The Force Awakens Should the Sequel Trilogy bring back the Old Characters?

[Octoberist]

OT did reference PT, but in passing for exposition. Like in A New Hope with Luke and Obi talking about Luke's dad. But it didn't play a factor into the ACTUAL story in A New Hope, just a brief backstory.

 

[Gianakin_]

Ah, now I get you. In that case I completely agree.

 

[CGHulk]

Well they could bring back Fisher and Hamill, Luke and Leia as Jedi elders, but I doubt Harrison would come back and play Han.

 

[Octoberist]

But that's the thing. I don't want a BS obligatory scene where Leia looks at Han's photo and says "Ahh..I miss Han. Too bad he died so young!"

It stinks of Jaws: The Revenge and Indy 4. Or even Superman 3, where it was explained that Lois was on assignment in some foreign country since Kidder didn't want to come back. Stupid.

 

[Gianakin_]

Same here. I'd rather they not be addressed at all. That's why I'm of the opinion either bring back the big 3 or just Luke.

 

[psylockolussus]

I want a lot of new characters with a few old characters.

Episode VII should be a fresh start but they shouldn't totally ignore the previous films.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

But that's the thing. I don't want a BS obligatory scene where Leia looks at Han's photo and says "Ahh..I miss Han. Too bad he died so young!"

It stinks of Jaws: The Revenge and Indy 4. Or even Superman 3, where it was explained that Lois was on assignment in some foreign country since Kidder didn't want to come back. Stupid.

Yeah but she did come back, but just for the scene where she says she's going to Bermuda and then when she gets back at the end.

 

[Doctor Jones]

It's so difficult to reconcile because if you do go with post ROTJ, do you make up your own story and contiue to use the original character(s), erasing prexisting canon built for the past 30 years or can you just avoid all of that and start it thousands of years later? The latter is a nice solution. Because the former presents so many damn issues. Think about it, should we see Han and Leia's kids? If so, should they be Jacen and Jana? Or should they be new characters? That's just an example where they could run ino a lot of trouble in figuring stuff like that out.

I see this Disney owned SW as the new era of SW, starting completely new. To really signify this and to distance itself from the previous era of what Lucas owned, Disney has the ripe opportunity to do their own thing. It's still SW, but clearly theirs now.

 

[Gianakin_]

1000 years is too far into the future, methinks. 200 years would be more to my liking.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I wouldn't mind that either. Could be 300 years or something.

Now would Luke still be around for that long? I imagine Jedi live longer lives or I'm just thinking of Yoda and his species having a long lasting lifetime.

 

[Gianakin_]

Yoda's species live that long, 800-900 years. Humans also live longer in the SW universe, if they follow the EU. I mean, look is 60 in the books now and he looks like 45. Han is 71 and looks like he's 55. And it's not a matter of appearances. It's been stated they live longer.

However, even for a Jedi, 322 would be pushing it. The problem here is Legacy, which is set 120 years after ANH. Ideally I'd want Ep7 to take place 100 years after RotJ, but unless they retcon Legacy, this can't be done, as Luke is long gone in that comic.

 

[DChero]

I'd really like to see all three return in more of a mentor role. If Ford doesn't want to come back, then I'm fine with Luke and Leah. I don't think that it should be all or none. This is Star Wars, the whole saga is centered around the Skywalker family (on film).

 

[Iceman]

I don't think they need to completely distance themselves from what is essentially the biggest blockbuster series ever. Something completely new with no links to what came before has no guarantee of beating out the likes of Avengers as it will just be a massive new modern blockbuster. On the other hand something new (with all new main characters) but complete with nostalgic links to what succeeded before will do a much better job of returning all those superhyped (probably highest hype for any film ever) fans who were put off by the prequels & can be the biggest film of all. You can more effectively capture 3 generations, those who saw it in the 70s, those who saw it for the 1st time in the 90s or later or grew up with the prequels & the young crowd.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

I don't think they need to completely distance themselves from what is essentially the biggest blockbuster series ever. Something completely new with no links to what came before has no guarantee of beating out the likes of Avengers as it will just be a massive new modern blockbuster. On the other hand something new (with all new main characters) but complete with nostalgic links to what succeeded before will do a much better job of returning all those superhyped (probably highest hype for any film ever) fans who were put off by the prequels & can be the biggest film of all. You can more effectively capture 3 generations, those who saw it in the 70s, those who saw it for the 1st time in the 90s or later or grew up with the prequels & the young crowd.

Appeal to...

1. The OT-only fans by including Hamill.

2. The PT-only fans by default (plus familiar locations such as Coruscant)

3. People who were never into Star Wars by having it seem like its own distinct, interesting entity. This is done through careful marketing.

I'd say if done right, it would put Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II to shame in the box office. We're talking massive built-in audiences on top of newcomers.

 

[Iceman]

Appeal to...

1. The OT-only fans by including Hamill.

2. The PT-only fans by default (plus familiar locations such as Coruscant)

3. People who were never into Star Wars by having it seem like its own distinct, interesting entity. This is done through careful marketing.

