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Warning : This article contains SPOILERS forSolo : A Star Wars Story .
WithSolo : A Star Wars Storynow out in theaters , it ’s clear that theStar Warsspinoff movies have been adept than the late saga episodes . When The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 , George Lucas turn over the reins over to current studio president Kathleen Kennedy . And everything that has secrete ever since then has been completely different than what audience had grown accustomed to with the prequel and originalStar Warstrilogies . That ’s neither a secure nor tough affair .
While the bulk of audiences ' attentions have been on seeing the Skywalker account improvement with J.J. Abrams’Star Wars : The Force Awakensand Rian Johnson’sStar Wars : The Last Jedi , where the studio apartment has truly glitter these preceding few years has been with their spinoff pic : Gareth Edwards’Rogue One : A Star Wars Storyin 2016 and now Ron Howard’sSolo : A Star Wars Storyin 2018 .
Related:The Best Moments of Solo: A Star Wars Story
Interestingly , George Lucas himselfwanted to make a young Han Solo moviebefore selling the ship’s company to Disney , and that was all in improver to dilate the galaxy far , far away on the small screen - with animated display - as well as in video games and various other mediums . While he never got the luck to do that on the big concealment , the studio is doing it now . And it ’s perhaps one of the good things that Disney - owned Lucasfilm has done in late years : open up theStar Warssaga beyond the core episodes .
What Differentiates Star Wars Stories From The Episodes
One of the biggest things that separate theStar Warsanthology films from the saga episodes is the fact that the stories do n’t revolve around the Skywalker family . TheStar Warssaga has always been about the Skywalkers - first Luke Skywalker , then Anakin Skywalker , and now Ben Solo / Kylo Ren(technically ) - as well as the battle between the darkness and the brightness level . But what about the residuum of the beetleweed ? There are jillion upon zillion of people in the galaxy , all of whom have their own account to tell , some of which link to the overarching narrative , but audiences only get fugitive glance of those character arcs in the mainline episodes . That ’s where theStar Wars Storymovies can shine compare to the Congress of Racial Equality films .
Of course , in plus to explore novel characters , the anthology pic also let the studio apartment to fill plot holes and establish a more cohesive continuity ( as they did inRogue One ) , not to note dive deeper into the backstories of more well - be intimate characters like Han Solo . To putSolo : A Star Wars Story ’s place in the saga into view , it ’s the firstStar Warsmovie ever tonotmention the Force ( and that ’s despite including an overt introduction for a long lose motion picture villain ) nor center around theconflict between the Empire and the Alliance .
Related:What We Want to See in The Next Han Solo Movie
Sure , a ragtag group ofRebels play a little part in the cinema , but the overall story was entirely focused on Han Solo ’s descent and setting him on the track for when audiences first fit him inA New Hope . It was a personal news report . It was about real , ground reference , and their place in the galaxy , not a focal point on mystical beings , religious belief , and again , the struggle between the darkness and the light-colored side of the Force . Instead , there was a white-haired country that Lucasfilm was able to research because that ’s what these anthology flick permit for . That ’s not necessarily a good or a bad thing , but it is one of the primary aspects that make theStar Wars Storymovies different ( and better ) compared to the recent saga episode .
Page 2 of 2:Why The Star Wars Spinoffs Are Better & Why Lucasfilm Should Make More
Why The Star Wars Anthology Films Are Better
The recentStar Warssaga episode are great , especially for longtime fan who ’ve been around for years ( and even those who are only now dipping their toe into the galaxy far , far away ) , but the anthology movies are also not bad for franchise fledgling and sports fan of old . Why ? Because they feel … new , to put it plainly . There ’s a sentience of freedom associated with theStar Wars Storyspinoffs because they can go where the saga episodes have never gone before : to various niche of the galaxy where the overarchingSkywalker story arc does n’t rule supreme . Moreover , there ’s a deficiency of expectation associated with the anthology movies , not in terms of calibre but with regard to preconceived notions about the narrative ( e.g.who Rey ’s real parent are , etc . ) - and that all translate onto the openhanded silver screen .
