How you need to think when it comes to spin-offs

Thanks for this! I haven't really thought too much about the spin-offs just yet (been concentrating too much on being excited about TFA), but those were some really interesting thoughts!

I had heard about there potentially being a Han Solo spin-off and I do wonder whether that would take place before NH (in which case it's possible that they'd get an unknown actor in) or if they'd set it between the original trilogy and TFA, in which case my friend joked that they might just call on Chris Pratt as he seems to be tipped to become a regeneration Harrison Ford in any case...

I'm not sure who my 'dream casting' for any of the spin-offs would be, though, but I think you're right that they'll call in the big guns, particularly at this stage with the franchise being so huge. I do hope they call in some of the old favourites: I'd love to see some more McGregor Obi Wan and Jackson Mace Windu. Can't think of anyone for Han due to my overwhelming desire to just clone Ford and be done with it.

 

I love that A listers are all dying to be a part of Star Wars (just like they've been falling over backwards to be in a Marvel film.) Of course, what happens when our little space opera films suddenly have Oscar-caliber performances from the ACTORS... can we deal with that?!

 

I would describe the "Marvel Template" as being more focused on making more money over making great content and/or art. That's why Marvel gets those big name actors over other ones that could do a better job, because those names will generate more money. I don't think thats the direction Star Wars needs to go, the Star Wars name itself will generate the money. To tack on the "Marvel Template" will cheapen artistic quality of the Star Wars franchise. In my opinion there isn't a single Marvel that can stand toe to toe with any of the Star Wars films for artistic quality and i don't want to see that line blurred by the regression of the artistic quality of Star Wars fueled by the want to make a few more million. Star Wars shouldn't just be sci fantasy Marvel set in the Star Wars universe, i'm not saying this is going to happen with the first, second or even third spinoff movie but it is something that could happen it the future and Star Wars will be less itself for it.

 

Actually I was thinking about the spin-offs yesterday. I was remembering a thread here in which part of the discussion was in regards to the future of the franchise, with a list of numerous spin-offs being displayed.

I asked whether not we had word that the spin-offs are to be official canon, and the consensus was "we're not sure, but we figure the answer is yes".

I got to wondering if Disney would ever pursue something of an "Adventures" type of spin-off film. Full-length live-action films that wouldn't be counted as canon. I'm thinking they might not mess around with that, but I'm actually not so sure. It would leave them a venue to do crazy stuff, but it'd be a gamble with possibly pissing fans off.

 

I've never seen anything with Chris Pratt in, but from a 'big fan' pov I wouldn't mind them doing a Bond with Indy (or with Han) and for Pratt, or anyone else, to take on the role... on the condition that Ford gets to play Jones at least one more time. I have a bit of a 'thing' about this and if the next film doesn't star him there's no way I'll watch it. I'll also be guilty of sulking. A lot. Advance apologies to anyone who happens to be around if that happens...

 

Star Wars 1977 was a popcorn movie, a higher tier popcorn movie and a jumping off point. The Empire Strikes Back was quality sci fi fantasy drama/action art. The people that worked on that movie elevated it to art, even if that wasn't what George Lucas set out to do. And Return Of The Jedi suffers from what a lot of trilogies suffer from. From my perspective the prequels aren't popcorn movies, they were going for a more artistic style both in visual cinematography and pacing. Star Wars for the most part should be more than just popcorn movies.

 

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that, not much more for me to say on that note.

 

I think that many people consider Star Wars IV and V as some kind of art.
Just look at the teaser trailer for ESB! This is art.

 

I'd say that most forms of expression could be considered to be art. There's certainly artistry in all film making, but 'Art' with a capital 'a' is a difficult concept to pin down because it's so subjective. A lot of modern art, for instance, would be considered worthless had it not been created by an artist and placed in a gallery.

Intention is a big part of it- did Lucas set out to create 'a work of art'? Hard to tell unless he's mentioned having done so. Another factor in determining whether something is or is not art is whether the the person watching believes it to be ('art', like 'beauty' being in the eye of the beholder to a great extent)- there aren't really any wrong or right answers; if the films seem like art to you, they are.

On another note, I probably shouldn't have found that trailer as funny as I did... the voice over really didn't help!

 

I know the voice over is bad, but nonetheless i'ts some kind of art for me.

 

It contains art, certainly (the concept art, which is beautiful), but it's quite crudely put together so I wouldn't say that the trailer in itself was 'a work of art' (most people could put together a better trailer than that using the same material). That being said, I've never seen a trailer which teased using concept art before, so it's at least original in that regard.

 

Agree on this, that's why I think it's some kind of art.
Never saw this style of a teaser trailer before or afterwards.
It's original, sure they could do nowadays a better job of putting it togehter, but this piece is from 1979or78 not from 2015.
I give them credit for their new risky approach, for it's time it's awesome and must have stir up the imagination.

 

I'm pretty sure they used concept art only because they didn't have enough finished footage to make the trailer. While it is technically art, the concepts are so highly regarded only because we are fans; Twilight also had concept art, but I would call it garbage before I called it anything else. Eye of the beholder, yadda yadda.

 

I really hope you're right, but...

Lion King is also a Disney movie. So is Aladdin, Lilo and Stitch, George of the Jungle, and The Emperor's New Groove.

The pattern Disney followed on each of those movies was a low budget, straight to DVD release. They were nothing more than cash grabs, cashing in on the popularity of the characters we loved in the original movies. Disney didn't put half the effort into those follow-up releases as they did in the originals.

Yes, Disney might follow the Marvel pattern. But they might follow the George of the Jungle pattern, too, recasting the lead character with an unknown actor and apparently hiring homeless people to write the script.

 

I think the same way, you're not alone out there.