The Star Wars franchise holds a special place in my heart.
The films that made up the original trilogy were the first movies I can remember watching – and on laserdisc of all things. I owned multiple lightsabers as a child and probably dressed up as Darth Vader for one too many Halloweens.
I still watch these films at least once annually for a healthy dose of nostalgia because, well, they’re just that damn good.
But when I heard last week that the series’ creator, George Lucas, sold the franchise to Disney and announced a new Star Wars trilogy coming out in 2015, all I could think was, “No. That’s not true. That’s impossible.”
After enduring the prequels – movies I admittedly enjoyed as a child but quickly outgrew as an adult – I had hoped the legacy of Star Wars could live on through the original trilogy’s success and impact without any further tainting. This news struck me as a great disturbance in the force.
That isn’t to say it’s completely improbable these new Star Wars movies could be a success.
It has long been rumored that Star Wars was meant to be a nine-film series. An original story that includes minor roles from the original cast could be exactly what the franchise needs to revive itself.
Entertainment Weekly has already reported that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have all expressed interest in reprising their roles as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
These movies will also have more freedom to maneuver than the latest trilogy.
The prequels were limited in that their conclusion was already set and it was all about setting the stage for the originals. Key events alluded to in the originals, like the “clone wars,” had to be included for continuity.
The new trilogy won’t have to suffer from that weakness and can go in any direction they wish.
Additionally, Disney is a capable company that can revive Star Wars’ image and make this trilogy a success. Disney’s Pixar films have a consistent record of critical acclaim, and its relationship with the comic book company Marvel brought us this year’s most successful movie, “The Avengers.”
However, while I enjoyed “The Avengers,” it wasn’t even my favorite superhero movie of the year. I was much more attracted to the depth brought by “The Dark Knight Rises” – a depth that can similarly be found in the original Star Wars films.
If you pay attention to “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” you may notice a change from the first movie. While the first Star Wars film was very much an entertaining action/adventure story, the last two films offered much more character growth and struggle.
The final two chapters in the original trilogy almost solely revolved around the personality struggle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader and introduced much deeper adult-oriented themes.
Try as I might, I can’t see Disney producing a film as dark as “Empire” or a battle of wills as deep and enthralling as the one among the Emperor, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in “Return of the Jedi.”
There’s also that nagging voice in the back of my head that Disney will focus the trilogy toward children and only want to cash-in on the franchise’s merchandise.
And that’s what is really worrying me.
The original trilogy may have captured my imagination as a child, but it still holds my interest as an adult and as a cinephile. It deserves a worthy successor that can stand its ground as a high-quality movie.
Otherwise, it shouldn’t be made.
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2012 file photo, George Lucas arrives at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. A decade after George Lucas said "Star Wars" was finished on the big screen, a new trilogy is destined for theaters after The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, that it was buying Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles File)
