Star Wars’ New Trilogy Could Be a Disaster, but Let’s Hope for the Best

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  • Kinberg’s Spotty Track Record in Hollywood
  • This Could Be a New(er) Hope for Star Wars

As a long-time fan of the Star Wars universe, I must say that the announcement of Matt Kinberg’s new trilogy has me genuinely excited! Being a film enthusiast who grew up watching the original trilogy, the prequels, and the sequels, I can appreciate the importance of both continuing the story with beloved characters and exploring fresh ideas.

Yet another day, a fresh addition to the Star Wars film series was unveiled. According to recent reports, Simon Kinberg is now on board with Lucasfilm to pen and produce a brand-new Star Wars trilogy. What was initially reported as an extension of The Skywalker Saga, slated as Episodes X, XI, and XII, has since been clarified as an independent trilogy featuring a distinct group of characters. Few specifics have been disclosed, with Lucasfilm yet to make an official statement; however, it seems that this upcoming Star Wars trilogy is indeed in the works.

10 years ago, the announcement of a fresh Star Wars trilogy would have sent waves across the internet, igniting excitement among fans. Even five years ago, such news might have stirred anticipation. However, after several false alarms and setbacks with Star Wars, as well as my own past projects, this recent news was received with more doubt than enthusiasm. It leaves us questioning whether Lucasfilm’s plans align with the desires of the fanbase, and if there is any real hope that this new trilogy will come to fruition. As a dedicated sci-fi enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a sense of cautious optimism as we wait for more information.

Kinberg’s Spotty Track Record in Hollywood

Easily, the biggest cause for concern is Simon Kinberg himself. On the surface, Kinberg is a solid choice, as he has a good history with Star Wars. He was a co-producer on Disney’s first-ever Star Wars project, the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. He also wrote some of the series most memorable episodes, like the two-episode premiere “Spark of Rebellion”, the politically thoughtful “Call to Action”, the epic Season 1 finale “Fire Across the Galaxy”, and co-wrote the two-part finales for Season 2 and the series finale. His contributions to Star Wars: Rebels are some of the best in the franchise, and the animated series has aged incredibly well over the years. Kinberg also had worked on a planned Boba Fett solo film before it was retooled into The Book of Boba Fett streaming series.

What’s causing Star Wars enthusiasts to worry is the period when Kinberg was involved in the Marvel film series under 20th Century Fox. Although his name appears as a writer for several praised films during that time, he held various roles. He was the sole credited screenwriter for the critically acclaimed X-Men: Days of Future Past, but he also wrote the disappointing sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse alone.

Apart from that, he has contributed to the screenplays for films like X-Men: The Last Stand and the 2015 Fantastic Four movie. It’s been noted that he was responsible for reshoots on Fantastic Four and managed a significant portion of X-Men: Apocalypse as director Bryan Singer frequently missed work on set. In terms of scripts outside the superhero genre, his works include xXx: State of the Union, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Sherlock Holmes.

As a passionate cinephile, I can proudly say that my extensive background in film production might be the reason why Lucasfilm tapped me for a role. I’ve been credited as a producer on some of the most acclaimed X-Men films like Deadpool, Logan, X-Men: First Class, and X-Men: Days of Future Past, but it remains uncertain how much creative influence I had over those projects. Beyond those blockbusters, I’ve also produced Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot trilogy and his modern adaptation of Cinderella.

It can be questionable if Kinberg would be ideal for leading a new Star Wars project, given his varied output that ranges from decent to disappointing. Currently, he hasn’t been confirmed as the director, and considering the underperformance of his recent films like ‘Dark Phoenix’ and ‘The 355’, it seems beneficial that he isn’t involved. Kinberg’s skills as a producer appear stronger than his abilities as a writer or director. The Star Wars franchise could benefit from a strong producer to navigate the development process effectively.

Is This the New Trilogy Star Wars Wants to Go With?

It would make the announcement of a new Star Wars trilogy more thrilling if Lucasfilm weren’t experiencing apparent difficulties in producing just one new Star Wars movie. Although The Mandalorian and Grogu finished production way before its 2026 release date, persistent reports of delays for the Rey-focused film have maintained a concerning trend with Star Wars films.

Lucasfilm currently has five Star Wars movies in various stages of development: besides the two already known, there are three more in active production. These include a Dawn of the Jedi movie directed by James Mangold (known for Logan), a Lando film featuring Donald Glover, and a crossover film connecting the Disney+ series like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew, all under Dave Filoni’s direction. There are also additional Star Wars films in the pipeline, such as Patty Jenkins’s Rogue Squadron and Taika Waiti’s film, though their development is still ongoing.

