Star Wars sequel trilogy

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The Star Wars sequel trilogy was a film trilogy originally planned to be part of the Star Wars franchise, and made by Lucasfilm.[1] However, in recent years Lucasfilm and George Lucas have continually denied plans of making a sequel trilogy. [2] Lucas has fiercely denied any plans of a Star Wars sequel trilogy, insisting that it was meant to be a six-part series. [3]

Contents

[edit] Initial details

After the initial success of Star Wars, a sequel was inevitable, but over time, conflicting reports spread as to how many sequels were planned. In 1978, a Time magazine article reported that the newly formed Star Wars Corp. would be producing "Star Wars II, and then, count them, ten other planned sequels."[4]

By 1983 Lucas was describing a sequel trilogy to Return of the Jedi: "The sequels, the three movies that would follow Jedi, are considerably vaguer. Their main theme will be the necessity for moral choices and the wisdom needed to distinguish right from wrong. There was never any doubt in the films already made; in those the lines were sharply drawn, comic-book-style. Luke Skywalker, who will then be the age Obi-Wan Kenobi is now, some place in his 60s, will reappear, and so will his friends, assuming that the creator decides to carry the epic further."[5]

In the book Icons: Intimate Portraits by Denise Worrell, Lucas is reported to have only a vague notion of what will happen in the three films of a sequel trilogy. He is quoted as saying "If the first trilogy is social and political and talks about how society evolves, Star Wars is more about personal growth and self realization, and the third deals with moral and philosophical problems. The sequel is about Jedi Knighthood, justice, confrontation, and passing on what you have learned."

[edit] Status

Currently, there are no firm plans to produce such films. Lucasfilm's stance is that the six Star Wars films comprise the entire story Lucas intended to tell, despite mentions to the contrary in the press and official publications over time.

Producer Gary Kurtz revealed the original outline for nine Star Wars films, but nothing came of this. In the interview with TheForce.net, he stated that the plans for Episode 6 was for Han Solo to die and Leia to become "Queen" of her people. Leia was not originally planned to be Luke's sister. Episode 7 was to focus on Skywalker's life as a Jedi, while Episode 8 marked the appearance of Luke's sister (which was not Leia), and Episode 9 was to be the first appearance of the Emperor [6]

In a 1997 issue of the Star Wars Insider, Lucas said "[The whole story has] six episodes....If I ever went beyond that, it would be something that was made up. I really don't have any notion other than 'Gee, it would be interesting to do Luke Skywalker later on.' It wouldn't be part of the main story, but a sequel to this thing."

In a 1999 interview with Vanity Fair, Lucas denied ever having any plans to make nine Star Wars movies. "When you see it in six parts, you'll understand", Lucas said at the time. "It really ends at part six." When asked about the possibility of someone else taking over the film franchise, Lucas said "Probably not, it's my thing."

In an interview with the BBC, Lucas again denied any possibility of a Star Wars sequel trilogy. [7] He stated "I never had a story for the sequels, for the later ones," he told the BBC. "And also, I'll be to a point in my age where to do another trilogy would take 10 years."

However, Lucas did make reference to a possible future film in a May 2002 interview: "The challenge for me is telling a six-part story: so in Episode I there are things that I have to get in that refer to Episode VII — no, hang on, we're not there yet. I mean Episode IV."[8]

In March 2005, Lucas stated that the idea of a sequel trilogy was "amusing" but didn't seem realistic at the time. [9] In May 2008, speaking about the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucas remained his status on the sequel trilogy, maintaining his status that there was no story to tell, and no sequel will be made, stating "I get asked all the time, 'What happens after "Return of the Jedi"?,' and there really is no answer for that," he said. "The movies were the story of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, and when Luke saves the galaxy and redeems his father, that's where that story ends." [10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mark Hamill Talks Star Wars Epis. 7, 8, & 9
  2. ^ George Lucas Talks On 'Star Wars' Sequels 7, 8 & 9
  3. ^ George Lucas interview
  4. ^ "George Lucas' Galactic Empire" Time (Monday, Mar. 06, 1978). "Lucas has set up four corporations: Star Wars Corp. will make Star Wars II and the ten, count 'em, ten other planned sequels". Retrieved on 3 December 2007.
  5. ^ CLarke, Gerald. "I've Got to Get My life Back Again". Time (Monday, May. 23, 1983).
  6. ^ Gary Kurtz Reveals Original Plans for Episodes 1-9
  7. ^ No Star Wars sequels, says Lucas
  8. ^ Forceful Lucas defends Phantom Menace | News | Guardian Unlimited Film
  9. ^ George Lucas On the Future of Star Wars
  10. ^ Star Wars: The Clone Wars poster, and Lucas on Return of the Jedi sequel

[edit] External links

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