Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (USE SPOILER TAGS!)

[Walts Ghost]

Disney & Lucasfilm Abandoned George Lucas’ Ideas for the ‘Star Wars’ Sequels

In the years to come, we’ll certainly learn more about the behind the scenes development of the new Star Wars movies. But, for now, the public narrative is as follows. George Lucas was quietly developing Star Wars 7 when he decided to sell Lucasfilm to Disney. He passed along his outlines and work on the movies, which screenwriter Michael Arndt began adapting. J.J. Abrams came on board as director, but he and the writer didn’t see eye-to-eye. Arndt left the project, Abrams took over writing duties with Lawrence Kasdan, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens went into production.

The rumored disagreement between Arndt and Abrams was over Lucas’ vision. Apparently, Lucas and Arndt wanted Episode VII to focus more on the younger characters, while Abrams wanted the younger generation to be secondary to the old guard like Luke, Han and Leia. We still don’t know precisely how that balance worked out. In a new interview, Lucas himself admitted Disney abandoned his Star Wars 7 ideas, adding fuel to this fire.

Cinemablend asked Lucas about his original ideas for Episode VII, and here’s his response:

That sounds very much like the narrative described above, the one we’d heard rumors of everywhere. That Lucas wanted to put his characters – Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa – in the background and give the fans something new. The Force Awakens certainly seems to do that, with new characters Finn, Rey, Poe, and others, but they’ll be co-starring with the older characters in this first chapter, leaving the story open to the younger generation going ahead.

To be fair, if this is all true, I don’t think J.J. Abrams or Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, are the bad guys. Lucas might sound upset and while his idea to go young is admirable, there really was only one shot with the older actors. The fact Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew and the rest are alive and well now is something Abrams obviously felt he needed to take advantage of. Someone, probably Rian Johnson, can always make a new Star Wars movie with new characters. But there was only a small window to make one final adventure with our old heroes. Decades from now, we’ll probably be quite happy for that. And we’ll get to see more hints of Lucas’ vision.

Anyway – it’s a pretty startling revelation from Lucas. What do you think of the quote?

Slashfilm

[Kryptonic]

Makes sense that Lucas wanted to go in a new and different direction and Abrams wants to retread some of the same ground since he is all about nostalgia. I mean...Super 8 exists and is proof of that. I like Super 8 quite a bit too. I would rather have seen George's original vision for the rest of the saga, but I deeply understand him bowing out at his age and just enjoying the rest of his years with his family.

[Elandyll]

I far prefer a continuation that deals with what happens after the "happily ever after" of ROTJ and our favorite characters, while the actors are still around, than the b*slap in the face to the fans (not counting the actors) that would have been a sequel made 80 years later "just to make sure they'd be all dead".
Of course, un-surprisingly, C3 and R2 would still be around (Jar Jar too of course), and the ships would still be so very recognizable while technology would have barely progressed.

There will be plenty of time and (tons) more SW movies without Luke, Leia and Han. I applaud Disney's and JJA's decision to do this one to give closure to the fans after 30 years (ROTJ never dealt with the big picture and the consequences after the Alliance -1- battle win). Of course the decision could also be purely motivated by the almighty $, but in this case it's a win-win I think.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

I far prefer a continuation that deals with what happens after the "happily ever after" of ROTJ and our favorite characters, while the actors are still around, than the b*slap in the face to the fans (not counting the actors) that would have been a sequel made 80 years later "just to make sure they'd be all dead".
Of course, un-surprisingly, C3 and R2 would still be around (Jar Jar too of course), and the ships would still be so very recognizable while technology would have barely progressed.

There will be plenty of time and (tons) more SW movies without Luke, Leia and Han. I applaud Disney's and JJA's decision to do this one to give closure to the fans after 30 years (ROTJ never dealt with the big picture and the consequences after the Alliance -1- battle win). Of course the decision could also be purely motivated by the almighty $, but in this case it's a win-win I think.

