*Thanks for the read! Always open to critique!
Star Wars is back! The quintessential Sci Fi franchise will be returning to the big screen this holiday season. Anticipation is at an all-time high. Ticket sales for The Force Awakens have broken records. Trailer views are going through the roof. No pun intended, but after a 10 year absence from the silver screen, the Force has re-awakened. Star Wars and its relationship to film, seems to be great. How about television?
As aforementioned, rumors began circulating some months ago that Disney is expanding their relationship with Netflix a lot like they did with Marvel. Allegedly, the discussions are concentrated around the production of three live action shows. With multiple spinoffs anthology films coming, a Star Wars television series just makes sense. Spinoffs in cinematic universes are becoming the norm in Hollywood.
Star Wars Rebels, an animated program on
Disney XD, is a fun and exciting exploration into the Rebellion era of the Star Wars saga. This show has proven to be a welcome addition to the SW Universe. Carving out a small corner in a big universe is intriguing. Marvel has done that with Daredevil to great avail. The coming Jessica Jones looks like it will continue the success.
I couldn’t be more excited if this RUMOR (It’s still not completely valid) is true. I’m taking all of this with a grain of salt, but if true, my excitement knows no bounds. The justification of all of this being possible is easy to comprehend. If all of this comes is true, then what? What should these three prospective series be about?
EMBRACE & APPRECIATE THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE (EU)
When Disney purchased Lucasfilm and announced a new trilogy, it also closed the door on the Expanded Universe. What is the Star Wars Expanded Universe you ask? The EU expanded the SW Universe in an immense and engaging manner. In 1978, a year after the release of A New Hope, a book titled Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye was released. It was the first novel in the Expanded Universe. It told the story of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia outside of the films. It was CANON. The EU continued to grow from there on. It produces books, video games and cartoon series that created new stories and adventures. It was a masterstroke in world-building. It gave fans classic characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn, Jacen Solo and Darth Caedus. Storylines like the The Thrawn Trilogy, The Dark Lord Trilogy, Genndy Tartakovsky's Clone Wars and Knights of the Old Republic were bestowed upon fans.
I say all this because, I have a massive appreciation of everything the EU has accomplished. I was incredibly loyal to the stories and adventures it produced. I never waned in my devotion. As a big fan of the EU, I was sad to see its significance and history seemingly diminished in one fell swoop. The stories will be rebranded with the title "Star Wars Legends," The canon is gone; but that doesn’t mean its influence is over. In the story treatment for Episode VII, the focus was reportedly on the next generation of Star Wars heroes, the children of Jedi master Luke Skywalker and the roguish hero Han Solo. Michael Arndt, of Toy Story 3 fame, wrote the treatment. Arndt did not end up writing the script and was subsequently pulled from the film. However, his treatment seemed to use elements derived from the EU.
The Force Awakens seems to be focusing on the story of the Skywalker/Solo twins. This was a huge part of the EU; following the journey of the Skywalker and Solo clan. I think this is an indication of the respect and admiration JJ Abrams and company have for the EU.
I think this appreciation should continue. How about taking more inspiration from the EU for the supposed Netflix series? The Netflix shows will obviously delve into stories that are connected to the films and broader universe. There’s a plethora of EU stories and topics that could easily be shaped to link to the new slate of films. But, I say inspiration with vehemence. Now that the EU isn’t official canon, anything can happen. Surprises are plentiful. Star Wars fans simply don’t like confusion and lack of clarity when it comes to continuity within our universe. I ca admit, the EU, at times contradicted the films. Contradiction isn’t a nice thing to hear when you’re a Star Wars fan; particularly, when that contradiction negatively affects the universe mythology and canon. Take only inspiration from the EU.
The EU has plenty to take inspiration from. As mentioned before, The Thrawn Trilogy is a highlight of the EU. Timothy Zahn's 1991 book Heir to the Empire, was about an imperial admiral named Thrawn who mercilessly led the fragments of the Empire against the new Republic. Sounds somewhat similar to new SW film we will be getting in December. As I stated before, take inspiration. Warp certain aspects of the story to bring something new and interesting. It’s actually been done before by, Star Wars creator, George Lucas himself.
Series #1: THE NIGHTSISTERS FROM DATHOMIR
There’s part of galaxy where the primitive rule. Technology is lacking. The only way to survive is to embrace barbarianism and ignore domestication. Imagine Force sensitive individuals in this environment. Isolated from the dignified training of the Jedi and the Sith, Force-Users on these worlds have developed traditions all their own. Of all the nascent cultures of dark side Force-Users, the Nightsisters of Dathomir are among the most notorious. They are, indeed, in a small corner of the SW Universe.
The Force Witch is an individual of unwavering brutality and terror. If you’ve watched the show; you know that Asajj Ventress is one of the most significant adversaries during the Clone Wars. She was born on Dathomir. The Nightsisters have been a presence in the Star Wars universe since 1994. The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) by Dave Wolverton introduced the Nighsister culture. In this novel the heroes of Yavin encountered: the witches of Dathomir dubbed the Nighsisters. These witches were powerful in the Force. It’s safe to assume, that somehow, Lucas got wind of the witches and deiced to implement their mythology into Clone Wars and Asajj Ventress specifically. The original qualities the Nighsisters had in the EU novel, still exist in Clone Wars. They are sill from Dathomir and they still use powerful dark side abilities.
