The rumours have been swirling for a while now that Simon Kinberg is developing a sequel, sequel trilogy. It’s confirmed he’s developing something, but no one has disclosed what that exactly is. Kinberg himself posted a photo from Skywalker Ranch some time ago, but it’s all top secret. Rumours are running wild that Episodes X, XI & XII are gearing up, and if there was ever a time to announce this trilogy then it would be next year at the 50th anniversary celebration of the franchise.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of such an announcement.
SKYWALKER SAGA BRAND
By this I mean that our beloved saga is partially in the hands of those pesky shareholders of the Walt Disney Company. In the past, George used to please George and that was largely it. However, now there really is a hierarchy. There are the creatives at Lucasfilm, Disney execs and then fiscal shareholders who want to see a return on their product.
Returning to the Skywalker Saga has its advantages. For one, there could be the return of several elements that general audiences are aware of. The OPENING TITLES, THAT FAMOUS MUSIC, THE YELLOW TEXT CRAWLING THROUGH SPACE. These things alone all take place in the first three minutes of any saga film, and are synonymous with Star Wars.
Returning to 10, 11 and 12 (or X, XI & XII) would mean the creatives could capitalize on the story of Jedi vs. Sith, Empire vs. Rebellion and the lineage of the Jedi. The Episode numbers also mean something. New Star Wars releases have been moving about so much that general audiences tend to get lost with what’s coming out and where we are in the timeline.
Lucasfilm/Disney have yet to do anything to convince the general public of when and what Star Wars Starfighter actually is.
Having a clear STAR WARS: EPISODE X … etc is a simple but effective strategy. Say what you will about Episode I, but have you ever noticed that the promo tie-ins around that film never had THE PHANTOM MENACE in them? It was always simply STAR WARS: EPISODE I. Take a look at any toy packaging and you’ll see.
Having a sequel sequel trilogy could also mean the return of some fan favourites. I’m sure if Mark Hamill was offered enough credits for a few days’ work, he’d return as a Force Ghost, or even just a voice. Anthony Daniel shows no signs of slowing down, and if The World Between Worlds would allow it, then Hayden Christensen could return as The Chosen One.
These are all actors whose characters are synonymous with the brand and therefore an easy sell.
DAMAGE DONE
Regardless of where one falls with their love or hate of the sequels, they’ve done damage. No matter how much goodwill The Force Awakens delivered, with The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker we were on a collision course to a fandom divided and, worse than that, brand apathy.
I have friends who are casual film fans and like Star Wars as much as one can. They don’t love it, attend events, or collect, they simply like the films. They see Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Yoda, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker – heck, even Jar Jar Binks. Ask them about Rey, Finn or Poe and they reply ‘who?’.
I have friends who are fanatical about Star Wars who don’t give two hoots about Starfighter because of the era it’s set in. That’s, unfortunately, where we are right now.
Even the actors, notably Boyega and Isaac have even publicly spoken about their sequel trilogy ‘views’ shall we say. So, does this mean that it’s still too soon to return to this era of characters. Of course, this potential trilogy could be set ten years after ‘Skywalker’ or it could be set fifty.
Has it also been enough time since Episode IX? The prequels seem a lifetime and, saying that, so does The Force Awakens but is also seems like no time at all. There were ten years between Episode III and Episode VII. That seemed perfect.
The most likely scenario for an Episode X release would be May or Christmas 2029. That would be ten years since Episode IX but, within that, a LOT of projects released in between.
The question is, right now, does that seem enough? All (or very little), will be revealed in just six months’ time.