SPECULATION Old friends...

I think our first reintroduction to Leia will be in some kind of political/senate scene. Maybe not the giant senate on Coruscant but giving a speech of some kind or arguing with other politicians. Probably won't happen until they set up the actual plot a bit, but I think we might hear her voice first as a teaser and then, CUT TO: Princess Leia telling (INSERT VILLAIN HERE) to put a sock in it.

 

I completely agree, Max. Let's follow whichever character is going to be the main lead (I assume it's going to be Daisy's character, but we really don't know yet) and meet our old friends along the way.

 

I want to see a return of the girls dancing in Jabba's throneroom...

but I digress...

 

I remember seeing somewhere that the OT characters were supposed to have a prominent role in the first movie, yielding more and more screen time to the younger characters as the trilogy continues.

This sounds like a terrible idea from both a story development and sales standpoint. Can anyone confirm or (hopefully) deny this?

 

At this point, nobody can really confirm or deny much of anything... I can say that the statement you remember was made, that the first film would be the link where the legacy gets handed to the new generation... this is not to say the old crew will die off, or not be around at all in the next two, just that the main plot-lines will be carried by the new generation

 

Firstly, this was derived from from the fact that JJ and Kasdan took over writing duties from Arndt. The alleged debate was as you stated -- Big 3 more prominent over the new characters. Apparently George Lucas, who wrote the treatments, was more along the lines of Arndt, but acquiesced to Abrams/Kasdan. It remains to be seen how much of this is true.

Secondly, I think that NOT only are you completely wrong but also in the vast minority for two reasons:

1) The long time Star Wars fans -- the older folks -- have been waiting for this trilogy since 1983. Disney knows this. Robbing the fans that built the phenomenon from the ground would be the HUGEST of mistakes and disasters.

2) Having the Big 3 as well as Peter Mayhew wiling and able to do this movie now is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Disney absolutely MUST Carpe Diem -- Sieze the day. They will never have this moment again and this is absolutely the right move, passing the torch properly to the new generation of characters who will carry the saga forward beyond Episode IX (I firmly believe.)

Lastly, you could not be more wrong about saying, "a terrible idea from both a story development and sales standpoint." I hate to say it but laughably wrong. Star Wars is a merchandising mega-machine the likes of which is unmatched in geek/pop culture. Han, Luke and Leia are far more marketable icons than any other entity in the world. Disney will actually make back it's 4 billion with this one movie in box office and merchandise BECAUSE of having the original characters back.

 

As one of those who was 7 in '77, I agree... we are always hopeful that there will be "more" of what we love, and one of the saddest feelings is when one of the actors who plays a character we love passes. When DeForest Kelley died, we were sad that he was gone, but on a deeper level we knew that an era was gone forever. There would never be another Star Trek again, not like it was, and it would never be again...

Before some of you young wipper-snappers object and throw in the JJ reboot, I love it... I absolutely love it. And while the new cast and crew are excellent, and I look forward to years of enjoyment from them, it is not the same... they are grand, but they are not the characters from my childhood... they are new and the same all at once, but what was once will never be again.

The same can be said when Douglas Adams passed... I still have his last book on the shelf, unread... one day, perhaps, I will read it. But for now, I know that there is one more story of his to read, and I am reluctant to read it, because once I have read that, there will be no more...

Hidden within each of us 7's, as we have grown older and watched the seepages of time inch slowly forward... somewhere in our minds we knew that those we loved grew ever older also... and we prayed the powers that be would get their collective blast together and make our innermost dreams come true before it was too late forever...

 

Only Speculations
There will be plenty of these moments. Trust JJ. He grew up with the Kenner Toys.

 

"Laughably wrong" Wow, sounds like I touched a nerve, Echo-07. I guess that's what makes these forums fun!

Let me clarify what I meant because I don't think we are really that far off from each other...

OF COURSE they should capitalize on the availability of The Big Three. As you say, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and they are highly marketable. Disney will make a ton of money off their likenesses, no matter how big their roles are.

BUT I don't think they will have or should have the most central roles in any movie of the ST, even the first one. As you and others like to say, they should be connective tissue for this trilogy. Not its circulatory, pulmonary, and nervous systems.