Lucas too inspiration from an EU story and implemented it into his universe. Asajj Ventress is one of the most popular Star Wars characters to date.
I think a show focusing on a member of this clan would be amazing. It would allow for an exploration of the different facet of the dark side. The Force, through the Nighsisters, gains the classic shamanistic vibe it had during the original trilogy. They treat the Force as a sort of magic. This a clan of all female force users and that allows for different perspectives.
The female Force-users of the planet Dathomir traced their roots back to Mother Allya, a rogue Jedi Knight who had been sentenced to exile on that penitentiary colony around 600 BBY.
Asajj Ventress’ character had been thoroughly developed in several comic series set during the Clone Wars. However, with all those series deemed non-canon and the continuity of the cartoon series not being completely accepted, all Ventress has to go on now is her appearances in the TV show.
In exploring her story, Ventress could be given an even stronger character arc.
My Pitch: Imagine a series focused on a rogue female Jedi, who is sentenced to exile, or escapes Order 66, and then encounters a cult of primitive force using females. She then trains with the "Witches" in the Force. She learns that this clan survived near extinction after the Clone Wars after the Battle of Dathomir (see Star Wars: Clone Wars; season Four Episode 19 “Massacre”). The leader of this clan is Asajj Ventress, who has, after years of self-exile, returnS to her homeworld hoping to rebuild her clan. She slowly falls back into the depths of the dark side. Her training of her sisters has led to others in the galaxy gaining notice of the Force power they are amassing. Visitors then arrive on their barren planet. The visitors are THE KNIGHTS OF REN. They’ve come to search for any remnants of the Nightsisters as they are dark side fanatics. A partnership ensues. Ventress is weary but intrigued by this new sect of dark Jedi. The Knights have a sinister plot in mind and the Witches are a part of it. Meanwhile, a resistance unit is sent after the Knights. The line between friend and foe becomes blurred for Asajj and her clan. The audience could experience this new world through the eyes of the newcomer rogue Jedi as she faces it as well. This series could explore the beginnings of the Knights of Ren as well as further exploring fan favorite Asajj Ventress.
Think Apocalypse Now meets Lord of The Flies; sprinkled with some space opera
*Side note
FANCAST: ASAJJ VENTRESS
Tatiana Maslany
Series #2: MedStar
One of the most distinctive EU series was the MedStar stories, focusing on a Republic medical station in the Outer Rim. This is a tale of doctors, Jedi healers and medical droids curing the wounded. But, the story is truly about bota, a special herb that can boost Force sensitivity. It’s an episode of actual experiences; a great sense of realism in the story. It’s a slice of life tale. I think Sci-Fi allows is an emotional correspondent. Science fiction allows you to convey those conventional emotional experiences, with relatively extreme macro events; the world can reflect your internal experiences uniformly. And I think that's what science fiction does when you are doing it best. A slice of life story does all that. With sci fi as the backdrop, it’s perfect. Star Wars has always allowed its viewers to externalize their common experiences.
My Pitch: We follow an intergalactic mobile medical station that heals the wounded of the Clone Wars. A small unit of rebels is stationed there to protect the station from any antagonistic threats. A young Jedi is posted with the med unit to use his/her healing to aid them. This Jedi’s healing power is immense. Word of his/her power spreads and nefarious forces plan to take it. Meanwhile, we explore the tragic stories of war as the station doe sits best to heal the afflicted. Also, a wounded clone integrates himself into the crew as he is a pawn and spy for the budding Empire.
Think an intergalactic space M*A*S*H with just a more consequential tone
This 1995 tale
Twin Engines involves Boba Fett tracking down and killing imposter Jodo Kast. This story takes place after the original film trilogy, in a time when the notoriety of Boba Fett has waned following his plummet into the Sarlacc Pit. Jodo Kast, a sloppy Fett imposter, has used the absence of the infamous Mandalorian bounty hunter to capitalize on higher bounties normally reserved for Fett. Obviously, Fett doesn’t like this one bit and he hunts Kast down.
Agent of Doom takes place 10 years after A New Hope. The story stars Boba Fett, still struggling to rebuild his status following his disastrous fall into the Sarlacc Pit. This would depend on if the film side of SW, has any plans for Bobba Fett. There’s rumored to be an anthology film in the works, but who knows. I personally think the new trilogy should create its own new notable armored lone warrior type badass; like Captain Phasma.
My Pitch: Bobba Fett has returned from the depths of the Sarlacc Pit, but his reputation is now tarnished. A new breed of bounty hunter is out there. Things have changed. Fett attempts to maneuver this new world. I could see him taking a job of some kind a competing with other bounty hunters to catch a bail jumper of some kind. This could lead to Fett being embroiled in new Imperial politics. While trying to regain his status, he encounters an impostor who’s taken his name and built a new lethal reputation with it.
Think High Noon meets Kill Bill; a classic revenge tale
What would you guys like to see from the potential Star Wars Netflix shows?
LET IT MARINATE!!!