Third Trilogy story idea

[crystalcat]

I was thinking that since Lucas says he isn't going to make a third trilogy now, that we all might be able to collaborate on it.

Here's my initial pitch:

The story is set about 20 - 25 years after the end of ROTJ (why? So that if it's made, the original cast can still be in it). Luke discovers something about his father that makes him think he isn't really dead (yes, even though he burned the body), or at least not permanently dead. He convinces Leia and Han somehow that it's true and they try to figure out how to make it happen (though Leia, at least, has some reservations since she never knew him as anyone other than Darth Vader). Let's also say that the ghost is gone and isn't going to help them. Maybe the ghost never appeared again after that one time.

There has to be some kind of fierce opposition to whatever they need to do or this will never last through three episodes. Since it should end happily, the second episode should maybe end on a setback (like ESB). The final episode should end with Anakin and/or Padme's resurrection. I really think Padme should get resurrected too, but it has to make sense with the rest of the story. For Anakin it can be a Chosen One thing - he's a Christlike figure and resurrection is a part of that (not simply the metaphysical resurrection as was shown in ROTJ).

I don't want to do three episodes on my own (really not even one); however I would enjoy collaborating on the story itself (as separate from the finished product). By "story" I mean a sort of outline or list of plot points to get from point A to point B, with all points set out initially. After that, the product could be divided up between writers. I know Annie once wanted us to re-do the novelization of ROTS this way, and I'm sorry I couldn't get into that because regardless, it was still going to end badly, even if better written. But I would like to become involved in this.

Would anyone else care for a collaboration of this kind?

[Steller's Jay]

Sounds like it might be fun! I might be interested.

[crystalcat]

doubleagent said:

Sounds like it might be fun! I might be interested.

Great! Feel free to throw out some ideas, like I did above. Nothing I mentioned has to be set in stone; I'm viewing this thread as a sort of brainstorming session.

But one thing before anyone gets started:

I would like to be able to offer the end product wholesale to Lucas, without strings attached. This means that if he accepts, your work could get used without compensation. Personally, I don't mind this; it would be enough for me to see it onscreen (and everyone here would know it was really ours). Of course, the offer would only apply if he accepted it for production, not just to sit on it. If he refused, or wanted it for books or anything less than part 7,8, & 9, then he would have to compensate us, or at least give us writing credit. And of course, the offer would only be good for George Lucas, not just anyone.

I would push for this to give it a chance to get looked at. Because I'm positive he receives dozens of offers a day - but I'll bet none of them come as a free gift, so it could get him to at least consider it.

I know lots of people could never bring themselves to agree with this, though, so thought I'd mention it up front.

[Annie]

That is a great idea! Even if I do not end up adding any ideas I would love to read it and see it made into a movie! That is so much better than the EU!

On Padme being resurrected, I think it could be done two ways. One is like ASW did it in "The Skywalker Dynasty" using the force, the other being kind of like the original Hans Christian Anderson version of "The Little Mermaid". In it, mermaids (like non Jedi) did not have souls like humans, but if they won the love of a human, they would get a soul too and get to spend eternity with the one they loved. This is why she wanted to marry the prince, because she loved him but also because it would give her an immortal soul. In the story, he married another, she lost her chance, and was set to die at the rise of the sun the next day. But though the sea witch gave her a magic knife to kill the prince and his new bride so she could break the spell, she loved the prince and could not kill him. So though she died, she was given a chance to be a guardian angel for three hundred years and eventually earn her immortal soul. The only part of this that has to do with Padme is that since Anakin loved her so much, and he was The Chosen One, perhaps in some way this could bring her to him in eternity, or in some form, whatever fits the storyline you have going at the time.

[crystalcat]

Those are great ideas; I would never have thought of the mermaid angle myself.

I liked what ASW did but would be hesitant to use it without her permission, as it was a very unique plot point. Resurrection, per se, I don't feel is copyrightable, but for the reasons she used, it could be, especially on the same character she used it on.

However, this doesn't rule out some other pseudo-religious method of resurrecting her.

I do tend to believe what Anakin told Padme about his mother dying - that he "knew he could have saved her" - he just didn't know how to go about doing it. I think he did have that power, but since it wasn't something the Jedi taught, he didn't know how to use the Force that way - and didn't live long enough on the light side to figure it out for himself. And of course, while she was dying in his arms, he was far too panicked to figure it out on the spot. So let's add this to the list of possible ways to get her & Anakin back together.

Also - as you mention, they needn't be resurrected to live out 60 more years together. They can simply be resurrected to be together and then become one with the Force, but in such a way that the audience knows they are still together.

