Star Wars

[Fives]

Disney will be fine with a metal bikini.

Ah, duh! How did I forget about that! I guess so, then.

One thing I'm particularly excited about is what sorts of new alien species the film could introduce, and perhaps Serkis could be playing a main character from a new species, like Jar Jar (yet hopefully very unlike Jar Jar). Also, do you think all the cast members are necessarily playing humans? Its something worth wondering.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Fives

[BrickG]

Well I'm pretty sure

Also, do you think all the cast members are necessarily playing humans? Its something worth wondering.

Well I'm pretty sure Peter Mayhew is playing Chewie who is not human but a giant fur ball known as a Wookiee. I'm surprised you didn't notice. ;)

[Fives]

Well I'm pretty sure

Well I'm pretty sure Peter Mayhew is playing Chewie who is not human but a giant fur ball known as a Wookiee. I'm surprised you didn't notice. ;)

Thats obvious. I mean out of the new cast members, not the original ones. I think its a safe bet that Serkis will be playing some alien, but Driver could also. Maybe even Boyega. Its just interesting to think about the possibilities.

[Darth Lurtz]

It would be nice if one of the characters was a Chiss. That race has yet to be represented in any film or series.

[Brickadeer]

Rumor: we might get a non-TCW Ventress :)

http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=16587

[BrickG]

I don't want a Chiss. Star Wars is known for not doing the whole "human but with a different skin color and/or forehead" thing too much. Chiss are literally just blue humans with red eyes.

[Fives]

Rumor: we might get a non-TCW Ventress :)

http://www.jedinews....px?newsID=16587

I don't want a Chiss. Star Wars is known for not doing the whole "human but with a different skin color and/or forehead" thing too much. Chiss are literally just blue humans with red eyes.

That is some interesting information. Hopefully only some of it is true. I also don't like the idea of them using Ventress in the film. They've handled her story well in Clone Wars, and she seems like a weird choice to be included in the new movie. Without Anakin or Obi-Wan, I feel like she would feel out of place. Also, unless the Nightsisters age differently than humans, she'd be too old for Lupita Nyong'o to believably play.

As for the Chiss, I agree. I've always loved Star Wars because its aliens are usually so drastically different from humans, unlike Star Trek. The Chiss have always been one of my least favourite species simply because they are boring. Visually, there isn't much too them, and the whole species is famous for basically one madman with a fleet, and a madman who isn't even canon anymore at that!

[Clone OPatra]

The only tidbit from that Jedinews article that I care about whether or not it is true is the line about the big bad not being a Sith. I really, really, hope that is the case. If they go the route of all Force sensitive people fighting Force sensitive people, I feel like that would lead to disaster. We need some real, human, relatable characters back in these movies.

[BrickBob Studpants]

As for the Chiss, I agree. I've always loved Star Wars because its aliens are usually so drastically different from humans, unlike Star Trek. The Chiss have always been one of my least favourite species simply because they are boring.

Exactly The alien designs in SW are usually very imaginative and iconic, with a few exceptions of course (the Chiss being one of them ). There's already a perfectly fine humanoid species with blue skin and red eyes - the Duros (speaking of which: who'd also like to see Cad Bane in Episode 7? ). The designer who came up with that probably decided to simply reuse an already existing species and make it less visually interesting for some reason

Edit: @Clone OPatra: But there has to be a Sith somewhere... Or do you seriously want to suggest a SW movie that doesn't have lightsaber duels? That's like having an Indy movie without a magical artifact or a Bond movie without an over-the-top bad guy

Edited May 1, 2014 by Lego-Freak

[Fives]

I'm intrigued by the idea of the overarching villain of the trilogy being non-Sith. However, that doesn't mean that whatever it is can't be Force sensitive. The Sith had their heyday with the formation of the Empire, yet they eventually failed. One thing I feel that The Clone Wars did a good job of showing is that the Force is much larger than we realize, and not so cut and dry as only Jedi and Sith, as demonstrated by the Mortis arc and Yoda's story.

I could see Adam Driver's character starting off as a student much like Anakin, and being tempted by some mysterious wielder of Dark Force energy, undefined by the paradigms of either Order. Whether or not this being exists within the physical world or not could be unknown, and slowly explored throughout the trilogy. I dunno, I'm just spouting out thoughts.

As for things like Cad Bane, I'd be very upset is they decided to use this new trilogy to tie up loose ends from old stories. Its a NEW trilogy, so give us something that has its own feel. The OT has a very particular feel, the PT has its own style, so the ST very much needs to be able to stand on its own without relying on cameos for support. I wouldn't be surprised if the new EU will explore much more of the Dark Times, seeing as how Rebels takes place in that era. That is where CW-only characters deserve their time; in books and comics and games. Leave the new trilogy to become their own entity within the Star Wars universe.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Fives

[Clone OPatra]

If they can strike a nice balance between the lightsaber duels of the OT and the lightsaber duels of the PT, then perhaps I'd be willing to see lightsaber duels. They just got rather out of hand in the PT though, even if they were a bit cool anyway.

