STAR WARS NEW TRILOGY AND ITS LEGENDS CONTINUITY
Recent reports suggest that a new Star Wars trilogy might be in development, with Simon Kinberg potentially involved, though Lucasfilm has not officially confirmed these details. This potential new series presents an opportunity for the franchise to reassess its approach to the Star Wars Legends continuity. Before April 2014, what is now known as Legends was part of the official Star Wars Expanded Universe, spanning nearly 40 years and maintaining a detailed timeline. However, the modern canon has taken a different approach, using Legends as a source of inspiration without being beholden to it.
The modern Star Wars canon has incorporated elements from the Legends timeline, but with mixed results. While characters like Kylo Ren draw inspiration from Legends counterparts such as Jacen Solo, and story elements like Palpatine’s resurrection echo the Dark Empire series, these adaptations have often faced criticism. Many modern canon interpretations have been viewed as unsatisfying imitations of their original Legends-era incarnations. A notable example is Grand Admiral Thrawn’s live-action portrayal, which significantly alters the character’s original Legends backstory and context.
The most successful modern Star Wars stories have been those that chart their own course without heavily relying on Legends material. Series like The Clone Wars, the first two seasons of Star Wars Rebels, and Andor have excelled by exploring new directions and avoiding the pitfalls of nostalgia-driven storytelling. These successes demonstrate the benefits of creating fresh narratives rather than attempting to recreate or adapt existing Legends content.
Looking forward, any new trilogy would likely benefit from embracing this approach of original storytelling. The 2014 reboot provided Star Wars with a creative clean slate, and the franchise has shown that its strongest offerings are those that utilize this freedom to tell unique stories with new characters. By moving beyond the constraints of nostalgia and direct adaptations, Star Wars can continue to expand its universe in innovative and engaging ways that honor the spirit of both canon and Legends while charting new territory for future generations of fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should the new Star Wars trilogy honor Legends?
Honoring the Legends material would show respect for long-time Star Wars fans and the rich storytelling established over decades. It can also bring depth to the new trilogy without repeating or diminishing what’s already been explored in Legends.
What is Star Wars Legends, and how is it different from canon?
Star Wars Legends refers to the expanded universe of Star Wars stories that were classified as non-canon after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. Unlike the current canon, these stories don’t officially fit into the main Star Wars timeline.
Is the new Star Wars trilogy adapting Legends material?
Some elements from the Legends universe have been reintroduced into the current Star Wars canon in recent projects, but the new trilogy hasn’t strictly adapted Legends material. Instead, it draws inspiration from certain characters and ideas while telling new stories.
Would adapting Legends hurt the new Star Wars trilogy’s originality?
Adapting too much from Legends could limit the creative freedom of the filmmakers and overshadow new stories. To maintain originality, the new trilogy should focus on crafting unique narratives while honoring the spirit of Legends.
How can the new Star Wars trilogy balance paying homage to Legends without directly adapting it?
The new trilogy can balance this by incorporating subtle references and drawing inspiration from Legends’ themes and characters, while ensuring the main plot and character arcs remain fresh and innovative for both new and old audiences.
Which parts of Star Wars Legends should the new trilogy avoid directly adapting?
The new trilogy should avoid adapting major events, like the Yuuzhan Vong invasion or the details of characters like Mara Jade, as these are beloved stories that might clash with the current canon. Instead, it should focus on building new arcs.
Filipino Translation:
In fairness, meron namang mga elements ng Legends na nire-incorporate sa modern Star Wars canon, pero medyo halo-halo yung resulta. Halimbawa, yung character ni Kylo Ren ay may obvious na inspiration mula sa Legends character na si Jacen Solo, and yung resurrection ni Palpatine ay parang throwback dun sa Dark Empire series. Pero, madalas parang may mga criticisms na binabato, especially kapag yung mga bagong versions ng mga characters or stories ay parang hindi pumapantay sa original Legends-era versions nila. Isang magandang example dito yung live-action version ni Grand Admiral Thrawn, na sobrang binago yung original na backstory at context niya mula sa Legends.
Yung pinakamagandang Star Wars stories ngayon ay usually yung mga may sarili nilang direction at hindi masyadong asa sa Legends material. Like, yung The Clone Wars, yung first two seasons ng Star Wars Rebels, pati na rin yung Andor, sobrang successful kasi nag-explore sila ng mga bagong ideas at naiwasan nila yung mga pitfalls ng sobrang pagka-nostalgia. Ipinapakita ng mga success stories na 'to kung gaano ka-beneficial ang pag-create ng fresh narratives instead of trying to remake or adapt yung dating Legends content.
Moving forward, kung maglalabas ng bagong trilogy, malamang mas maganda kung tatanggapin nila itong approach ng original storytelling. Yung 2014 reboot nagbigay sa Star Wars ng creative freedom, at napakita ng franchise na yung mga pinakamalakas na offerings nila ay yung mga gumagamit ng freedom na 'to para magkwento ng unique stories with new characters. Kung aalis sila from the constraints ng nostalgia at mga direct adaptation, patuloy na lalaki at mag-eexpand ang Star Wars universe in exciting and innovative ways, na in a way ay nire-respeto yung spirit ng both canon at Legends, pero at the same time, gumagawa ng bagong journey para sa mga future fans.
Star Wars’ New Trilogy Needs To Honor Legends…& Stop Adapting It was first published here.