Please do join in - well, in fact you already have. This is just brainstorming; no need to devote a chunk of time to any major writing. Simply agree to permit your brainstorms to possibly be uncredited if made into a movie.

[crystalcat]

Oh, I thought of another way ...

Anakin believes Padme is an angel from the moment he meets her. And in the way she has devoted her life to everyone besides herself, from a very early age, maybe she literally IS an angel.

(Annie's story about the mermaid becoming a guardian angel actually gave me this idea).

[Annie]

Those are beautiful ideas! The angel, that's a great connection since he called her one! This is going to be so cool! I will see if I can get ASW to 'contribute' too, that way I'm sure she won't mind, if that idea is to be used at all, it can be part of the whole story. This is so much fun! Get it started, I want to read it! Is this the post ROTJ idea you've been thinking of? It's brilliant!

[crystalcat]

annie said:

Is this the post ROTJ idea you've been thinking of? It's brilliant!

No, this is different. The post-ROTJ story I was working on (and stopped, as I'm stuck and probably will be for a long time, if not forever) didn't change the outcome or save Anakin. It was just about Luke & Leia finding out about their mother's family - that they both did have some family left.

And then I have another post-ROTJ story that takes place about 60 years after the end of that movie and does something to UN-do all the killing off that happened in the EU. But I'd rather work on this third trilogy idea. I figure if we can come up with something good, then even if Lucas doesn't buy into it, we can at least think of it as the third trilogy!

[Annie]

It's the best idea for a third trilogy I have ever seen! You can also undo the killing from the EU in this one too!

[crystalcat]

annie said:

You can also undo the killing from the EU in this one too!

Well, I don't think anyone who wants to collaborate would object with that ;D

But it brings up the question of how much of the EU to retain? Lucas isn't adverse to retaining some EU - he kept Anakin's scar, though not the tatoo.

So what does everyone think? You don't have to be a "collaborator" to give an opinion on this one - please everybody weigh in. What did you really like about the EU that you want to see as part of the canon history (canon if Lucas accepts the idea, at least)?

Should Han and Leia have three children named Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin, and Jacen & Jaina are the oldest and twins?

Should Luke be married to former Sith apprentice Mara Jade?

What other things that I don't know about. Remember, this is set about 25 years after ROTJ, so things you didn't like that had no lasting consequences won't count.

[Steller's Jay]

I've never read post-ROTJ EU stories. I would like to see at least some children from Han and Leia, the ones from the EU or not. I guess they would be in their twenties and teens, depending on how many kids and when they were born.

I think it might be neat if the kids (or one of them) had something to do with the resurrections, or at least coming to believe that it is possible, and then trying to convince everyone else. Maybe a vision, dream, ghost visit from Yoda?

I'm not sure how to attack this kind of project, but here are some thoughts:

1. Decide who and how many characters will be in the new trilogy. (Maybe some entirely new characters/species.)
2. Decide on an overall plot to cover the three episodes.
3. Decide on how much time elapses in each episode.
4. Probably have to have C-3PO and R2-D2 in it to interest George.
5. I don't care if Luke is married or not. Maybe have him be a loner, so to speak, like Obi-Wan.

That's all I can think of right now.

[PadmeSkywalker]

I would definately be interested, just think the time frame shouldn't be as long... if its 20 years since ROTJ then Anakin and padme would be in their 60's, I prefer a younger Annie and Padme in their 40's, just me..... it could make more sense like my story in progress Rebirth of the Jedi, that maybe 5 years after ROTJ Luke is still retrying to rebuild the Jedi, but evil has returned, Anakin is "reborn" of the force since he is the chosen one...... he's happy to see his children, but can't "function" without Padme, his fault from the start....... that would be the first Episode..... Anakin being reborn, etc., then trying to help, but just can't due to Padme...... second episode Padme comes back as in above theories.... and the cliff hanger at the end of the seond is she's taken or something. Or the twins..... meanwhile Han and Leia are married, so Padme can be there to help her with her first pregnancy..... third one would have Obi-wan's force ghost return, Anakin very angry with him, still fighting the dark side.... but then overcoming the evil and coming to terms with Obi, then like the story book, they live happily ever after.......

[PadmeSkywalker]

Let me know what I can do. But we all have to agree on timeframe, etc., who will write what.....

Mark Hamil, Carrie and Han are too old unfortuneatly to be in a Third Trilology.... is my opinion.... they would have to get younger actors so Hayden and Nat could be in it.... is my thought...... Obi-wan could still be played by Ewan, just aged some.......

