to what new feature film content means revenue wise. You assume they feel obligated to the EU. They do not. They will tell the stories they want to tell. The sequels certainly can follow ROTJ and be totally new. This idea they need to bring the EU to screen is absurd, they won't tell stories already done and try and satisfy the few and far between EU fans. They will make a mass market media extravaganza and will retain the artistic freedom and not be shackeled by a book written in the late '90's. Come on guys, get a grip.

 

[CTF]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I say, death to the EU!

 

[Zombie_61]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

...just because there are decades worth of EU shouldn't stop the movies from dealing with the main characters that we know. The off-shot movies can deal with whatever, but having part 7-9 and not have it be in conjunction with and deal with Luke, possibly Leia and even Solo would in my opinion be the worst mistake EVER - even worse than the fart jokes in TPM.

I couldn't agree more. The story of the next three movies has to somehow be directly connected to the first six movies or there's no reason to call them Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

A good book as well. The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno...

I enjoyed the book, but the title is really misleading considering a) Vader's barely in it, and b) like the Prequel Trilogy, it contains nothing that shows how Vader gained power and became one of the most feared characters in the Star Wars Universe (beyond being Sidious' errand boy, that is).

 

[seelsa73]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Honestly, at this point, screw the fans. Seriously... just because there are decades worth of EU shouldn't stop the movies from dealing with the main characters that we know. The off-shot movies can deal with whatever, but having part 7-9 and not have it be in conjunction with and deal with Luke, possibly Leia and even Solo would in my opinion be the worst mistake EVER - even worse than the fart jokes in TPM.

I couldn't agree more. The story of the next three movies has to somehow be directly connected to the first six movies or there's no reason to call them Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.

Both of you have hit the nail on the head...thank you for saying this.

Personally i think if they cant get ALL of the original actors to come back, as much as i would hate it, that they should just recast. To put Mark and Carrie in the movie without Harrison Ford and to maybe say that Han was killed or whatever years ago, would be a huge mistake and a kick in the gibblets to the long time fans, whine-hards....excuse me, die-hards....and casual viewers alike. So if they can't get all the actors back, recast them all and set it closer in time to ROTJ. Again, that's just my personal opinion, but i will go to see these movies regardless.

 

[rodneyfaile]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

One of the weak spots in the PT was how interconnected everything was. Did you know that Chewie was apparently Yoda's drinking buddy? It's true! And Governor Tarkin used to go to a strip club where a young Oola danced! And Lando Calrissian grew up playing with Bossk! And the tusken raiders that Anakin killed were the same guys who later beat up Luke! And I'm pretty sure Kevin Bacon shows up in there somewhere, too.

It just got ridiculous how SMALL the galaxy was. Keeping things focused on the Skywalker clan is narrow. Look at the other stuff the franchise has launched that had nothing to do with Skywalkers, but was still cool. Dark Forces? KOTOR 1? The Dark Horse Comics Knights of the Old Republic series? Anyone check any of this stuff out? It doesn't all have to be connected.

Look at it this way: the story of the Skywalker clan is told. It's been told in film, books, comics, etc. We don't need anymore of it. Same with the Solo clan. Hell, same with Wedge Antilles and freakin' LOBOT (who makes an appearance in one of the doofy Del Ray books from the late 90s). Do we really need to keep seeing "What happened next?!" with these same characters? They got old and died, remembered as heroes of their age. The end. Now time for a new story.

Yes!

If they want to stick with Skywalkers, I'd rather see a reboot.

Star Trek TNG didn't need Kirk and Spock. Lets have Star Wars TNG!

 

[NAZGÛL]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I enjoyed the book, but the title is really misleading considering a) Vader's barely in it, and b) like the Prequel Trilogy, it contains nothing that shows how Vader gained power and became one of the most feared characters in the Star Wars Universe (beyond being Sidious' errand boy, that is).

It was a while since reading, but Vader has a pretty big part in it and I thought it worked quite well showing the jorney from the weak shell in Ep 3 to the snake we see in the OT. It showed Vader going from pain, selfpity and longing his former strenght, to hate, power hunger and plans to destroy The Emperor. Vaders growing self confidence and strenght allows him to kill a strong Jedi in the books final.


Ive been thinking about the new films, and to me it will be important how much Lucas is involved in the story making. When it comes to the films, Im interested in Lucas vision only. I wouldnt be hyped about a LOTR film not based on Tolkiens visions either. I know its not considered cool to care about Lucas ideas nowadays, but thats the way I see it. I dont want films made from what fans want, what a suit wants, what a random dedicated film maker wants. I want to see what Lucas wants to tell.

And I see a problem storywise with the setting in the new film. The force, lightsabers, gangster snails, green jedi masters and what not, are all great, but the stuff that makes me still interested is the powerful Galactic Empire and the dark story world it creates.

Getting a triology with a world without that will not be a huge thing for me. Im not interested in a post war LOTR film without Sauron either.

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

According to a new posting on wiki, E7 will continue with Luke, Han, and Leia and will not follow any other media. Completely original story. I could see Luke in a Obi Wan like role. Han Solo, a General in the new republic. God knows what Leia is doing.

Reel

Difficulties to be overcome: Luke as an aged Jedi will be pale next to Guinness. Solo as a responsible general will be pale next to Solo the rogue. Wherever you turn: you just keep coming up against weak-tea Star Wars.