If Disney is going to kick start an expansive series of Star Wars movies off this movie, they need to connect with the youngest among us. That's why Lucas' OT succeeded (3 young main characters) and why his PT didn't so much (who was the main character in TPM, anyway?).

To say Hamill, Fisher, and Ford should lead Ep. VII is to say Guinness should have lead ANH. If Lucas had made that call back then, your blog wouldn't exist today.

So, laugh it up...

...fuzzball.

 

Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme.

 

We all wish Anakin was a main character in TPM. But he didn't show up until at least 30 minutes in. And he served as comic relief during the climatic battle scene. So...no.

I also like how you left Qui-Gon off your list, even though he had more screen time than anyone.

Let's be honest, guys. When you put the wizened, matured characters in the forefront, you all but eliminate the possibility of interesting character development, and the story suffers.

I love the OT as much as anyone. That's what I grew up with. But it's a new generation in the seats. So it's gotta be a new generation on the screen.

 

Then I guess we disagree because I still think Disney/LFL is doing the right thing by letting the BIG 3 carry the films forward into the ST. After 30+ years it makes perfect sense to pass the torch in this manner. Also, no one knows for sure just how much of a role the Big 3 will have -- connective tissue or heart pump. I envision Han getting the biggest chunk because I also expect him to be killed in 7. I can see Luke and Leia moving forward into the other 2 to some extent while being dialed back a la Jar Jar in the PT. I could see Luke spanning the entire trilogy.

You didn't touch a nerve, but I just can't really believe you think it's a mistake before even seeing the film And again you opinion is in the vast minority.

 

some really great posts.. and i think that if Disney + JJ are clever enough - they can probably bring balance to returning characters and freshed faced good looking puppies.

if it were me.. i'd have the big 3 share screen time with the new trio in ep7 and come up with a grand passing of the torch moment where the younglings head off (possibly in the falcon.. although it'd be nice if a new favorite hunk of junk were to be utilised) to save the day.

i'm picturing something like the end of ESB.. any mixture of Luke/Leia/Han watching from a large ship window as the new trio un-dock and fly off into the distance.


and TIDMADT.... read the damn book already! that is sooo gonna bug me now lol

 

Yes, I don't think there's any concern over this issue. Quite obviously SW has always been an ensemble. I think there will be plenty of screen time for everyone.

 

read... the book? Which book?

OHHHH... Adams... yeah, well... no

 

Actually, by now... its sort of a legend of the house... everyone who knows me and is serious about books (which are very few, actually) know of the book, and its place on my shelf...

The artist in me loves the tortured soul part of it... the biker in me wants to read it...

 

well the irritable bastard in me is tortured by people who leave books on shelves un-read! lol

before i try and steer the thread back towards some form of topic lol.. i'll mention that Adams went to school in my home town and his work is very much close to my heart also

so.. back on topic! (apologies to mods)

the only things we know with any remote kind of certainty is that Ridley, Boyega and Hamill seem to have been well involved in filming.. and that Ford seems to have been seen a lot during the filming windows. Yes others have been filming - but they haven't been spoken about as much it seems to me.

with that in mind - i'm gonna go with this...

Film starts with a huge battle (crawl is gonna bring us up to date.. but finish with "they are facing an ancient evil - an evil that started xxx hundred years ago on yavin 4....".)
battle ends... darth "X" is imprisoned deep within a jedi temple.
jump to current day and Boyega & ridley first appear.
then Han & chewie will be seen shortly after.
then Luke.. these 4 to be the primary protagonists in ep7.
Leia i think will show up later and have a smaller role to begin with.
still dont know where gleeson or driver fit into all of this - but i'm working on it lol.. but i am thinking one of them stumbles onto Darth "X"'s grave/chamber/prison and becomes said ancient sith lord.

i know that i've kinda used a flashback.. i don't like them either, but i hear ultra bad - bad guy, i hear yavin 4 and i put 2 and 2 together that it'll be saga or even Nadd. just a gut feeling mind.

and before you say it.. i do not have a future in screen writing or story telling lol