The news of the hour is that Disney has bought Lucasfilm for $4bn and that Star Wars films are coming.
Films.
Star Wars 7 is already scheduled for release in 2015.
Let’s ask the question – what will Star Wars 7 be called?
There’s one source we can go to; the huge list of Star Wars novels. These will allow Disney to go back and forward in time. The original films (4 through to 6) are set in the “Rebellion Era” of which there are 14 books. The prequels (1 through 3) are set in the “Rise of the Empire Era” of which there are about 24 (plus a set of ‘The Approaching Storm’ books).
It seems unlikely Disney will do even more prequels but if they do then Star Wars 7 may well be Darth Plagueis – but that’s a bit of an odd name. They might bundle the first two books from Rise of the Empire era together, putting Darth Plagueis together with Legacy of the Jedi and call the film Legacy of the Jedi. That feels like a better title.
Alternatively, perhaps more likely, they’ll go forward in time. The next book after Return of the Jedi is The Bounty Hunter Wars which is a pretty good movie title and does fit with The Clone Wars. Boba Fett is popular.
If they jump ahead to the first three books in New Republic Era then that’ll give them Jedi Prince, Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor and X-wing as titles. Of the three; Jedi Prince seems most move worthy. That’s not based on the content; just on the title, after all they can merge plots together.
Then there’s the Star Wars 1313 issue to consider. Lucas is already working on that franchise, offering a darker and perhaps more adult take on the franchise. That might appeal to the (ahem, aging) fans of Star Wars but will it appeal to Disney?
What do you think? If Star Wars 7 is coming… which story will it be?
Admiral Thrawn. That is all :)