My ideas about where I’d take Star Wars if I had the opportunity to pitch the next installment(s).
This is primarily concerned with the first film in my hypothetical saga. The idea is to create a film that would more or less be a stand alone adventure that would serve as a reintroduction to the Star Wars Universe. However if well received it could potentially be the launching point for a whole new era of Star Wars.
My overall approach is to use familiar iconography (Jedi & lightsabers, ships & technology, alien species and locations) while telling new kinds of stories with new kinds of characters.
Timescale
I feel that going forward is the more interesting direction for the franchise. Not an Old Republic set prequel, not an Empire-Era story happening alongside the originals and certainly not a side-stories or filling in the blanks of the newer films. I’d have things pick up a hundred years (minimum) after Rise of Skywalker and really push things into new territory.
State of the Galaxy
It’s chaos out there! The fall of the First Order created a serious power vacuum. There’s no Republic to speak of with the galaxy fractured into independent factions and coalitions. Some are benign, some are corrupt while crime syndicates and other malevolent organisations also vie for power.
Setting
For the first film I thought I’d take things in a different direction and go small, confining most of the action to a single planet; Coruscant. I want to take a familiar location but then add a centuries worth of decay, rust and grime to it. As the capitol world of the Republic and Empire I’d use it as a microcosm of the state of the galaxy in that it’s descended into a collection of warring factions with an ineffectual government trying to maintain control.
I’m consciously drawing inspiration from 80’s urban decay movies. Think ‘The Warriors’ or ‘Escape from New York’ (Escape from Coruscant if you will).
Jedi
The Jedi are back and trying to live up to their legend and take on the roles of guardians of peace and justice. While they try to cooperate with friendly governments they’re autonomous without any political affiliation. Right now the order is still small, maybe a dozen or so active Jedi. They do what they can but their resources are stretched thin. While most agree they do good work their small numbers can draw accusations of elitism as they’re only able to accept a small fraction of those born Force sensitive.
The head of the order has the title ‘Skywalker’
Villains
My idea for the new villains is a Force using cult with the high priest being the main antagonist. They start out growing the lower levels of Coruscant with the priest uniting the various factions under their leadership. The priest is a powerful Force user with their primary talent being mind manipulation which they uses to bend large numbers of followers to their will. In most cases this is done by repeating a mantra to the followers and over time this can turn loyalty into fanaticism. However more extreme and aggressive techniques can be used one on one, a sort of ‘Force brainwashing.’
Ordinary beings make up the lower levels of the cult while those who are Force sensitive can rise through the ranks. The highest level, and the most dangerous cultists, are the Inner Circle.
Story
The story begins on a shuttle transporting hopeful cult members to Coruscant. We get acquainted with our new group of core characters and upon arrival we see the initiation, indoctrination and the beginnings of the training. However they soon discover a dark secret; the cult has acquired significant weaponry and is planing on dispatching it’s newly recruited army of followers against Coruscant’s governor. If successful they would take control of the entire planet. Our heroes attempt to flee and now have to navigate the treacherous streets clashing with gangs and pursued by members of the cult’s Inner Circle as they attempt to reach safe ground and warn of the upcoming attack…
Cast of Characters
The story would focus on four of the passengers from the shuttle.
The first is someone searching for their true purpose. As a child they were declined training by the Jedi, despite being Force sensitive, and still feel bitter about this. The cult represents a second chance at the power they feel were denied. A novice Force user who has acquired some training from the cult. Their power and abilities can grow across the series as well as exploring their relationship with Force both using organisations.
The second is a more spiritual being similarly searching for a path. Not accustomed to violence but forced to fight for the first time in the name of self defense and the defense of others. Non-human.
The third and fourth would be a Jedi and mercenary respectively. They are working together to infiltrate the cult and determine if they pose a threat.
The Jedi are concerned about the rapid growth of the cult as they have all the hallmarks of a Dark Side organisation. This Jedi would be reasonably experienced but has spent their time battling small scale threats and this is their first encounter with Force using opponents with comparable skills.
The descriptor of ‘mercenary’ isn’t to imply that they’re be constantly grumbling about the money and being paid, just that with the lack of a central government private individuals and organisations are being employed to maintain order. I see this character as a good person and loyal ally doing what they can to help during a chaotic time.
They are the ones to make the discovery of the armoury dragging the others into the adventure.
Finally, there would be a fifth cultist who would never fully be able to break their connection to the High Priest. They would be a liability to the main heroes and die a tragic death.
Does NOT include
Planet destroying super-weapons
Legacy characters/ descendants
Characters introduced in spin-off media
Force ghosts
The Sith
Title and Opening Text
Because it makes sense to end at the beginning. I thought I’d use a text open, as is tradition, but as I want to move away from the episodes format I thought I’d put a little twist on it. Just a rough version I threw together in MS Paint.