As a film enthusiast with over three decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I must confess that the prospect of another Star Wars trilogy leaves me with a sense of trepidation tinged with a touch of cynicism. My journey through the world of cinema has been marked by highs and lows, and my encounters with various film franchises have taught me to be wary of the allure of continuations that may not always live up to their potential.
Similar to how Emperor Palpatine was brought back, there’s talk of reviving the Skywalker Saga once more. Reports suggest that Lucasfilm is planning a fresh Star Wars trilogy, potentially extending the Skywalker Saga to Episodes 10-12. The studio has chosen an experienced veteran from the X-Men series, who has had a somewhat uneven career, to oversee this new trilogy’s development.
According to Deadline, Simon Kinberg, known for his work on X-Men films, has been hired by Lucasfilm to create a fresh Star Wars trilogy. However, The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit clarifies that this upcoming trilogy is not an extension of the Skywalker Saga, but rather a new set of movies featuring brand-new characters.
Following the release of “X-Men: The Last Stand,” which was considered the weakest film in Bryan Singer’s original trilogy, Kinberg went on to write and produce “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.” Notably, “Apocalypse” demonstrated that Singer was capable of creating something even worse than “The Last Stand.” After a series of scandals involving allegations of sexual misconduct and unacceptable conduct on set, as well as off-camera controversies, Singer was removed from the franchise. Subsequently, Kinberg took over to make his directorial debut with “Dark Phoenix,” which he also penned. Apart from the X-Men series, Kinberg’s writing portfolio includes successful films like the 2005 action comedy “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes,” as well as less successful productions such as “This Means War,” “The 355,” and the 2015 “Fantastic Four” reboot, directed by Josh Trank, which was marred by stories of inappropriate behavior on set.
All of which is to say that Kinberg’s output has been hit-and-miss, to say the least.
The Skywalker Saga Doesn’t Need a New Star Wars Trilogy
A while back, Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, emphasized that it was essential for the studio to transition beyond the Skywalker Saga. However, she didn’t rule out a potential return to the Skywalker family lineage in the future. Currently, numerous new films are being developed, such as a standalone movie about Rey directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and The Mandalorian & Grogu from Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. This suggested that Lucasfilm was indeed distancing itself from the Skywalker narrative, which concluded with the controversial Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
In the contemporary era of the Star Wars saga, the latest trilogy has been extensively analyzed, praised, criticized, and appropriated for one of the most ridiculous cultural battles in recent movie history – all while leaving a lasting impact on the franchise due to a vocal and passionate group of fans who oppose any new Star Wars content centered around women and ethnic minorities (as evidenced by the controversial review bombing of The Acolyte). It’s not about whether Lucasfilm should or shouldn’t cater to one fanbase over another, but rather that the prospect of watching three more movies focusing on the Skywalker family seems tiresome.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I find myself immersed in the evolving saga of Star Wars, tracing back to Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill in the original trilogy. This epic tale expanded with Daisy Ridley’s character Rey, who adopted her surname at the end of Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, a film that saw J.J. Abrams return to direct, concluding the trilogy. This move was met with controversy following Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, which was helmed by Rian Johnson. In The Last Jedi, Rey grappled with her unknown family lineage and accepted her anonymity. However, in The Rise of Skywalker, Abrams resurrected the iconic villain Emperor Palpatine for a highly contentious twist: Rey was revealed to be his granddaughter – a revelation that raises numerous perplexing questions regarding how and why, but primarily how? (I’d advise against overthinking it.)
It seems that whatever Lucasfilm has in store for us may not materialize any time soon, or perhaps not at all. Over the years following the reboot of the franchise with “The Force Awakens”, they have initiated and abandoned several trilogies and standalone films. Rian Johnson was initially assigned to direct a new trilogy but shifted his focus towards expanding his “Knives Out” series on Netflix. Additionally, Lucasfilm’s relationship with filmmakers has been turbulent – take the example of Phil Lord and Chris Miller being replaced by Ron Howard during the production of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”.
The next chapter in the
Star Wars
saga,
Skeleton Crew
, premieres Dec. 3 on Disney+
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2024-11-07 21:34