This year's most anticipated movie, by far, is the newestinstallment of the popular Star Wars franchise, titled The Force Awakens. This seventh episode also marks the beginning of a new trilogy inthe storyline, and will, of course, feature the main characters from the past, likethe legendary space pirate, Han Solo, his hairy companion, Chewbacca, and themain hero of the original trilogy, Luke Skywalker.
Aside from the new trilogy, Disney also announced new standalone spinoff movies between episodes VII, VIII and IX. Thefirst Film, Rogue One, will come out next year and focuses on the story about how theRebels acquired the plans of the Death Star, which were later used to successfullydetermine the weak point of the deadly space station.
Rogue One is already indevelopment and being directed by Gareth Edwards (from Godzilla and Monsters).
Until recently, little was known about the other spinoffmovies, but new information has surfaced clarifying that the second film will focus on thelegendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett. This means that the audience is going to geta glimpse at how Boba Fett became the bounty hunter that every Star Wars fan knows,and also how things got complicated between him and Han Solo. Basically, ayoung Han Solo, a young Lando Calrissian and even Bossk, the reptilian bounty hunter,could appear in the movie. Sadly, with this direction, we won't get to seeHarrison Ford reprising his role as Han Solo, since the actor will celebrate his 73rd birthday, this July.
Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman, Kick/Ass, X-Men: First Class) and Jon Favreau (Chef, Ironman, Ironman 2) are rumoured to be the directors of this movie, that will hit theatres in 2018.
As for the third spinoff film, it's been rumoured that itwill be all about Master Yoda, the wise Jedi Master. While Rogue One and the second installment will be as realistic and 'downto earth' as a sci-fi movie can be, the one about Yoda would heavily include themysticism and spiritualism of the Force, as it was introduced in theoriginal trilogy, before the prequels ruined the whole concept with a more scientific approach.
However, Disney may not stop with only three spinoffs. Thelatest tidbits swirl around the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who could also gethis own trilogy that would take place between The Revenge of the Sith and New Hope. These prequels could includea young Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, and Kenobi's arch nemesis from The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul, who gotrevived in Star Wars: Clone WarsTV show, which is part of the official canon of the Star Wars storyline, makingit possible for him to return in the movies as well.
Disney is clearly trying to please the huge fan base of the Stars Wars franchise with these new upcoming movies, and after their very sucessful and lucrative collaboration with the Marvel cinematic universe, we can be sure that the Forceis going to be with them again.
