When Star Wars Episode VII was announced in the aftermath of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm, I was not optimistic. The memories of the prequels are still too fresh. When they announced J.J. Abrams as the director of said Episode VII, I was a little more interested. When rumors began circulating that Zack Snyder was making a stand-alone Star Wars samurai-style epic, I almost burst into tears. Now there’s talk of the very first Star Wars standalone being headlined by Master Yoda himself and honestly, I have no idea what to do.
Like Snyder’s film, the Yoda movie is still little more than rumor. There’s no doubt that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has the first non-episodic Star Wars film in the works, and that there’s a good possibility our favorite Muppet Jedi will headline it. But it’s still a rumor. There was also apparently some talk from George Lucas about a Jabba movie featuring the Hutts and their bounty hunters – Boba Fett again! But George Lucas only has a small role in the Star Wars franchise now, and will not be a decision maker on the future of the films. Even though a movie about Jabba and his bounty hunters might make a number of fans very happy, there’s no real solid information on that one either.
Let’s face it: right now we’re in speculation mode about the future of Star Wars. Would the Yoda movie take place before in the middle of the prequels, or before them? Would it be in any way connected to the Zack Snyder film, or to Episode VII? Would we get to see baby Yoda? Yoda in the afterlife? Yoda’s MOM?! The possibilities are endless! There’s also been talk of a Mace Windu standalone, with Samuel L. Jackson back as one of the more badass Jedi.
I can see both good and bad coming out of this, but honestly, a lot depends on how Disney handles Episode VII. Fans are important, but any future Star Wars films have to interest more than the cadre of fans who know all the ins and outs of the canon. So while all this speculation is very interesting, I will not hold my breath until I see what J.J. Abrams and Disney cook up for the next episode. Because if it’s anything like the prequels, I will stop watching these movies.
What do you think? Is Yoda ripe for his own Star Wars spinoff? Could you get behind a Jabba the Hutt movie? Let us know in the comments below.