We all have certain thoughts and expectations.... we all need to agree, so the writing can go smooth, etc., without alot of disagreement

[crystalcat]

padmeskywalker said:

Mark Hamil, Carrie and Han are too old unfortuneatly to be in a Third Trilology.... is my opinion.... they would have to get younger actors so Hayden and Nat could be in it.... is my thought...... Obi-wan could still be played by Ewan, just aged some.......

Well, my feeling is (based on what you wrote in the post previous to the one I've quoted above) that what you are describing is not vastly different from the PT (insofar as Anakin experiencing angst over Padme's absence), only with a different (happier) ending. Resurrection doesn't imply that you must come back at the age you would have been if you had not died. They can both be their young selves (Lucas already allowed for this with the young ghost). They probably wouldn't have major roles in the first film, however, since it would probably be about them coming back (the conditions for the resurrection being set up).

And, because those two can be their real ages in the FT (future trilogy?), I don't think there would be a problem of having Mark, Carrie, or Harrison reprise their roles, which is why I made it a point to set it far enough in the "future" so they could. There would also be some new actors (as Hayden and Natalie were new to the PT) that would be young for the younger set to drool over as well (Han & Leia's kids, for instance - as set that far in the "future" they'd be grown enough for that).

I'm not sure if this would satisfy you, however. Are you absolutely against having anyone in their 50s be a hero (provided there are also younger heros), or do you think no one would go see it or Lucas wouldn't go for it? Remember he had the older Obi-Wan in the OT and also Qui-Gon in the PT who was about that age (I disregard Liam Neeson's real age as I think Qui-Gon was older than him).

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of the concept of refilming the OT with new actors, which I know some people on the sw.com boards have dreamt of being done. I'll acknowledge that not everyone thinks like I do, though. But it wouldn't work for me to have new actors playing Luke, Leia, & Han. The characters have to age eventually; so why not the same actors (and I remember Mark Hamill once saying way back when that he was under contract to do the third trilogy if it was ever made, and was supposed to be older in it). But this could be an unsurmountable hurdle if we don't all agree on it.

[crystalcat]

doubleagent said:

I've never read post-ROTJ EU stories. I would like to see at least some children from Han and Leia, the ones from the EU or not. I guess they would be in their twenties and teens, depending on how many kids and when they were born.

I think that, given Hollywood is the way it is, that a younger set of characters (by younger I mean teens and early twenties) is almost a necessity. Yes the story can still have Han, Leia, Luke, Anakin & Padme, but also probably Jacen, Jaina, & Anakin Solo (though I don't think Ben Skywalker would be old enough for a heartthrob even if he ends up in the story). But even though we don't have to use EU, IMO there's no problem with using these three existing children (it would help mollify EU fans, too). What we don't have to do is display vast knowledge of their intimate EU adventures, especially the one that snuffed Anakin Solo. We can also include Chewie, even though by EU standards he's supposed to be dead so that Han would become an alcoholic and blame Leia and screw up their marriage (ugh. sounds like "as the galaxy turns").

doubleagent said:

I think it might be neat if the kids (or one of them) had something to do with the resurrections, or at least coming to believe that it is possible, and then trying to convince everyone else. Maybe a vision, dream, ghost visit from Yoda?

That sounds promising. I've been working on the other end, trying to figure how to get Padme included. 9-year-old Anakin said he thought the angels lived "on the moons of Iago" so I figure that's a starting point. And I also thought we could use the discontinuity error of Leia remembering Padme to help with her "angelic" status.

doubleagent said:

I'm not sure how to attack this kind of project, but here are some thoughts:

1. Decide who and how many characters will be in the new trilogy. (Maybe some entirely new characters/species.)
2. Decide on an overall plot to cover the three episodes.
3. Decide on how much time elapses in each episode.
4. Probably have to have C-3PO and R2-D2 in it to interest George.
5. I don't care if Luke is married or not. Maybe have him be a loner, so to speak, like Obi-Wan.

Good points, although I think maybe an overall plot might be necessary before we know who and how many characters or new species to introduce. And absolutely C-3PO and R2-D2 have to be in it.

I have been trying to work on a plot and so far have only come up with the slavery issue (Anakin once dreamed he'd come back and free the slaves; that dream didn't come true, but why couldn't it still?) The OT gave the impression that Tattooine was part of the Empire. It never belonged to the Republic, however, so once the empire ended, did it go to the Republic then? If so, how did the Hutts deal with the laws (ones that would have cramped their style)? I thought possibly they bribed and/or blackmailed their way past them. Plus, the Hutts weren't native to Tattooine. What about the other planets they controlled?

Anyone have any ideas about this, like this, dislike it?