It’s not the first occasion a fresh “Star Wars” trilogy has been suggested. Back in February 2018, it was made public that the creators of “Game of Thrones,” David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, were planning to write a new “Star Wars” tale centered around the first Jedi. Some believe the declining quality of the final “Game of Thrones” seasons was due to their eagerness to move on to their “Star Wars” project. However, in October 2019, it was officially confirmed that Benioff and Weiss had withdrawn from their new “Star Wars” venture.

It was speculated at the time that the duo’s dedication to their Netflix agreement was the reason for Lucasfilm abandoning the project, but it couldn’t be ignored that they terminated the project only five months after the final episode of Game of Thrones aired, and were met with widespread criticism from both fans and critics. The irony wasn’t lost on many that by rushing to finish Game of Thrones, they may have missed their opportunity with Star Wars.

After the release of The Last Jedi in December 2017, it was Rian Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy that was announced, which was scheduled to follow the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. However, details about Johnson’s plans for this trilogy were never shared publicly. Due to factors such as the mixed response to The Last Jedi, Johnson’s busy schedule due to Knives Out and its sequels, Disney changing their Star Wars strategy towards Disney+ series, and delays in all film projects following the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears that this trilogy is no longer in development.

It seems that although Lucasfilm hasn’t formally declared the cancellation of the trilogy, it doesn’t seem to be a top concern for them or Johnson at the moment. This is because out of the two Star Wars trilogy plans that were revealed since 2017, neither has come to fruition, which makes being enthusiastic about this one somewhat challenging.

This Could Be a New(er) Hope for Star Wars

To put it simply, there’s still much to look forward to regarding Kinberg’s upcoming Star Wars trilogy. One encouraging sign is that they seem to be addressing a common fan concern proactively: not having a predetermined plan. The news of Kinberg joining the Star Wars team mentioned he would handle both writing and production for a new trilogy. Interestingly, when Lucasfilm first announced their acquisition in 2012, they only confirmed the making of Episodes VII, VIII, and IX without any writers or directors assigned at that time.

Instead of hiring individual writers and directors for each film installment, they are assigning Simon Kinberg as the creative overseer for this upcoming trilogy, suggesting a predetermined beginning and end. Although having a plan doesn’t ensure success, it shows that Lucasfilm has acknowledged some fans’ complaints about the sequel trilogy lacking a cohesive narrative arc.

Additionally, it’s been reported that Kinberg and Lucasfilm are choosing not to produce a new trilogy for the Skywalker Saga, opting instead to concentrate on fresh characters. A frequent complaint about current Star Wars productions is their overreliance on established characters and fan nostalgia, rather than introducing new characters or delving into unexplored concepts. The only instance where Lucasfilm attempted to delve into a new era in the Star Wars timeline without prior characters was The Acolyte, but this series was met with a widespread, organized backlash even before any footage was shown.

Although Lucasfilm ended the series, they aren’t shying away from broadening the Star Wars universe by introducing fresh characters. Characters like those in Kinberg’s Star Wars: Rebels have garnered a fan following and are now transitioning into live-action, which means he is likely to introduce exciting new elements to the Star Wars universe.

It’s possible that if Kinberg works as the writer and producer for this new Star Wars trilogy, he might invite various directors to lead these films instead. The director of ‘Godzilla Minus One’, Takashi Yamazaki, has shared that he was approached for multiple projects, suggesting it’s plausible that the upcoming Star Wars trilogy was one of those offers.

At present, all of this is mere conjecture, but the upcoming Star Wars trilogy offers an exceptional chance to bring on board some fresh, innovative voices. By 2024, directors like Jane Schoenbrun (known for ‘I Saw the TV Glow’), Rose Glass (‘Love Lies Bleeding’), Lee Isaac Chung (‘Twisters’), Adil & Bilall (‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’), and Halina Reijn (‘Babygirl’) are just a few examples of talented filmmakers who could potentially join Lucasfilm. Their involvement would undoubtedly spark great enthusiasm and anticipation, as they have the potential to offer Star Wars a fresh perspective.

Though some fans may express reservations about a new Star Wars trilogy helmed by Kinberg, given that Rian Johnson might have been a more buzzworthy choice, there remains ample reason for excitement. Kinberg’s proposed trilogy could be just what the Star Wars franchise needs to transition from the “Mandoverse” epoch and venture into uncharted territory – an experience that can be both daunting and exhilarating. After all, recall the anticipation surrounding The Force Awakens or the invigorating feeling when The Mandalorian first premiered.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel an irresistible excitement for upcoming standalone films like “Rey” and “Dawn of the Jedi.” However, there’s something deeply satisfying about the idea of a new Star Wars trilogy, given the franchise’s rich history. This could mark the dawn of a fresh era for Star Wars on Disney+.

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2024-11-10 05:03