I'm really just hoping for some nice, not 100% awesome at everything characters. The PT has zero human characters because all of the protagonists are Jedi who are too awesome to be relatable.

[The Legonater]

I agree, the Sith have been done to death. While I won't necessarily be angry if they used Sith in the new trilogy, a non-Sith villain would definitely be a welcomed change of pace.

[BrickBob Studpants]

Well, as long as the villain is force-sensitive and/or wields a lightsaber, I'm fine with it I mean, what are the alternatives? A bounty hunter? Jar-Jar Binks? Some lame Imperial admiral? Since yeah, those Imperial officers were clearly the iconic villains of the OT; who needs dull, boring villains like Vader and Palpatine when you have Admiral Piett and the like Tarkin sure is memorable, but would Episode IV have worked without Vader? Of course not The new villain has a lot to live up to and I don't think he stands a chance if he doesn't possess any special abilities to match those of our heroes Of course the character needs to be fleshed out and well written too, but he also has to turn into something iconic, this is SW after all and not just some throwaway fantasy film

[Spider-Man]

I'm really just hoping for some nice, not 100% awesome at everything characters. The PT has zero human characters because all of the protagonists are Jedi who are too awesome to be relatable.

This is an interesting bit of information that I haven't heard before as a reason to dislike the PT. Since I am in my early 20's I grew up with the PT and watched the OT as well obviously but I never really understood the hate for the PT. Thinking about the OT as a complete separate identity with relatable characters is just really interesting to me, and considering the protagonists in the PT being relatively un-relatable I can definitely understand how that would make some feel differently about the PT. I am all for a movie with regular people that are good at only a handful of things. With all the superhero movies out there now it would be really refreshing to just seems some regular humans doing amazing things.

[The Legonater]

Well, as long as the villain is force-sensitive and/or wields a lightsaber, I'm fine with it I mean, what are the alternatives? A bounty hunter? Jar-Jar Binks? Some lame Imperial admiral? Since yeah, those Imperial officers were clearly the iconic villains of the OT; who needs dull, boring villains like Vader and Palpatine when you have Admiral Piett and the like Tarkin sure is memorable, but would Episode IV have worked without Vader? Of course not The new villain has a lot to live up to and I don't think he stands a chance if he doesn't possess any special abilities to match those of our heroes Of course the character needs to be fleshed out and well written too, but he also has to turn into something iconic, this is SW after all and not just some throwaway fantasy film

I think Thrawn pretty well proves that you can take a General or officer or whatever and have them be a pretty memorable villain. People like Zsinj or Xizor also show you don't need force powers to be a serious threat.

[wesker]

Edit: @Clone OPatra: But there has to be a Sith somewhere... Or do you seriously want to suggest a SW movie that doesn't have lightsaber duels? That's like having an Indy movie without a magical artifact or a Bond movie without an over-the-top bad guy

The bad guy can still be involved in a lightsaber duel without being a Sith Lord. Just look at General Grievous, Pre Vizsla and Mother Talzin.

[Mr Man]

Mother Talzin.

For all intents and purposes the nightsisters are Sith.

[BrickBob Studpants]

@The Legonator: Yeah, but I'm not sure that kind of villain could carry a whole trilogy of films A Thrawn type villain could never have a mano-a-mano battle with the heroes (a major element and highlight that's present in all six films) and I'm not sure how a regular non-force-user military type guy could go up against the entirety of the newly re-established Jedi Order I wouldn't mind it if it was a secondary villain, but the main villain should pose more of a threat than just a guy with an army

@wesker: He should be a force-user on top of that to really pose a threat, and neither of those you mentioned are (except Talzin) Again, those are more secondary villains.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for change, but they shouldn't change the core elements that make the series recognizable as such Just don't fix it if it ain't broken

[Brickadeer]

I'm pretty curious about EP VII. I'm curious about the type of villain they present, and, more importantly, about the goals he's trying to achieve. "Trying to become the ruler of the galaxy and super-powerful" basically is what the PT is about. Doing the same thing with a non-forcewielder would be a bit, well, pointless. Sidious was the "bad guy" only because the republic was "good", and when he overthrew it, it became the "evil" empire. With his defeat, I think the natural assumption is that the republic has returned to a state of "good" again. If there'd simply be a "new" and "good" republic, the initial situation would be too similar to the initial situation in EP I, thus I think it should and it will be more complicated since the galaxy will not yet have recovered from Sidious' reign.

As for the question whether or not the villain has to be force sensitive: I think that any good villain has to relate to the force in one way or another, and without the ability to manipulate or act through the force directly, he's not in control.

[BrickBob Studpants]

As for the question whether or not the villain has to be force sensitive: I think that any good villain has to relate to the force in one way or another, and without the ability to manipulate or act through the force directly, he's not in control.

