The Mandalorian Is Coming

When Disney+ streaming service launches in November it brings with it a Star Wars live-action TV series. This is the first of its kind and is highly anticipated.

It will be set in the time period a few years after the events of "The Return of the Jedi". The show will be located in the outer rim, far from the influence of the New Republic. It will be the story of a lone gunslinger, scoundrel, a bounty hunter.

With both Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), expectations are very high. Both of these men have proven themselves in their craft. Below is the new trailer for "The Mandalorian":

Movies of 2019

Here are a few of the movies that look interesting this year. I pulled my list from a website called firstshowing.net. I would encourage you to follow this link for a full list of the movies scheduled for 2019.

Wow what a list... I had no idea some of these movies were coming out. My most anticipated of this list are Captain Marvel (March), Marvel's Avengers: Endgame (April). Spider-Man: Far From Home (July), and of course Star Wars: Episode IX (December). Disney has a lot of movies coming out this year not just there Marvel and Star Wars movies. Pixar's Toy Story 4  has to be a must-see.

I hope you enjoy my list of 2019 movies. Which ones can you not wait to see? Please comment below.

Release dates are subject to change.

JANUARY 2019

January 11 (Friday)

A Dog's Way Home

January 18 (Friday)

Glass

January 25 (Friday)

The Kid Who Would Be King

FEBRUARY 2019

February 8 (Friday)

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

What Men Want

February 14 (Thursday - Valentine's Day)

Alita: Battle Angel

Fighting with My Family

February 22 (Friday)

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

MARCH 2019

March 1 (Friday)

A Madea Family Funeral

March 8 (Friday)

Captain Marvel

March 15 (Friday)

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase

March 29 (Friday)

Dumbo

APRIL 2019

April 5 (Friday)

Pet Sematary

Shazam!

April 12 (Friday)

Hellboy

April 17 (Wednesday)

Penguins

April 26 (Friday)

Marvel's Avengers: Endgame

Summer 2019

MAY 2019

May 10 (Friday)

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

May 15 (Wednesday)

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

May 17 (Friday)

A Dog's Journey

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

May 24 (Friday)

Aladdin

Minecraft: The Movie

May 31 (Friday)

Godzilla: King of Monsters

JUNE 2019

June 7 (Friday)

The Secret Life of Pets 2

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

June 14 (Friday)

Men in Black: International

June 21 (Friday)

Pixar's Toy Story 4

JULY 2019

July 5 (Friday)

Spider-Man: Far From Home

July 19 (Friday)

The Lion King

AUGUST 2019

August 2 (Friday)

Dora the Explorer

Hobbs & Shaw

The New Mutants

August 9 (Friday)

Artemis Fowl

August 16 (Friday)

The Angry Birds Movie 2

Playmobil: The Movie

August 23 (Friday)

Overcomer

SEPTEMBER 2019

September 6 (Friday)

It: Chapter 2

September 13 (Friday)

Spies in Disguise

September 20 (Friday)

Downton Abbey

OCTOBER 2019

October 4 (Friday)

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Joker

October 11 (Friday)

The Addams Family

NOVEMBER 2019

November 1 (Friday)

Terminator

November 8 (Friday)

Sonic The Hedgehog

November 15 (Friday)

Kingsman 3

November 22 (Friday)

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Frozen 2

DECEMBER 2019

December 13 (Friday)

Jumanji Sequel

December 18 (Wednesday)

Masters of the Universe

December 20 (Friday)

Star Wars: Episode IX

December 25 (Wednesday - Christmas Day)

1917

The Call of the Wild

Little Women

The Last Jedi Trailer

The new trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was released. You can click here to watch it on Youtube. I am very excited for this movie.

A few things I observed when watching this trailer. 1.) Rey is very powerful and so is Kylo Ren. 2.) The character of Leia is going to be treated with amazing care. 3.) Phasma is finally going to do something. 4.) Luke is going to be a very different jedi then the one we saw in RotJ.

I am also wondering about the white wolf/fox we see in the trailer. Could this be a tribute to Dave Filoni? It would be well deserved honor. I hope that they placed this creature in The Last Jedi in honor of all of his hard work for the Star Wars galaxy.

What did you think of the trailer? Are you ready for the new Star Wars film? Please let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Episode VIII gets a Title.

The title of the new Star Wars film was released. Episode VIII is going to be called "The Last Jedi". Does this refer to Luke or Rey? Is Luke the last ever or is it just a reference to the current state of affairs? In the openning crawl of The Force Awakens, Luke is  referred to as "the last Jedi". I guess we will find out December 15, 2017.

