It's Good Star Wars Is Moving Past the Skywalker Saga

Star Wars is that rare cultural phenomenon that spans generations of fans. Even when there was more than a fifteen years stretch between films, the fervor to know about the fate of the Skywalker family never died down. Since its debut in May 1977, audiences have devoured any new information that serves to expand the Star Wars Universe, whatever its format, even it it's a cringy Star Wars Holiday Special. The epic saga that spans eight (soon to be nine films), animated television shows, comics, video games and a library of novels will soon welcome a new trilogy to its expanding muniments; and without a single Skywalker in sight.

Rian Johnson, director of The Last Jedi, has been given the green light to bring to life an entirely new era of Star Wars movies. The films will feature new characters and worlds in the Star Wars Universe, separate from the opus of the Skywalker family. He will write and direct at least the first film of the trilogy. Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm's president, stated on that the lauded director will “do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy,” and that watching him shape The Last Jedi from conception to completion was “one of the highlights of my career.”

In trailers for the The Last Jedi, we see a disillusioned Luke Skywalker, a deeply spiritual man who has lost his faith. We see him shrinking further and further from the teachings of The Force, and we are reminded of the former light of his altruistic spirit. We have the one and only Luke Skywalker, whose intrepid journey introduced us to laser swords, space wizards, and the very means by which the fabric of the Star Wars saga was woven, declaring solemnly that it is time for the Jedi to end. The beating heart of the Star Wars saga has slowed to a dull pat, and the young man who once held such noble convictions has become alienated from them. This is emotionally heavy material, especially when one considers the Jedi Master secluded himself in the most remote region possible because he had faith in a young Jedi once, who later betrayed his trust and joined the Dark Side; his own nephew.

It remains to be seen whether Star Wars can survive without the Skywalker family legacy anchoring it. It has been the impetus for some of the greatest dramatic storytelling in pop culture history, beginning with Anakin’s corruption and ultimate redemption, Luke’s hero quest that turned him from a callow farm boy into a powerful Jedi, and finally to Ben Solo’s ultimate betrayal of his parents. The Force Awakens reignited our love for the Skywalker family lore, and made us wait impatiently for the next installment. We brim with anticipation to follow Rey as she discovers the truth about her origins from a troubled Luke Skywalker, and learn the fate of Kylo Ren as he ultimately decides if he can turn his back on his famous heritage. Will there be other just as compelling stories to tell?

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The Star Wars franchise has had great success in developing parallel storylines not directly tied to the Skywalker family. Those developed in the Old Republic video game series and the Rebels television series have stirred fans across all age gaps and demographics thanks to their strong creative foundations and the care taken in situating them in the Star Wars pantheon. Fans have shown they not only welcome new characters, worlds and plots, they appreciate them and the richness and depth they bring to the galaxy. Rogue One, while it had a few Skywalker cameos, made audiences deeply care about a misfit group of Rebel heroes whose sacrifices had tremendous emotional impact. We cared as much about them in one movie as any Skywalker in several.

So far, the creative content of the trilogy is as mysterious to us as the Will of The Force, and it will take a Jedi Master’s patience to keep us from incessantly wondering. What we do know, is that George Lucas gave us a vast galaxy with hundreds of worlds to explore. Tatooine was the planet that, according to Luke, “if there was a far side to the galaxy”, it was the farthest from it. And yet from that small backwater planet, the seeds were sown for the greatest piece of intergalactic mythology ever told. Coruscant is a planet city, with levels upon levels of aliens, droids, and humanoids all trying to eak out a living. And yet from that megatropolis,the seeds were sown for an evil Empire. Dathomir is a planet from one of the Star Wars novels inhabited by the Night Sisters, Force sensitive witches who ride Rancors. And yet, from that hostile place, Luke learned that there were many different types of Force users besides the Jedi. So much of the Star Wars galaxy has been given life and yet, there remains so much more to be documented because it’s virtually endless. Authors and creators are able to conjure up new worlds and inhabitants to fill it all the time.

After nine films and 40 years of following the Skywalker family legacy, it will be refreshing to move away from the at times oppressive duality of Lucas’s Good vs. Evil vision. While it worked well for the original trilogy, it became trite with the prequels. Fans crave more character depth, more complexity, more grey areas, such as in Rogue One, where the good guys aren’t always so good, and are sometimes forced to do vile things in order for the goal that is bigger than themselves to be accomplished. New characters will herald a change of perspective, and their goals will not be tied to a decades long family feud. Concepts like the Jedi or The Force may not even be prominent components. There may be new spiritual ideologies to become immersed with, new races to learn about, new forces of darkness to hiss at, and new bastions of light to cheer for.

There’s a possibility that fans could get burned out with the thought of a new Star Wars film being released every few years. There were those who bemoaned the creation of the Star Wars prequels, and thought Lucas should have left well enough alone, but had that happened, the wealthspring of Star Wars creative property that geysered afterwards would have never happened. We would have never got Darth Maul and his double-bladed lightsaber, or one more star-streaked jump into hyperspace.

Can the great heritage of Star Wars only be explored through the Skywalkers and their legacy, or can it be separate from their bloodline? The Skywalkers have been symbols of many things over the course of the space opera; hope, optimism, failure, corruption, and ultimately redemption. Will it still feel like Star Wars without some mention of Luke, Leia or Darth Vader? Lucasfilm has already planned the next ten years of Star Wars stories, with the latest popular characters of Rey, Poe and BB-8 being potential storylines to follow. There’s also the opportunity to catch up with old favorites in the new young Han Solo film, and rumors swirl about a solo film for Obi-Wan as well with Ewan Mcgregor once again assuming the role of the acerbic Jedi Master. As multiple Star Wars films are slated to pull us further and further from the characters that helped shape our earliest memories of Star Wars, time will tell.

As we eagerly await Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, keep in mind that part of the elation of going to a Star Wars movie is not just to reunite with old friends and portions that are familiar and nostalgic; it is to be exposed to parts that are new and mind blowing. Star Wars movies have inspired generations of fans and industry creatives, who go to see them, and learn to make them, for the same simple and special reason; because Star Wars blew them away when they first saw it and they want to be part of that magic again and again.

The Last Jedi, the eighth installment in the core franchise, will hit theaters December 15, 2017.