The Force Awakens has really put Star Wars in place where we actually care about what happens next in the cinematic universe, and we have a couple of ideas of how Lucasfilm could move forward with their Anthology films.
While it looks like we’ll be exploring pre-Force Awakens tales with Rogue One, Han Solo and Boba Fett, it’s been suggested Lucasfilm could make anthology films set in the more current stream of the Star Wars universe.
I think Force Awakens gives the studio a lot more leeway when it comes to developing certain characters that only had cameos in the film, while I think Han Solo and Boba Fett movies might be a bit anti-climatic because we understand they’ll survive their journeys, it lessen’s the threat of real jeopardy.
However, using somewhat new characters gives the studio a lot more to play with, and they aren’t beheld to making sure they are around because of canonical reasons. There’s weight because we don’t know if they’ll make it out alive, because they aren’t apart of the main cast.
I’d love for them to start with some sort of crime flick featuring the guys in the The KanjiKlub Gang, who featured The Raid actors Yayan Ruhian as leader Tasu Leech, Iko Uwais as Razoo Quin-Fee, and Cecep Arif Rahman as Crokind Shand. Their scenes went a little quick for me, so I couldn’t make out if they made it out alive, but they are the type of diverse actors/characters, we’d love to see the studio focus on in the future. I think we’ll get a slight taste of the underworld with Rogue One, which is said to include hired-guns and thieves. Yet, having these guys become a staple of the franchise is much needed.
If they were somehow able to place them in the Boba Fett movie I’d be happy, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
Just imagine if Raid director Gareth Evans was able to play around in the Star Wars universe, I know he’s been keen about R-rated material, but could scale things back a bit for a Star Wars underworld movie. Perhaps, involving gang wars between the Hutts and other organizations. I know people have suggested Evans to replace Josh Trank on the Boba Fett movie, but it could cooler seeing them expand the world of gangsters along with bounty hunters.
An interesting character almost given the Boba Fett treatment is The Crimson Corsair aka Sidon Ithano, a humanoid pirate in the Star Wars universe briefly given his own comic book adventure and then seen in Maz’s Castle. The actor according to behind the scenes footage revealed is to be black, so it had me thinking that the role could be perfect for actor David Oyelowo, who actually had been linked for a Force Awakens role and later joined Rebels instead.
Focusing on the pirates, who for the most part haven’t been much screen time outside of The Clone Wars cartoon could be a perfect exploration for a director, and fans alike. I expect that the Han Solo film could explore the pre-New Hope side of that world, but I think Sidon Ithano could be just as worthwhile, and give us something a bit more fresh than a prequel. Again, allowing writers and a director to have a slightly more creative freedom, as it’s not a main player in the lineup.
David who voices a character on Rebels also attended the Force Awakens premiere with his family, which has sparked some interest to see him make the jump to live-action.
J.J. Abrams recently mentioned that he would love to see Selma director Ava DuVernay tackle a Star Wars films. Interesting enough, it’s been reported Kathleen Kennedy was interested in pitches from female directors, meeting with directors and writers. Ava having met with Marvel about her take on Black Panther, could mean she’s open to the idea of genre material, and this could be equally as interesting as playing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if not more. This could be the project where she’d be given more creative freedom, than something like a Marvel movie.
I don’t think many would argue seeing these two paired-up again in a Star Wars movie would something stellar.
These are just two projects I feel are perfect for the Force Awakens era Anthology films, what do you think about the idea?