Movies for 2017

Here are a few of the movies that look interesting this year. I pulled my list from a website called firstshowing.net. I would encourage you to follow this link for a full list of the movies scheduled for 2017.

The top three movies coming out in 2017 that I am anticipating are Star Wars: Episode VIII, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Wonder Woman. There are many other movies I am very excited for, as well, including: Logan, Cars 3, Pirates, Spider-Man, Justice League, and others. The lead into summer looks packed and it continues until mid-July. I hope you enjoy my list of 2017 movies. Which ones can you not wait to see? Please comment below.

Release dates are subject to change.

JANUARY 2017 
January 6 (Friday)

Hidden Figures
A Monster Calls
Underworld: Blood Wars

January 13 (Friday)
Monster Trucks

January 20 (Friday)
Split
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage

January 27 (Friday)
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

FEBRUARY 2017
February 3 (Friday)
Rings
The Space Between Us

February 10 (Friday)
John Wick: Chapter Two
The LEGO Batman Movie

MARCH 2017
March 3 (Friday)
Logan

March 10 (Friday)
Kong: Skull Island

March 17 (Friday)
Beauty and the Beast

March 24 (Friday)
CHiPs
Power Rangers

March 31 (Friday)
Ghost in the Shell

APRIL 2017
April 7 (Friday)
Smurfs: The Lost Village

April 14 (Friday)
The Fate of the Furious

Summer 2017

MAY 2017
May 5 (Friday)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

May 12 (Friday)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

May 19 (Friday)
Alien: Covenant
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
The Nut Job 2

May 26 (Friday)
Baywatch
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

JUNE 2017
June 2 (Friday)
Captain Underpants
Wonder Woman

June 9 (Friday)
The Mummy
World War Z 2

June 16 (Friday)
Pixar's Cars 3

June 23 (Friday)
Transformers: The Last Knight

June 30 (Friday)
Despicable Me 3

JULY 2017
July 7 (Friday)
Spider-Man: Homecoming

July 14 (Friday)
War for the Planet of the Apes

AUGUST 2017
August 4 (Friday)
The Emoji Movie

SEPTEMBER 2017
September 8 (Friday)
It

September 22 (Friday)
Ninjago

September 29 (Friday)
Flatliners

OCTOBER 2017
October 6 (Friday)
Blade Runner 2049
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
My Little Pony

October 13 (Friday)
Friday the 13th

October 27 (Friday)
Cloverfield Movie

NOVEMBER 2017
November 3 (Friday)
Thor: Ragnarok

November 17 (Friday)
Justice League

November 22 (Wednesday - Thanksgiving)
Pixar's Coco
Murder on the Orient Express

DECEMBER 2017
December 15 (Friday)

Star Wars: Episode VIII

December 22 (Friday)
Jumanji
Pitch Perfect 3
The Six Billion Dollar Man

December 25 (Monday - Christmas Day)
The Greatest Showman

Are These the Droids You're Looking For?

With Rogue One just a few weeks away, the world awaits to see how the first stand alone Star Wars film will fair at the box office. I don't believe it will capture the excitement of The Force Awakens but I think it will carry an excitement of it own. It will be nice to go back in time to see the Galactic Empire in the height of its power. And the cost of stealing the plans to the dreaded Death Star.

There have already been several characters announced that will have major roles (i.e. Darth Vader, Mon Mothma)  or cameos (i.e Bail Organa). There are a few more characters that are key to the end of this film that I wonder if we will see.

1. Princess Leia - At the beginning of a New Hope we know that Princess is on the run from Darth Vader with the stolen plans. When did she get those plans and from whom? Will we see some form of a lady in a white dress with her hair in buns boarding a Rebel blockade runner?

2. C-3PO - Will we see a certain golden body protocol droid that is fluent in over 6 million forms of communication? We know that he is also on the Rebel blockade runner at the beginning of A New Hope. Will Threepio show up with Bail Organa?

3. R2-D2 - One of the most important little droids to the Star Wars galaxy is C-3PO counterpart R2D2. He has been in every episodic film. He is always in trouble and definitely a part of the action. How did he get the plans? What role will he play in Rogue One?

I do not know if we will see any of these classic characters, but if I had to guess which one is most like to be a part of Rogue One, it would be R2-D2. The other 2 may make some form of a cameo, but I am beginning to think that R2-D2 may play some role in the third act of this film. What do you think? Who might we see? Will R2 play a role in Rogue One?

