To say that there is fan excitement over the new “Star Wars” films would be something of an understatement. The record number of hits for the teaser trailer shows a rapid fan base, and many are eager to see what is to come with the series.
With the Star Wars Celebration set for April 2015, and The D23 Expo set for August of 2015, they are both events where more news about the next film(s) may be revealed, and perhaps more footage will be shown.
Last week we did an analysis of the trailer and what it may mean in the larger picture. This time out I am going to look at some of the more speculative nature of where the future films will go.
It was reported that George Lucas worked with Michael Arndt on an outline for the next trilogy before JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan reworked the screenplay for Episode VII. With that in mind, this is for the most part the first film without Lucas as a screenwriter, producer, or director. Abrams is attempting to put his own stamp on the series while still being respectful to the original trilogy that inspired it. This is why it is very likely that we will see a film that is darker and more complex than what we are used to seeing. there are reports of multiple force sensitive bad guys in the film and that some characters will hold some secrets as well as connections to characters from the Prequels.
What I find interesting is that episode VIII is being written/directed by Rian Johnson who is reportedly working on Episode IX as well. So we have three films written by different people, this is new for the series as even though the originals had different screenwriters, all six films worked on a story by Lucas. As such I would think that Producer Kathleen Kennedy and the powers that be worked with Abrams and Johnson to ensure continuity as I am sure Johnson would not inherit storylines to develop and complete without some prior knowledge of where the storylines were originating from.
In a Babylon 5 esque way, the characters may very well not be as the first appear. Heroes may become bad guys and bad guys may in turn be heroes in the end. This ambiguity is great from a storytelling perspective as it is rife with dramatic potential.
Redemption and falling from grace have been key points of the series. As Anakin Skywalker embodies a fall from grace and eventual redemption so it may be a thread that is likely to continue.
Episode VII is an introduction to new characters and scenarios framed by the classic characters but it is clear that the new characters will be the ultimate movers and shakers in the films going forward.
While I would love to see happy endings for the classic characters, I am coming to terms with the notion that this simply may not be in the cards. What better way to put a stamp on the new films by seeing a beloved character die or fall from grace. I hope this is not the case but deaths of beloved and popular characters has been a regular part of the series.
To me one of the biggest keys will be the bad guys. I wrote an article last year asking how the new films can hope to do better than Darth Vader as the main bad guy and that in my opinion it would be wise not to try to do so.
The bad guys simply have to be effective to the plot they do not have to be iconic as this will happen if they are done well. There are rumors of three bad guys being Force enabled so to me this is an interesting look at the title. We were told that Anakin would bring balance to the Force and it is believed that in killing the Emperor and dying he removed the Dark Side from the galaxy and fulfilled the prophecy.
Luke has undoubtedly been locating and training other Force sensitive individuals as even during the Empire, nature still produced those with this ability.
Without the Empire hunting them down, thirty two years or so has likely produced a solid number especially if there are no restrictions on marriage or reproduction.
That being said, you cannot have light without the dark as it only stands to reason that some individuals with Force abilities would be tempted to fall or at least lean to the Dark Side. All you need is a person with abilities not to be identified and trained who give into anger, hate, fear, or any of the other triggers and start down the path.
Where said dark individuals get their training to be a threat remains a mystery so it is likely someone with prior training who has turned or someone remained hidden. My bet is that some dark individual in true Sith fashion has been hiding in the shadows and biding their time. Hence the title could be the Dark Side of the Force awakening. To me the speculation is part of the fun of the films as I cannot think of any film series that has inspired so much debate prior to the release of each new film, and with so many films in the works, it will be great to see where the series goes and to debate each new shred of information. So let me close with this, what do you think the title refers to and why?
