Will Star Wars fans be asked to unlearn what they have learned. As Yoda says,"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future."
Recently a Star Wars fan site, starwars7news.com, garnered attention for itself by posting a rumor from an anonymous source which was then backed up independently by sources they claim are connected with the production of the new trilogy. The claim was that fan favorite character Mara Jade would appear in Star Wars Rebels and be established later in Episode 7 as Luke Skywalker's wife and the mother of his son.
Since posting this article, the web site claims a source from inside the production, they are referring to as JediDigger, has shed some light into what Lucasfilm and Disney's intention are.
JediDigger explains:
"Right now they're looking at using the basic descriptions of EU characters with different names. Luke's wife will follow the same template as Shira Brie/Mara Jade. Red hair, Green eyes, attitude etc.
The same with the kids of the big three.
Fans should not expect to see Kyle Katarn, Corran Horn or Cilghal, but characters who are very much like them.
This can not be made clearer, the post ROTJ EU launched in 91 is dead.
No story from Outbound flight forward counts.
That's why Bob Iger said they would use the 17,000 character for inspiration for new characters. Shira Brie and Mara Jade are the templates for Luke's wife/Love interest.
Jaina will be the inspiration for the Solo daughter, Jacen for the Solo son and Ben for the Skywalker son.
Most of the new characters in the new continuity are based on characters from the old continuity."
The site does remind readers that until some official confirmation from Lucasfilm/Disney to take the information with a grain of salt. Their source seems to suggest that Disney views the current expanded universe as a well of ideas they can draw from and alter to suit their plans. If true, it seems they run the risk of adding insult to injury to the more hardcore fans who have followed the current continuity for years, to see a ghost of a favorite character behind a new identity, rather than creating their story elements from scratch. The article suggests names from the expanded universe are being used as code names, rather than the names the characters will actually have in the new films.
Jedi Digger also hints that a meeting had taken place with a popular author, but the reasons for it are pure speculation.
"At some point J.J. Abrams had a meeting with the Thrawn trilogy writer Timothy Zahn. Actually there might have been more than one meeting and it was probably just for consultation."
So is this a good move? Is it a middle finger to the fans? Does this make little sense and sound totally bogus? Sound off on the comments below.