Exactly In my opinion, the force is and always has been the center of the story. Removing the dark side of the force would be like having a story set in the Harry Potter universe featuring a Muggle villain, a Middle-Earth story without an evil Maiar overlord acting in the background or a Marvel/DC story that doesn't feature any super-powered villains (CA:TWS is the exception here, but it's just one film among many in the MCU) The story takes place 30 years after ROTJ, so there's plenty of time for the new Jedi Order to establish itself (even though most of the Jedi will be very young) and the thought that all force-users will refrain from the dark side seems quite ludicrous to me The new villain doesn't have to relate to Palpatine, he might just as well fall to the dark side on his own terms (perhaps by stumbling upon some ancient Sith holocrons ).

Edited May 3, 2014 by Lego-Freak

[Brickadeer]

I agree in part. But it should be equally clear that the force played a more subtle role in the OT than it did in the PT:

In ANH, it was Luke who destroyed the Death Star, which happened through Obi Wan's guidance, Lukes abilities and, of course, Han's intervention. But these are facts that are apparant to the audience only and that are not "public knowledge".

In ESB, the force practically plays no role for the rebellion against the empire.

In ROTJ, the role of Luke and consequently the force is crucial, but subtle. Luke rescued Han who later is responsible for the destruction of the imperial bunker on Endor and thus enables the rebel fleet to destroy the Death Star. And it is Luke who saved the rebels at Endor from being killed by the Ewoks. But the bunker and the Death Star were destroyed by the rebels, non-forcewielders, and again, Lukes role will remain unknown.

Even if there is a new Jedi Order, what will his role be? Speaking frankly, the Jedi Order has failed miserably in protecting the galaxy. Do the average people know the difference between Jedi and Sith? Will they entrust forcewielders with their protection, or will they suspect all kinds of forcewielders? If so, can trust be regained? How "interventionist" will the Jedi be? And, after the success of the rebellion, will the people think that they actually need protection from forcewielders? Anakin fell because he acted selfish. But might not the use of the force for the "public good" and non-selfish goals equally lead to the dark side?

So I think there are a couple of question that may be posed and answered by the new trilogy.

[Faefrost]

For all intents and purposes the nightsisters are Sith.

Actually no. In the now cannon TCW they were specifically not Sith, and accessed the Force via ways very different from Sith and Jedi. The common element in all is the force. But there have been some implications that there are other users beyond the extremes held by the Jedi and the Sith. Heck by the end of TCW we started to see two main characters, one Jedi and one more or less Sith walk away and start to follow more balanced paths.

[Artanis I]

For all intents and purposes the nightsisters are Sith.

Actually no. In the now cannon TCW they were specifically not Sith, and accessed the Force via ways very different from Sith and Jedi.

Talzin mentions to Mace Windu how unlike Jedi etc, her power is through black magic, she herself is not force-sensitive. Hence needing to extract the living force out of Queen Thingy into the orb.

So how does black magic work... Um... Magic?

[Mr Man]

Actually no. In the now cannon TCW they were specifically not Sith, and accessed the Force via ways very different from Sith and Jedi. The common element in all is the force. But there have been some implications that there are other users beyond the extremes held by the Jedi and the Sith. Heck by the end of TCW we started to see two main characters, one Jedi and one more or less Sith walk away and start to follow more balanced paths.

Really? All I'm seeing is bad guys using the force. What about Ventress, Maul, and Savage? All are nightsisters (well brothers) but still Sith.

Talzin mentions to Mace Windu how unlike Jedi etc, her power is through black magic, she herself is not force-sensitive. Hence needing to extract the living force out of Queen Thingy into the orb.

So how does black magic work... Um... Magic?

I just got the implication that they didn't know how they were using the force and the magic trappings are just there to help them.

[Brickdoctor]

Yeah, but I'm not sure that kind of villain could carry a whole trilogy of films A Thrawn type villain could never have a mano-a-mano battle with the heroes (a major element and highlight that's present in all six films)

I agree to some extent. Characters like Xizor, Isard, and Daala were excellent, not Force-sensitive primary antagonists in novels that I enjoyed, while powerful Force-using villains like Abeloth showed up in books that I didn't enjoy. However, those villains were all powerful through military strategy, political influence, or both, and too much of that will just repeat the mistake that the prequels with all those Senate scenes. And yes, I know what the PT advocates are going to say: that the political intrigue added depth to the storyline of the Republic falling apart. Still not very exciting. Stuff like that is fine in a three- to five hundred page novel, but not in a two hour movie.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against having that type of character as a supporting villain, especially if he's a competent military leader involved in a big space battle, but I think there still needs to be some Big Bad to have a lightsaber battle with.

I do think that Thrawn himself would be an excellent choice of villain, because he's more of the evil genius type than the politically powerful type. He seems like the villain who would go into that mano-a-mano battle with the heroes and spring something utterly ingenious that you never saw coming. Then you'd be left thinking that he's foreseen everything just like Palpatine did in Jedi. It's also worth noting that the Thrawn Trilogy did have its Force-sensitive villain, C'Baoth, and he never seemed like a tiresome, "just another Dark Jedi" sort of villain. (Which could just be because he was introduced relatively early to the EU.)

But overall, yeah, I'd prefer if they stayed away from the politically powerful villains. Being a Thrawn Trilogy fanboy just makes me believe that that particular book series would still work out.