While it has its fans, the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy was a huge disappointment to vast swathes of the fandom. There were many reasons for this; squandered characters, recycled storylines, disrespect of the Original Trilogy's events and characters, and so on. Contrary to what LFL president Kathleen Kennedy said, there was plenty of source material to choose from — the stories from Star Wars Legends.
Legends contained many stories that could be re-canonized and while there are also plenty of stories that the Sequel Trilogy made impossible, elements from Legends could have been used and made the whole thing better.
10 The X-Wing: Rogue Squadron & Wraith Squadron Novels Focused On The Alliance Military & Introduced A New Villain
The X-Wing: Rogue Squadron and Wraith Squadron novels, by writers Michael Stackpole and the late Aaron Allston, focused on the adventures of the pilots of Rogue and Wraith Squadrons after the Battle of Endor and throughout the war against the Empire. While the time frame of the Sequel Trilogy precludes many of its story elements from being used, there are still lots of things that could be used.
From villains like Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard or Warlord Zsinj, to characters like Corran Horn or Garik Loran to the blistering starfighter action that fans have always loved, there are lots of elements from these books that would have made things better in the Sequel Trilogy.
9 Since They Ended Up Copying Parts Of Dark Empire Anyway, They Should Have Gone All The Way
Making Palpatine the ultimate villain of the Sequel Trilogy was a controversial decision for a lot of reasons. This plot element was lifted from Dark Empire, which saw the Emperor come back in a clone body and unleash all-new superweapons called World Devastators on the galaxy. However, it also added a whole bunch of other stuff, like Luke joining the Emperor, Han and Leia having an adventure on the lawless world of Nar Shadaa, and more.
The comic may have only been six issues but there was enough to expand things and it would have been way more interesting than the Sequels. Plug the new characters in, modify it a bit and Dark Empire could work pretty well.
8 Star Wars: Legacy Took Place In The Far Future & Saw The Rise Of A New Sith Empire
Many fans did not like the treatment of the Original Trilogy characters in the Sequels, so the best way to make sure that doesn't happen is to pick a time period where they aren't alive. Enter the comic Star Wars: Legacy, by writer John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema. Taking place over a century after the movies, it saw Cade Skywalker battle a new Sith Empire that had embroiled the galaxy in a new conflict.
Introducing all-new villains and heroes, Legacy was a completely new look at the Star Wars universe that was just familiar enough for fans of the Original Trilogy and rife with potential for merchandising, something Disney is all about.
7 The Jedi Academy Trilogy Had Loads Of Potential
The Jedi Academy Trilogy, by author Kevin J. Anderson, primarily dealt with Luke founding his Jedi Academy while the New Republic battled against Imperial Admiral Daala and the superweapons of the secret Imperial space station called the Maw Installation. Just about everything about this story could have been used as the Sequel Trilogy.
The off-screen destruction of Luke's academy was a huge waste and a trilogy based on these books would capitalize on the academy, allowing Lucasfilm to introduce new characters. Rey and Kylo Ren still could have been used, with Rey helping save the day from Kylo, who had fallen under the sway of one of the trilogy's villains, Sith spirit Exar Kun.
6 The Swarm War Trilogy Pit The Heroes Against An Ancient Alien Threat
The Swarm War Trilogy, by author Troy Denning, saw the extended Skywalker and Solo clans deal with the threat of the Killiks, an insectoid race led by a former Jedi. While it depended a lot on Legends continuity, the story itself could be modified just enough to work without lots of that. The Killiks could still be under the control of Force users and new heroes could take the place of the young Jedi.
On top of that, the trilogy saw Leia finishing her Jedi training, using her Force powers and skills in combat. It also would have been quite different from the Original Trilogy, something many fans wanted from the Sequels.
5 Fate Of The Jedi Saw The Return Of The Sith & A New Force Horror
Fate Of The Jedi, by authors Aaron Allston, Christie Golden, and Troy Denning, is another story that played heavily into Legends continuity but could still be modified to work without all of that. The main threats were a lost tribe of Sith and the emergence of a being called Abeloth, a Lovecraftian Force horror, and it's ripe with potential.
The nine novels would have to be pared down a bit but that wouldn't be much of a problem and there is room in the story for both the heroes of the Original Trilogy and all new characters who could take Star Wars into the future.
4 Luke Skywalker & The Shadows Of Mindor Saw Luke In His Only Military Command
Luke Skywalker And The Shadows Of Mindor, by author Matthew Stover, took place soon after the Battle of Endor and saw Luke, a general in the Rebellion, command a military task force to take down the Imperial Intelligence Director Blackhole. A Prophet of the Dark Side, Blackhole had laid a perfect trap for Luke.
While the story would have to be modified because of the age of the primary cast and to allow for new characters, as well as to smooth over some Legends continuity, Blackhole is a great dark side villain and the story could easily be expanded into three movies full of new characters.
3 Legacy Of The Force Embroiled The War In A Second Civil War
The Sequel Trilogy already mined Legacy Of The Force, by authors Aaron Allston, Karen Traviss, and Troy Denning, for ideas. The nine-book series focused on Han and Leia's son, Jacen, falling to the dark side and becoming the Sith Lord Darth Caedus and the civil war he embroiled the galaxy in and it could easily be made into a trilogy of movies.
Darth Caedus is everything Kylo Ren could have been if he was actually a threat to anyone, Jaina Solo is Rey but actually cool, and the story is just a million times better than that of the Sequels. The Sequels would have been better based on this story.
2 The Thrawn Trilogy Is Considered THE Sequel Trilogy By Many
The Thrawn Trilogy, by author Timothy Zahn, brought Star Wars back to the general public. Featuring the heroes of the Rebellion facing a resurgent Empire under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn while introducing new heroes and villains, fans loved these books and they began a Star Wars renaissance that led to the popularity of Legends continuity.
Thrawn was already brought into canon at this point and he could have been made into the villain of the Sequels easily. The story would need some modifications but it would work perfectly for movies.
1 The New Jedi Order Introduced A Completely New Threat
The New Jedi Order was a nineteen-book series by various authors that pit the heroes of the New Republic against the invading hordes of the Yuuzhan Vong, an alien race from another galaxy. Religious zealots who hated technology and used biotics in the place of machines were the greatest threat the heroes had ever faced.
While The New Jedi Order was pretty dark and full of sad moments, it was a great story. It would definitely have to be cut down for length, but it was full of potential for movies, with all kinds of new characters and exciting action set pieces ready for the big screen.