Disney to Make Star Wars Episode VII: Will the Force Be With Them?
A long, long time ago (in Internet time) I expressed my desire to see Star Wars re-imagined and remade. With the news today that Disney has bought Lucasfilm and plans to run and grow the Star Wars universe, my hope has been rekindled.
Disney could make a mess of this opportunity, further cementing the iconic tale of Han, Luke and Leia into the status of an odd gem among colorless rocks.
In my Force-sensitive opinion, they can avoid this fall to the dark side by giving free rein to a brilliantly talented writer/director to re-envision and re-establish the whole Star Wars universe. Brad Bird, Joss Whedon, and (half-kidding) Paul Thomas Anderson come to mind. Bird and Whedon can do grand, funny, and intimate. Anderson could delve into the character dynamics and religious dimensions of the Jedi. Boogie Jedi Knights!
Forget continuity with Lucas’s creation: take the basic elements and make something new that other writers and directors down the line can expand and develop. The “galaxy far, far away” could become the playground of many a unique visionary. I would keep the blended mythology of futuristic technology and hodge-podge mysticism, the Jedi Order and the Force, of course, plus epic space battles and fantastic lightsaber duals; but it’s time for new characters, less uniform settings, and unconventional plots.
As for casting, Amy Acker must be given the lead role. This is a must. The cosmos, normally uncaring, demands a Jedi Amy Acker. Chris Hemsworth, Gina Torroes, and Chiwetel Ejiofor would be great Jedi as well. Need Sith? Try Summer Glau, Eliza Dushku, and Harry Lennix. Oh, let’s face it: anyone who’s ever worked with Joss Whedon should be in this movie or one of its sequels. The wise old leader part belongs to Fran Kranz.
Clearly I’ve reach geek overload. Breathe Kyle. Breathe.
Joss and Jane, working together again? It is to hope!