While the twoStar Wars Storymovies that have put out so far have taken place between the prequel and original trilogies , what ’s interesting is that they both find like old schoolStar Warsmovies but for modern audiences . That ’s evident in many way , including the movies ' story construction as well as their more grounded nature compared to the saga episodes . For illustration , Solo : A Star Wars Story ’s brief action successiveness on Mimban shows exactly what a alive - actionRepublic CommandoorClone Warsmovie could look like - and it ’s spectacular ; the minuscule - guy perspective on a galactic shell is sure worth celebrating , especially for a mammoth space opera house enfranchisement likeStar Wars , in whicheveryonehas some variety of inspired role .
Related:All The Potential Future Star Wars Spinoffs Solo Sets Up
A truly astonishing aspect of theStar Warsfranchise that may be look out over by more casual moviegoers , however , is the respect to antecedently established lore ( canon or not ) as well as an attachment to stories already told in other sensitive , such as strip , novel , and/or television . Right now , theStar Warsanthology movies are understandably doing more justice toStar WarsTV than theMCU has ever done for their TV property . Lucasfilm - and especiallySolo : A Star Wars Storyscreenwriters Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan - successfully bring Maul back into the fold on the braggy screen . For years , his universe was relegated to the small screen onThe Clone WarsandStar Wars RebelsTV shows ( in which his story arc play out attractively ) , but that think of an entire division of theStar Warsfanbase was incognizant of Maul ’s existence . Now , by introducing him , even in what is arguably a shoehorn cameo / connection , has done more to bridge the break between the enceinte and diminished screen properties than ever before .
What ’s more , the cellular inclusion and mention ofStar Wars Rebels ' Ghost work party , the Hammerhead Corvettes , and various other thing inRogue One : A Star Wars Storyfurther instance this notion of justice to non - saga movie . Ultimately , it ’s not about advancing a story , exploring exotic locale , or even subverting expectations that have been built up for decennium . In the end , it ’s about giving audiences an escapade story - " A Star Wars Story " - for them to feel from the ground up , and that is certainly deserving continue .
Why Lucasfilm Should Invest More In This Medium
For years , theStar Warsfranchise has been focused on the Skywalker family - and that ’s wonderful . That Congress of Racial Equality conflict between the dark and the luminance - whether that be between the Jedi and the Sith , the Empire and the Rebellion , or the First Order and the Resistance - has always been at the forefront of theStar Warssaga . That ’s one of the franchise ’s braggart draws , and it ’s not something that should go away anytime before long . But , then again , there ’s much more to theStar Warsfranchise than a handful of heroes and villains leading the electric charge . After all , noteveryonecan be the chosen one , and there are existent tale out there for the studio apartment to show audiences on the big screen , not just on TV . Lucasfilm ’s off - shoots present more opportunities to explore character and stories in greater particular , not to note experiment with unlike music genre ( i.e. a heist motion-picture show , an adventure story , etc . ) . Of course , in rescript to succeed , Lucasfilm will also need to push the gasbag beyond what interview are already familiar with ( hence the " necessity " argument ) . Playing it dependable will only get them so far .
Again , with theStar Warsanthology films , it ’s not always about advancing a pre - establish narrative and desire tosatisfy all corner of theStar Warsfandombut rather extradite a astronomical risky venture that all moviegoers can enjoy . While the domesticated and international box place grosses may not show it , the macrocosm of theseStar Warsspinoffs permit Lucasfilm to attract newcomers to the franchise without requiring people to go back andwatch everyStar Warsmoviethat came before in ordination to have some semblance of understanding behind everything that ’s going on . And with the Skywalker plot line seemingly come to an oddment withStar war : Episode IX , there are peck of chance to tell one - off stories within the enfranchisement , some of which do n’t need to touch base to one another . While focusing on graphic symbol or mathematical group , who perhaps merit more screentime , may be warmly welcomed by many ( but not all ) fans , it ’s something that should sure as shooting consider doing more of down the telephone line .
More:Solo Makes Star Wars: The Last Jedi Look Even Better
