This past weekend, Latino-Review’s resident super movie scooper El Mayimbe confirmed for many what has been speculated ever since last Fall, that Harrison Ford will return to the role of Han Solo in Star Wars Episode VII. This one piece of information confirms a lot of things about what to expect from the next trilogy, mostly that these sequels will take place relatively close in time to where we left things off in Return of the Jedi. With the casting of Ford, this means that this film will likely take place only decades later, not a hundred or even a thousand years from where we left off storywise, as has been speculated by some. This makes the guessing game a whole lot easier about which elements of the classic Star Wars films we will see going forward. The focus of these new films is almost certainly going to be on the children of Han, Leia and Luke, with the classic trilogy characters taking a backseat to the new kids. The classic trilogy trio will likely be seen in much smaller roles, kind of in a “passing the torch” kind of way. While nothing is for certain, based on what we do know, here are my educated guesses as to who and what we will see in Episode VII, as well as what we most certainly won’t see.
Luke Skywalker/Mark Hamill
If there is any one single character from the classic films that is almost a virtual shoo-in for a return, it’ll be Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. There is very little we know about whatever George Lucas outline they are said to be using for Episodes VII-IX, but everything we do know has come out in bits and pieces over the years from interviews with Hamill, who always said that Lucas promised him a role similar to what Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan had in the original film, as the older Jedi mentor figure. And now that we know that Han Solo is a character in this movie, there is almost no chance that Luke won’t be back as well. In a nice bit of cosmic happenstance, Hamill will be the exact same age in 2015 that Sir Alec Guinness was when he played Obi-Wan in 1977.
Chances For Coming Back – 10/10
Princess Leia/Carrie Fisher
When I first heard the announcement of Episodes VII-IX, my honest to goodness thought was that of all the human characters in the original trilogy, we would probably only see Luke return. But since that time, not only has Harrison Ford been all but confirmed, but it has been quickly revealed that Lucas informed both actors Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher of the new episodes as early as last August. Why tell Fisher if he didn’t want her involvement as well? And now that her man Han Solo is confirmed to return? It is pretty close to a safe bet she’ll be back too. I don’t expect Leia to have a huge role here, we will probably see her as the President of the New Republic or something similar, not to mention as a mother figure to whomever the main character (or characters) probably will be.
Instead of using make up and digital trickery to try to de-age her, I think the opposite action needs to be taken; age her UP, make her a cross between Margaret Thatcher and Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. The only reason I give Leia a slightly lesser chance of returning is that I could see Carrie Fisher, someone known to be somewhat neurotic about her physical appearance (if you’ve ever watched her one-woman shows, you know what I mean) choosing to leave her Leia Legacy behind as gold-bikinied hottie that millions of fanboys got their first erections to, and leave it at that.
The image of Carrie Fisher on the right is one of her more flattering recent pics. Instead of trying to make her look younger through lipo, botox and who knows what else, my suggestion is age her up.
Chances For Returning- 9/10
Chewbacca/Peter Mayhew
Another iconic character who was sorely missed in episodes I-II. We all know actor Peter Mayhew has already stated he is down to return and play Chewie, but frankly, even if he doesn’t, another 7 foot huge actor could fill the part and almost no one would know better (sorry Peter.) Besides, where Han goes, Chewie goes. Everyone knows that.
Chances for Returning: 10/10
R2-D2 and C-3PO/Kenny Baker & Anthony Daniels
And here are the last of what I’d say are the “shoo-ins” to come back. Lucas has long stated that the droids are the connective thread through all the trilogies, and we know that where Master Luke goes, so do his faithful droids. I guess the only question is, will either of the original actors inside the metal shells come back? Kenny Baker was barely needed in the prequels, as technology improved greatly by the time shooting the newer movies began. That is even more true today. And Anthony Daniels is currently in his late 60’s. Will he still want to get into a hot metal suit on a set for hours at this point? Even if he doesn’t, and they find another actor to fill the suit, it is pretty much a guarantee that Daniels will at least provide the voice of Threepio for as long as he’s still alive and kicking.
