Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy Could Be A Fresh Start — Here’s How

by

Key Takeaways

  • Disney should view Star Wars as a genre, not a single story, in order to keep the franchise feeling fresh and appealing.
  • Simon Kinberg’s successful work on Rebels suggests he is capable of telling new and innovative Star Wars stories.
  • The Star Wars universe has endless potential beyond the Skywalker saga, offering opportunities for exploration in new time periods and realms.

As a longtime fan of the galaxy far, far away, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed in this article. For decades, Star Wars has been more than just one bloodline or one rebellion; it’s a rich tapestry of storytelling that spans across time and space. And while I appreciate the nostalgia that comes with revisiting familiar faces and places, I’m also eager to see the franchise explore new frontiers.

On November 12th, there was news that Simon Kinberg will direct the upcoming trilogy in the Star Wars universe. At this point, it’s unclear whether Kinberg will carry on the Skywalker story or introduce a new set of characters. However, to make Star Wars a truly enduring franchise, Disney might want to view the Skywalker Saga as a completed tale.

To put it simply, it’s not just a matter of characters from the Skywalker bloodline that we’re talking about here. It’s a recurring theme that seems to keep repeating itself: the struggle between the Empire/First Order and the Rebels/Resistance, the destructive power of the Death Star(s), the manipulations of Palpatine, and the Clone Wars, among others. To elaborate, since Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars universe, there have been 18 movies and series, with 14 of them set between “The Phantom Menace” and “The Rise of Skywalker.” Despite the vast possibilities for new stories, it feels like we’ve been stuck in this particular era of the galaxy. It’s high time we explored other periods and aspects of the Star Wars universe.

How Simon Kinberg Could Shake Up Star Wars

Simon Kinberg boasts an illustrious career in entertainment, penning successful films like “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Sherlock Holmes,” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” However, when it comes to upcoming projects, his most intriguing work is the “Star Wars: Rebels” series. This project marked the first release after Disney purchased Lucasfilm and discontinued several ongoing projects, aiming to steer the franchise towards fresh horizons. Notably, “Rebels” can be seen as a spiritual successor to “The Clone Wars,” which Disney terminated in its fifth season. Dave Filoni played a pivotal role in both series.

Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Carrie Beck (one of the three creators) faced a challenging task, unveiling the Disney era of Star Wars. The sequel trilogy consisting of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker ignited discussions on topics such as excessive nostalgia, inconsistent vision, catering to audiences, and numerous other Reddit-worthy themes. Meanwhile, Rebels subtly paved the way for a promising future for Star Wars.

In the realm of Star Wars, the rebels innovatively expanded upon familiar concepts while forging a fresh path. An intriguing example is the portrayal of animals as beings sensitive to the Force, a notion hinted at previously in other Star Wars productions. In the series, characters like Ezra established bonds with creatures such as fyrnocks, purrgils, and Loth-cats, offering a unique take on this idea. Although Jedi had been depicted using the Force to tame animals before, Ezra displayed an extraordinary bond with them, particularly in his interaction with the noti in Ahsoka. Furthermore, the introduction of Loth-wolves and subsequent depiction of creatures’ individual interpretations of the Force highlighted their unique capacities.

The series additionally presented fresh characters such as The Bendu, and also established numerous components that are now common in contemporary Star Wars lore. For instance, the two-episode debut featured the initial appearance of Inquisitors, while the first reference to Beskar was made in Rebels. Moreover, the idea of time travel, initially appearing unfamiliar within the Star Wars universe, was subtly introduced through “A World Between Worlds.” This is now the reason Ahsoka Tano continues to exist.

To put it simply, the Rebels series was not afraid to forge new paths within the Star Wars saga. While some of these ventures may not always resonate with audiences (such as the moped gang in The Book of Boba Fett), the Rebels series has generally been a hit. A significant contributor to this success is Simon Kinberg, who has shown an ability to step beyond conventional expectations while still appealing to core fans. If Disney grants Kinberg the freedom to tell stories outside of Tatooine, Star Wars could once again evoke the sense of a vast universe waiting to be discovered.

Star Wars Is More Than One Bloodline, One Empire, & One Rebellion

Consider viewing Star Wars as a genre rather than a single story. Although it initially started as a narrative, its lasting appeal has transformed it into something far more expansive. Over time, fans have developed a distinct language and set of expectations for the Star Wars experience, similar to those associated with horror films, romantic comedies, or action movies.

For example, that moped gang from The Book of Boba Fett? Fans decided: not Star Wars. Mace Windu’s dual lightsaber? Decidedly Star Wars. These definitions of what does and doesn’t belong in the galaxy far, far away are ones that Disney should be flexible with rather than try to shape. Just look at the prequels. There is a significant divide between fans of older and younger generations on whether elements of Episodes I-III constitute good Star Wars. And the next generation may argue in favor of aspects of the franchise that are derided today, in the same way genres of any medium evolve over the years.

Shows such as “Rebels” and “Andor,” although set in a well-known timeframe due to being commissioned by Disney, wisely choose to view “Star Wars” not just as a specific timeline but as a visual vocabulary and a framework for storytelling instead of a strict formula to replicate. Characters like Palpatine don’t necessitate a comeback, nor do viewers require updates on Obi-Wan’s life. Anakin’s tale has already been concluded, while the remnants of the Empire and the First Order have been completely eliminated.

Regardless of whether Disney hesitates about creating new tales, fans are excited at the prospect of seeing “Knights of the Old Republic” on screen. With the rule of Tenebrae and the concepts in “Star Wars: Visions”, Disney could venture into any of the 68 novels categorized as non-canonical “Star Wars Legends”. After all, if Thrawn managed to transition into canon (through “Rebels”), there’s no reason other characters and events can’t too. There’s an expansive universe of talented storytellers who have been influenced by “Star Wars”, far beyond what is shown in Episodes I-IX. Let’s hope Simon Kinberg gets the opportunity to delve into it.

Read More

2024-11-16 00:05