Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy could be a fresh start — here's how

Key foods

• Disney needs to look at Star Wars as a genre, not a story, to keep the franchise fresh and interesting.
• Simon Kinberg's successful work on Rebels shows that he can tell new and original Star Wars stories.
• The Star Wars universe has endless potential beyond the Skywalker saga, offering opportunities to explore new eras and realms.

On November 12, news broke that Simon Kinberg would direct the next trilogy star wars As of this writing, it is unclear whether Kinberg will continue the Skywalker storyline or start with a new cast of characters. But if Disney wants to establish star wars As a truly timeless franchise, it should consider the Skywalker saga a closed chapter.

To be clear, this doesn't just refer to characters of Skywalker descent. It's a bigger issue that's from the same ground that's been revisited time and time again: Empire/First Order, Rebels/Resistance, Death Star(s), Palpatine, The Clone Wars, etc. For example: since Disney bought the galaxy far, far away, it's been 18 star wars Movies and series, 14 of them between The Phantom Menace and Rise of Skywalker. With limitless story potential, it's time to move on from this period of galactic history.

How Simon Kinberg Could Rock Star Wars

Simon Kinberg by writing successful works such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Sherlock Holmesand X-Men: Days of Future Past. But when considering the possibilities of a new trilogy, it's his credit that's most exciting Star Wars: Rebels. The series was the first project released after Disney took over Lucasfilm and ended many of its existing projects, looking to take the franchise in a new direction. the rebels It is somewhat of a spiritual substitute The Clone Wars (which Disney canceled in season five), with Dave Filoni at the core of both.

Dave Filoni, Simon Kinberg, and Carrie Beck (the third co-creator) did their job as an introduction to the world of the Disney Age. star wars. A triple sequel of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and Rise of Skywalker It sparked discussions about excessive nostalgia, lack of a coherent vision, heartbreak for audiences, and countless topics that fuel Reddit threads. on the other hand, the rebels Quietly laid a great plan for a possible star wars the future

the rebels It introduced and focused on ideas that they undeniably liked star wars, While still moving in a new direction. A great example is the introduction of animals as force-sensitive beings. other star wars The media had already touched on this idea, but the rebels It formed, and showed Ezra interacting with beings like Firnok, Purrgil, and the Loth Cat. While the Jedi had previously been shown to tame creatures with the Force, Ezra was one of the first to show a real connection with animals, as noted in Ahsoka. And after the introduction of Lute wolves, the rebels It showed that organisms can be force-sensitive in their own unique ways.

Along with new characters like The Bendu, the show also introduced many elements that are modern staples. star wars. For example, the two-part pilot was the first time audiences saw the Inquisitors, and the first time Baskar was mentioned in the rebels. Even the concept of time travel seemed foreign to its world at first star warswas introduced beautifully in “A World Between Worlds”. Now this is why Ahsoka Tano is still alive.

All this is to say that the rebels He did not shy away from creating new paths in the center. True, this does not always work out – for example, how The book of Baba FatThe motorcycle band landed with spectators. but the rebels It has an incredible history and Simon Kinberg played a huge role in its success. It's a great sign for the franchise to have someone at the helm of a new trilogy willing to push the envelope and still deliver content that appeals to the core fans. If Disney allows Kinberg to tell stories in the distant past, the distant future, or simply anywhere other than Tatooine, star wars It can recreate that feeling of a whole world ready to be explored.

Star Wars is more than a bloodline, an empire, and a rebellion

star wars It should be seen as a genre, not a story. It may have started as a single story, but its enduring popularity has grown into something much larger. And after all this time, what do fans have vocabulary and expectations for? star wars You should feel the same way they feel for a horror movie, rom-com or action movie.

For example, that motorcycle gang from The book of Baba Fat? The fans decided: No star wars. Miss Window's dual lightsaber? decisively star wars. These definitions of what does and does not belong in a galaxy far, far away are definitions that Disney should be flexible with instead of trying to shape. Just look at the prequels. There is a significant difference between older and younger generations of fans as to whether elements of Episodes I-III are good or not. star wars. And the next generation may argue in favor of aspects of the franchise that are derided today, just as genres in any medium evolve over the years.

Shows like the rebels or Andor It may have been commissioned by Disney to take place in a familiar time period, but the creators of these shows made a smart choice. star wars as a visual language and a set of instructions rather than a recipe for re-creation. Palpatine doesn't need to come back. Viewers no longer need to see what Obi-Wan has. Anakin's story has already been told, and the last vestiges of the Empire and the First Order are gone forever.

Even if Disney balks at the idea of ​​completely new stories, fans are eager to see this story. Knights of the Old Republic On the screen there is the reign of Tenebrae, and many ideas are presented Star Wars: The Vision. Disney can delve into any of the 68 novels considered unconventional Star Wars Legends. After all, if Thrawn can reach canon status (in the rebelsno less), other characters and events can too. There is a vast universe of creative storytellers to draw inspiration from star warsand much more than what is presented in parts I-IX. Simon Kinberg can figure it out.