Chances for Returning: 10/10
Lando Calrissian/Billy Dee Williams
Ok, here is where things get a wee bit murkier. Lando could come back, but at this point I think he would just be brought back pretty much just to be there. This movie isn’t going to focus on the old guys, and having four old actors all essentially in mentor roles is kind of pushing it. He’s not really part of the Skywalker family per se, I’m just not sure what role he’d really have to play at this point in the story. But if all the original important characters come back, and they leave the only ethnic character from the classic series out, Disney could get a lot of crap for that decision. Of course, if they include an all new African-American character, well, then that solves that particular problem, and they don’t suddenly have to find a role for Grandpa Lando.
Chances for Coming Back: 6/10
The Emperor/Ian McDiarmid
The biggest question on everyone’s mind, at least concerning the story of this new trilogy, is just who the hell is the villain going to be? If Episodes VII-IX are meant to round out the saga as started in the Episodes I-VI, then it would figure they would continue to use the same villain: Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. In creating the original saga, George Lucas has had no problem borrowing liberally from sources as varied as King Arthur legends, old westerns, World War II history and lots more. He once stated that Obi-Wan in Episode IV was based in part on Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings, and seeing as how both “died” in the first chapters of their respective trilogies, only to come back more powerful than before later on, you can see the connection. So if Gandalf is Obi-Wan, could the Emperor be maybe… Sauron?
Go with me here; what if after decades of a hard-won peace, in a distant part of the realm (or the galaxy in this case) the disembodied spirit of Palpatine grows more powerful, and begins to have his minions build an army. This allows for for a return of familiar Star Wars iconography, like Imperial Star Destroyers and Storm Troopers, but with a modern twist–recognizable but slightly redesigned and improved. This storyline is similar to Dark Horse Comics’ Dark Empire series, but in that particular set of stories the Emperor came back as a clone, and I don’t see them going that way here. Instead, I see him as a disembodied presence, and probably just his voice (voiced of course still by the great Ian McDiarmid) who might not even take physical form, much like Sauron in Lord of the Rings. The goal of this trilogy might be for the grandchild (or grandchildren) of Anakin Skywalker to prevent the return of the Sith, which would then undo Anakin’s fulfillment of his destiny. Still, Abrams might want a whole new villain for his version of Star Wars, which is why I don’t think the return of the Sith is anywhere near a done deal yet.
Chances for Returning: 5/10
Obi-Wan Kenobi/Ewan McGregor
Say what you will about the prequel trilogy, even the most ardent prequel hater will grudgingly admit that Ewan McGregor nailed the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Add a little old age make-up, some translucent blow glow, and he can appear in a cameo communing with Luke from beyond the grave. Ewan McGregor has recently said he’d be down for any return to the Star Wars saga, and having grown up with the classic films, he would probably love to be in a movie with the original cast.
Chances for Returning: 7/10
Yoda/Frank Oz
Everything I just said about Obi-Wan applies to Yoda as well. If I were Disney, I’d keep the Yoda/Obi-Wan cameos under wraps as much as possible, leave it as a surprise for audiences. Of course, in this age of online scoops, good luck keeping that from being spoiled if it does end up happening.
Chances for Returning: 7/10
Anakin Skywalker/Hayden Christensen
All right, This might piss off fanboys the world over, but if ghostly Ben and Yoda come back, that implies Anakin would too probably. If Palpatine is indeed the villain again, then Anakin’s chances double for a return appearance, as who has better insight into Palpy but his former apprentice? A lot of fans loathe Hayden Christensen, but under the direction of JJ Abrams, I could see him giving a decent performance, much like he did in Shattered Glass. Besides, it would probably just be a cameo anyway, so I wouldn’t sweat it too much.
