When Disney acquired Lucasfilm and along with it the rights to Star Wars, the news made waves all over the internet. The additional bombshell that Disney has plans to produce three more films in the series that will take up the story after the events of Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, has led to a decent amount of speculation and anxiety among Star Warslovers. Well, allay those fears.
Ask yourself: What could Disney possibly do to hurt the integrity of the Star Warscanon that George Lucas has not already done? Things like a planet of teddy bears and protracted, cutesy pod racing scenes were never beyond Lucas. Nor was any character’s dignity safe in his hands. Yoda became a CGI shell of his former self, especially following his ridiculous light-saber battle in Episode 2: The Clone Wars. Darth Vader lost most all of his menacing presence after audiences were exposed to Hayden Christensen’s whiny portrayal of Anakin Skywalker.
Lucas slowly alienated his fan base with every film after Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back. Disappointment with the creative direction of the series coupled with frustration at Lucas’s seemingly constant tinkering with the films. Fans took offense when Lucas remastered the original trilogy, updating special effects and revising elements of the story. (Han Shot First!)
Still, the loyalty of Star Wars fans has brought them back over and over again. With Disney now holding the reins, fans have reason to hope for the future of the franchise. Disney has no plans to remake the classic series. The company will give fans what they want: new Star Wars.
Lucas stated in a YouTube video that he has story treatments for Episodes 7, 8, and 9. In a press release, Disney CEO Robert Iger announced that the company will work with George Lucas and his chosen successor Kathleen Kennedy to expand the franchise in directions that are in-line with Lucas’s vision. Now we all must wait and see if Disney will find creative talent that can provide fresh eyes while treating the material with the same reverence that the fans do.
Fears of negative influence by a large corporation with only the bottom line to answer to generally prove to be well-founded in the minds of movie-franchise purists. But because of Disney’s track record with other recent acquisitions Pixar and Marvel Studios, signs point to some very happy fans exiting Episode 7 in 2015.
With any luck, Disney will make no references to Jar Jar Binks and will find the prints closest to the originals and lock them in the vault only to be rereleased occasionally and only then with very minor remastering, if any.
Still, the loyalty of Star Wars fans has brought them back over and over again. With Disney now holding the reins, fans have reason to hope for the future of the franchise. Disney has no plans to remake the classic series. The company will give fans what they want: new Star Wars.
Lucas stated in a YouTube video that he has story treatments for Episodes 7, 8, and 9. In a press release, Disney CEO Robert Iger announced that the company will work with George Lucas and his chosen successor Kathleen Kennedy to expand the franchise in directions that are in-line with Lucas’s vision. Now we all must wait and see if Disney will find creative talent that can provide fresh eyes while treating the material with the same reverence that the fans do.
Fears of negative influence by a large corporation with only the bottom line to answer to generally prove to be well-founded in the minds of movie-franchise purists. But because of Disney’s track record with other recent acquisitions Pixar and Marvel Studios, signs point to some very happy fans exiting Episode 7 in 2015.
With any luck, Disney will make no references to Jar Jar Binks and will find the prints closest to the originals and lock them in the vault only to be rereleased occasionally and only then with very minor remastering, if any.
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