Star Wars: Episode VII Again Rumored To Involve Skywalker And Solo Offspring
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With original trilogy stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill all rumored to be returning for Star Wars: Episode VII, it seems clear that the new films will be a passing of the torch of sorts. Given that the three actors are getting up there in years — Fisher is the youngest at 56, Ford the oldest at 70 — I don’t think even they would be keen on taking a major role in a trilogy that could stretch into the next decade. But having them involved in some way will allow some extra closure for their characters, as well as signaling the transition into a new era of Star Wars: AGL (After George Lucas). The latest of many, many rumors suggests that the transition will keep it in the family, with the children of Luke Skywalker and the Solos serving as main characters.
This latest bit of fuel on the fire comes via Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman. He says that all three original actors will be returning, and provides a few details about the possible storyline for the new films. Needless to say, this is all “inside sources tell me” kind of stuff, so be sure to coat this stuff with a hefty serving of salt. According to Friedman:
Obviously this new movie won’t pick up where “Return of the Jedi” ended. It’s some time in the future. Han, Princess Leia (with a presumably better hairstyle), and Luke Skywalker will be a lot older. Their children will be the new main characters. [R2-D2] and C-3PO will be unchanged, I would guess. since they are not human. But suffice to say, the three main actors are definitely coming back. The bigger question is, which young actors will play their kids? Luckily Hayden Christensen is long since passed from this scenario. And you know, Carrie Fisher will be the funniest wisecracking princess in the Galaxy– holding a martini glass. Don’t forget, all three of the actors are still profit participants in “Star Wars.”
It’s an idea that has been batter about a lot since the initial word that more Star Wars films were in the works. It seems sort of fitting, after all. The two Star Wars trilogies we’ve seen so far both centered around the Skywalker lineage, so it would make sense to continue that, and to allow the other spin-off films to explore other stories.
Of course, this all raises one huge question: if the Solo and Skywalker offspring are indeed the protagonists of the new trilogy, will they work within the established Expanded Universe stories/timeline, or will they chuck that out and just do their own thing? Abrams’ approach to Star Trek could lend credence to the latter possibility, but that’s the sort of thing that could piss off a lot of fans. Given that there’s a vocal crowd who already think he ruined Star Trek (and I’m not saying I agree with them, simply that the argument is out there), so ignoring stories and characters that many fans are already deeply invested in would seem to be a bad way to begin a brave new era of Star Wars. Then again, I can understand not wanting to be held hostage to the countless existing Star Wars tie-ins, from both a creative and a business standpoint.
Will we be following the adventures of a new generation of Skywalkers and Solos when Episode VII bows a few years down the road? Stay tuned.