Chances for Returning: 6/10
Boba Fett/Temuera Morrison (Or Whoever)
Although loved by fanboys the world over, I can’t see how they would explain Boba being around some thirty years after movie going audiences last saw him as being “slowly digested over a thousand years” in the Sarlaac Pit at the start of Return of the Jedi. Yes, I am aware that various comics and novels have explained how Boba survived that little indiginity, but most casual moviegoers have not read any of those, and I can’t see JJ Abrams spending valuable screen time explaining how Boba managed to still be alive and kicking decades later. Boba might get his own solo spin-off movie set during the classic trilogy (I think this more than likely) but don’t expect him in Episode VII. Still, he is very popular, so anything is possible. I won’t go as far as ruling it out completely.
Chances For Returning: 2/10
Jar-Jar Binks/Ahmed Best
Relax, geeks. This will never happen. Everyone knows Jar-Jar is the most hated character in all of sci-fi, symbolic of everything wrong with the prequel trilogy. You might see cute little in jokes, like a gravestone with his head on it, or something similar, but yeah…Disney won’t allow for Jar-Jar in this new trilogy, so everyone go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief.
Chances For Returning: 0/10
Locations/Planets
The Star Wars galaxy is a vast one, made up of thousands and thousands of planets, and I think this is something JJ Abrams will want to explore more. I don’t believe we will be visiting many already seen worlds from the original saga, and they will be mostly creating whole new ones instead. I can’t forsee a reason to return to planets like Hoth, Dagobah, Bespin, or almost any of the others for any reason other than viewers already know them. There are two big exceptions to this rule though, and they are the following:
Tatooine
While Tatooine is the planet said to be the farthest from the bright center of the universe, and essentially the armpit of the galaxy, it is the emotional home planet of the Star Wars saga, appearing in five of the six films. I’m not sure how it will factor in, but at some point in Episode VII-IX, count on visiting Tatooine, maybe as the home of hermit Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
Coruscant
The capital world of the Republic, then the Empire, and then presumably the New Republic as well. It was originally meant to appear in Return of the Jedi, although using a different name. If Tatooine is the Star Wars galaxy’s version of a no-name small town, then Coruscant is New York City. While the prequel movies spent way too much time in this one location, the capital world is too important to to be ignored, and is bound to make at least an appearance at some point in these new movies.
Chances of Seeing Both Planets: 8/10
Starships
The Millennium Falcon
One very important ingredient missing in the prequel trilogy was the lack of a central starship to serve as de-facto home for the protagonists, which is what the Millennium Falcon was to the core group of characters in the classic trilogy. The Millennium Falcon is the most beloved spaceship in sci-fi history, right next to the starship Enterprise; there is almost no way it isn’t making a comeback this time. I don’t expect Han to be piloting the ship anymore though, I expect him to have given the old girl to one of his kids…although I could see Chewie remaining as co-pilot to his “niece” or “nephew.” One thing is for sure though, expect to see the return of the Falcon, and expect it to still not work half the time.
X-Wings, Y-Wings, Etc.
If you look at the starships in the original trilogy, the Imperial armada all have a sparse, uniform look with little in the way of deviation; Star Destroyers for example are all angular and stark white and colorless. The Rebels on the other hand are made up of various cultures all coming together, and therefore have a more haphazard and varied look (all the Rebel fleet scenes in Empire and Jedi look like ships that all came from different worlds.) Now that the Rebels have very likely become the New Republic (or something similar) they have to look more uniform, but should still look more organic and not too much like the former Empire’s ships. There should be X-Wings, Y-Wings and the like, because everyone loves those designs, but everything should look a little more uniform and polished, as this isn’t a rag tag band anymore, they are the establishment.
Chances of Seeing These Ships (Or Variations of Them) 9/10
Last, but certainly not least, John Williams
At first, I would have thought that John Williams would have chosen to retire from Star Wars along with George Lucas, but according to recent reports, he is seemingly down for a return. Star Wars and Williams go together like peanut butter and jelly, so if he wants to come back, Disney will move heaven and Earth to make that happen. In any case, the next few months and years will prove whether or not my guesses have any degree of accuracy, or whether or not JJ Abrams instead surprises us all with a movie trilogy about the adventures of Admiral Ackbar and his crew of Ewok fighter pilots.