I'd say if done right, it would put Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II to shame in the box office. We're talking massive built-in audiences on top of newcomers.

Yup, domestically at least every new Star Wars film should always be top dog. People point to the prequel's success but that doesn't mean they reached the levels they should have. If TPM was as widely well regarded as Empire who knows where it could have got to. Internationally with the right marketing they should all be doing $1.5B + if they cover all their bases (as in your post). Plenty of room for improvement oustide US.

It's a very rich universe especially when you consider all the extended fiction (but even without) and the best way to showcase that is by linking everything together while telling new stories with new main characters. The GA responds to this kind of thing as is shown by Avenger's success having linked together the previous Marvel films.

 

[LegendAssemble]

But that's the thing. I don't want a BS obligatory scene where Leia looks at Han's photo and says "Ahh..I miss Han. Too bad he died so young!"

It stinks of Jaws: The Revenge and Indy 4. Or even Superman 3, where it was explained that Lois was on assignment in some foreign country since Kidder didn't want to come back. Stupid.

If they got Billy Dee Williams to come back and explained something happened to Han in a way that fits the story it would be just fine.

 

[Doc Ock]

But that's the thing. I don't want a BS obligatory scene where Leia looks at Han's photo and says "Ahh..I miss Han. Too bad he died so young!"

It stinks of Jaws: The Revenge and Indy 4. Or even Superman 3, where it was explained that Lois was on assignment in some foreign country since Kidder didn't want to come back. Stupid.

Yeah that would really suck. But what are the chances Harrison will even want to come back?

 

[Iceman]

Yeah that would really suck. But what are the chances Harrison will even want to come back?

He came back for Indy so he must have some nostalgia potential to him. Han Solo is his other most recognisable/loved character & if someone wrote him a cool enough cameo I'd be surprised that he wouldn't find the idea interesting. Getting any of the big 3 back in any capacity would enhance the new films for me. Even if as brief (but as cool) as Wolverine's cameo in First Class.

 

[BritishChap007]

This notion that the sequel trilogy shouldn't have the Skywalkers in it is just wrong. I see the viewpoint, but that'd be more like a spinoff if you will, a Bourne Legacy even, than a sequel trilogy.

Disney has stated it's planning on making other Star Wars movies. If this one wasn't a sequel, they wouldn't be calling it a sequel trilogy and it wouldn't be episode VII.

But, at minimum, R2 and 3PO need to be in this

 

[FCEEVIPER]

Small roles or cameos would rock. imo

 

[LegendAssemble]

My God, random internet dude changed my life with his opinion. Thank you so much.

Thats not an opinion thats just an example of how it makes no sense. Theres no opinion involved in saying that Obi-Wans story to Luke is completely unrelated to what actually happened.

 

[LegendAssemble]

Yoda's species live that long, 800-900 years. Humans also live longer in the SW universe, if they follow the EU. I mean, look is 60 in the books now and he looks like 45. Han is 71 and looks like he's 55. And it's not a matter of appearances. It's been stated they live longer.

However, even for a Jedi, 322 would be pushing it. The problem here is Legacy, which is set 120 years after ANH. Ideally I'd want Ep7 to take place 100 years after RotJ, but unless they retcon Legacy, this can't be done, as Luke is long gone in that comic.

That also doesn't make sense seeing as Obi-Wan is 57ish in A New Hope but he looks like he's in his late 60s. Idealy the story would take place 30 years after Return of the Jedi and not be some stupid 100 years later plot.

 

[Iceman]

This notion that the sequel trilogy shouldn't have the Skywalkers in it is just wrong. I see the viewpoint, but that'd be more like a spinoff if you will, a Bourne Legacy even, than a sequel trilogy.

Disney has stated it's planning on making other Star Wars movies. If this one wasn't a sequel, they wouldn't be calling it a sequel trilogy and it wouldn't be episode VII.

But, at minimum, R2 and 3PO need to be in this

Once they get to 9 or 12 films I'd like to see at least one constant through all the films & it could well be those 2. I can see why some don't want it but the Skywalker bloodline is a massive part of Star Wars to me. Yeah, if they continue with the numbering then it is automatically a sequel rather than just a totally new film set within the same universe and so has to retain all the history and have some relevance to what has gone before.

 

[Destructus86]

I think it would be best that Luke makes an appearance as a council leader in the New Jedi Order. He can reference Han and Leia. Leia, who works in the senate of the New Republic and Han who has retired and Chewie who is off with his family.

 

[BritishChap007]

Once they get to 9 or 12 films I'd like to see at least one constant through all the films & it could well be those 2. I can see why some don't want it but the Skywalker bloodline is a massive part of Star Wars to me. Yeah, if they continue with the numbering then it is automatically a sequel rather than just a totally new film set within the same universe and so has to retain all the history and have some relevance to what has gone before.

Absolutely. The film needs to be directly related to the aftermath of the OT, in some form or another, and the best way to do that is Skywalker blood.

Lucas has always said that 3PO and R2 are telling the story in a way, so they must remain and I have high hopes they will.