The way I understand it Luke, Han, and Leia would have been in George's film, they just wouldn't have played as prominent a role as they will in Abrams version. Believe me, I understand why they want to do this and I'm super excited about it, but would have preferred something truly fresh.

[Falaskan]

If Hamil, Fisher, and Ford weren't as old as they are, I'd be down to see another series with them as the focus of all three. I also wish I could see an untouched version of Lucas's vision just for kicks.

[stvn1974]

A special feature for The George Lucas Original Vision...This Week Screen Play on the BD would be neat.

[X400]

I'm really glad to hear that the original cast have a more prominent role in Abrams' version than Lucas'

If this trilogy happened back in 1999 (instead of those prequels) it would have been great to see the original cast headline the whole trilogy (heck it would still be great)

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

If Hamil, Fisher, and Ford weren't as old as they are, I'd be down to see another series with them as the focus of all three. I also wish I could see an untouched version of Lucas's vision just for kicks.

Not me. I'm glad they have prominent roles in the new movie and I can't wait to see them again but I wouldn't want them to be the focus of all three movies and I think I would feel the same even if they were younger.

It's hard enough to get three good stories out of a given set of characters let alone six.

[Lord Method Man]

Disney & Lucasfilm Abandoned George Lucas’ Ideas for the ‘Star Wars’ Sequels

[aiman04]

I'm altering the deal, pray I don't alter it any further.

From all his interviews since Lucas sold his company, it seems that he is really off hands with this new film. He may not have read the new script. I'm guessing his original story still generally intact. They could only be swapping the old characters screen time to new, restructuring scenes to fit and make it flow, and maybe updating some action scenes. Because the issue with the original script brought up by JJ Abrams was getting the old cast as the main characters. Kasdan is very good at doing this and putting dialogues. That was why the original trilogy and Raiders works very well. Lucas put down his story, and Kasdan expertly flesh them, putting souls into characters, turns them all into a working screenplay. We'll see what Lucas has to say after he's seen the final film. Or JJ Abrams might have some comments on this.

[Meta Jon]

I'm good if Lucas never holds a writing instrument again when it comes to Star Wars or Indiana Jones
I feel like I've been burned 4 times straight in a row

[Packerfan75]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Disney Abandoned George Lucas' Ideas for the 'Star Wars' sequels

And with good reason. George's title for episode 7 was Star Wars: Return of Jar Jar Binks.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

And with good reason. George's title for episode 7 was Star Wars: Return of Jar Jar Binks.

Ba dum tssshhh - YouTube

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Meta Jon

I'm good if Lucas never holds a writing instrument again when it comes to Star Wars or Indiana Jones
I feel like I've been burned 4 times straight in a row

Those aren't burns, just butthurt.

[scraptor]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Those aren't burns, just butthurt.

Using the word butthurt is like wearing a trucker hat: it just screams douche.

I think feeling burned is an appropriate description for paying money to see movies that failed to meet the standards set before. But some people are so married to the fictional universe that anyone who feels differently must be attacked as a whiner. Whatever makes you feel better about yourself, I guess.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Meta Jon

I'm good if Lucas never holds a writing instrument again when it comes to Star Wars or Indiana Jones
I feel like I've been burned 4 times straight in a row

Yep.

He's got a great visual imagination though, they should hire him as a concept artists if he burns through that four billion and needs a paycheck.

[Ernest Rister]

J.J. said he wanted Episode VII to be a proper send-off for the OT characters, so their screentime was beefed up.

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yep.

He's got a great visual imagination though, they should hire him as a concept artists if he burns through that four billion and needs a paycheck.

He already donated all $4 billion to charity shortly after selling Lucasfilm.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

J.J. said he wanted Episode VII to be a proper send-off for the OT characters, so their screentime was beefed up.

So basically that means that VIII and IX will pretty much suck without the OT cast. Hope this "young" cast is amazing and can stand on its own because if it's not it will be lights out....

[Himmel]

Bailey has 2 sketches on his Facebook page with the new X-Wings from The Force Awakens. Both Sketches bear the stamps of Lucasfilm and are named “Attacking Force” and “Low Level Attack.”








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