In the old, now-non-canon Expanded Universe Star Wars books, there were anthologies such as Tales From The Mos Eisley Cantina and Tales of the Bounty Hunters, which wove backstories for all of the background characters in some of the original trilogy’s most notable scenes. Some were jokey, some were just weird (Dengar asked Boba Fett to be his best man? Really?), but, combined, they did a great job of making the Star Wars universe seem larger and richer.
With 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (85% on the Tomatometer), the new Solo origin story in theaters this week (currently at 70%), and a rumored Obi-Wan stand-alone film already in development —hopefully with Ewan McGregor reprising the role — the fact is that there’s going to be new Star Wars product stretching way off into the future like a never-ending opening scroll.
And let’s be honest: We’ve all wondered what Lobot was doing after Lando fled Bespin, or how Dex’s Diner serves millions of species with presumably wildly different physiologies, or how there could possibly be enough droids wandering the desert to make operating a Jawa Sandcrawler remotely economic. But before we get to exploring those clearly necessary stories, here are some slightly more marketable ideas for Disney to ponder for it’s next big Star Wars Story.
The Empire Strikes Back
Tagline: Credits Where Credits Are Due.
(Photo by © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection)
In what’s now considered Legends (the new title for the old Expanded Universe for those not in the know), the Rogue Squadron books and comics stood out for being a) rollicking good adventure stories and b) not being garbage. Why not go back to that model, showing the military hero of every trilogy battle putting together a Dirty Dozen-style strike team of ragtag misfits featuring a brash young pilot with preternatural skills, with Wedge (a returned Denis Lawson) trying to teach Poe (Oscar Isaac, with bangs) discipline and maturity against the backdrop of the rising First Order? Admit it: Who doesn’t want Space Top Gun?
Tagline: Look At The Size Of THIS Thing!
(Photo by © Disney XD / courtesy Everett Collection)
He was the breakout character of the old Expanded Universe, so undeniable that Rebels was forced to introduce him. And let’s be honest: Showing an Imperial that wasn’t merely in it for the power or Sith-related evil added complexity to a series that has recently shown a welcome willingness to deal in shades of grey. Thrawn seeks order, which is an entirely reasonable aspiration for a system of government, and the idea that the Empire had smart, capable people acting for rational reasons would be a welcome change to cartoonish baddies and doofuses like Moff Jerjerrod and Admiral Hux. Plus he studies a species’ art to work out how to defeat them. Dude’s got levels.
Tagline: There is an Art to War.
(Photo by David James/© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection)
Of all of the characters in the new films, none have been so built up in the pre-release hype, and delivered so little on screen, than Phasma, played by Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie. She deserves a chance to redeem herself, frankly. And there’s a good character there, too. We’ve seen her win-at-all-costs approach in spinoff novels and comics, in which she killed her parents and assassinated the one person that knew she’d lowered the shields in The Force Awakens. So let’s see the origin story of how one plucky young woman rose to the top of… um, a bunch of space Nazis. OK, it’s maybe not as heartwarming a tale as we might like.
Tagline: Stand Tall.
(Photo by © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Lucasfilm Ltd. /Courtesy Everett Collection)
There was a deleted subplot from Revenge of the Sith that showed members of the Galactic Senate making plans for what became the Rebel Alliance. Since that plotline ended up on the cutting-room floor, it opens the way for a taut wartime thriller with Jimmy Smits and Genevieve O’Reilly trying to keep one step ahead of a suspicious Mas Amedda as they attempt to secretly build support – and military strength – against the Empire. And there are plenty of great characters to introduce that later play key roles: Dodonna, Rieekan, Madine, Ackbar, Nien Nunb, Bothan spies, those Prune Face guys… this has got fan service covered!
Tagline: Every War Has A Beginning.
The biggest problem with Maul in The Phantom Menace was that he was an eye-catching character that barely got to do anything. On the other hand, nothing ruins a character more than getting bogged down in backstory. Let’s not find out about Maul as a child; let’s see him acting as Sidious’ hand in the Coruscant underworld. Let Maul be the antagonist in a noir film about a Coruscant cop baffled by a series of unexplained political murders, perhaps getting help from a venerable Jedi named Dooku, who seems mysteriously fascinated by the case, almost as though he has some personal agenda going on…
Tagline: There’s Something Down There.
(Photo by © Lucasfilms / courtesy Everett Collection)
With the Cloud City bureaucracy in shambles, one cyborg has to renegotiate a series of complex commercial deals while settling a dispute with the Ugnaught union before… you know what? Maybe this one would be better as a stage musical.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is in theaters Friday May 24.