Rogue One: A Few Things to Know

When I was talking with a friend the other day, I realized that there are still people who do not understand what Rogue One is and in what time period it is set. When going to see Rogue One in December there are a few things you need to understand.

1. Rogue One is the first stand alone movie in the new Star Wars cinematic galaxy. It will have familiar elements such as Stormtroopers, AT-AT, and ships. This movie will not have Luke, Leia, and Han. Also, it will also not have the new characters like Rey, Finn, and Poe. It will have a cast unique to the story they are telling here.

2. Rogue One is set in a time before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The story is taken directly from the first few lines of the opening crawl. ("It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.
During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.) We are getting a peak into the battle and how much it cost the rebellion to get those plans.

3. Rogue One is going have some other very familiar things. We will get to see the rebels and The Empire. We will see some characters like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and even Darth Vader. There will be TIE Fighters, Star Destroyers, and a newly built Death Star.

4. Rogue One is not set on a familiar planet. It is being promoted as a war film. This film is supposed to be the grittiest of the Star Wars films thus far.

5. Rogue One will have a conclusion. The is a self-contained movie. There are not plans (of course you never know with Disney) to use these characters again. Do not expect Rogue Two to be announced in January of 2017.

If you still were not clear on what Rogue One was and how it fits into the Star Wars Galaxy, I hope this helps. Please feel free to share this blog with your friends who may still have questions on what the new Star Wars movie is all about. In 2017, we can talk about Episode VIII.

5 Movies Launching new Adventures for 2016

2016 just happens to be the year in Hollywood where the stars align to bring us 5 movies designed to launch us into new phases of movie franchises or relaunch a genre. Let's take a look at these movies.

1. Deadpool - The studios have tried rated "R" superhero films before but not like Deadpool. The "merc with a mouth" has always been over the top and so, to do it right, the film makers are going over the top with his movie. The question is..."Will Deadpool be the exception or the rule?" Only time will tell on this one.

2.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the newest journey into the wizarding world of Harry Potter. The movie will be set before Harry, Hermione, and Ron and will focus on new adventures. There is a lot riding on this movie to prove that worldwide audiences still want to escape into this world, even if our old, familiar friends are not there to greet us.

3. Warcraft and Assassin's Creed are both set to hit the big screen this year. Most attempts at bringing a video game franchise into the Hollywood fold has failed to deliver. Can these two massive video game franchises usher in a new era of cross-medium productions? Will audiences enjoy a two hour version of there favorite games?

4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - This is the first anthology film released in the Star Wars film galaxy. The release of  The Force Awakens clearly proved the audiences want to see more episodic adventures. Will a single story about a particular event be received well? Rogue One has the task of proving that movie goers do not just want episodes, but they also care about smaller tales.

5. Batman v Superman - The movie that has the most riding on its success is Dawn of Justice. This movie is set to establish a whole DC movie universe. If it is good, or even just okay, then the universe can be built upon it and Man of Steel. But if it flops, then there are some rough days ahead for DC. This single movie is probably the most highly anticipated film of 2016.

There are plenty of other great movies coming out in 2016. I wrote a blog with some of the movies that I am looking forward to this year. Check it out here: Movies for 2016. One thing is for sure... this is going to be a good year for movies!

Episode VIII Moves to December

With the success of The Force Awakens, it is not hard to believe that Disney is going to want to continue to ride the wave of Star Wars fever.  In December, they are releasing Rogue One the first of the antology films and the plan was to release Episode VIII in May of 2017. Disney just annouced that they were pushing back Episode VIII back to December 15, 2017. It should not come as a suprise that they were willing to make this change after the success  SWTFA achieved in December. This could set up an interesting stand off between Star Wars and the new Avatar film set for release that December. Unfortunately, we will all have to wait a few extra months to continue the Skywalker story.

Who is a Skywalker?

The episodic films in Star Wars have all featured a Skywalker. The original trilogy focused on Luke Skywalker and his redemption of his father. The prequel trilogy showed us the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. So this begs the question, will there be a new Skywalker? Let's look at whom might be the Skywalker or Skywalkers in the new trilogy.

To begin with, I do not think Poe Dameron or Finn are going to be Skywalkers, but they are both going to be important. Dameron is a pilot for the resistance. Finn is going to leave the First Order to join our other heroes in their adventure.

Rey is my first choice for being a Skywalker. I believe she is in hiding on Jakku and she is the daughter of Han and Liea. So, technically I believe she is a Solo. In the previews, she seems to have a knowledge of the force and a familiarity with Han.

I am also getting more convinced that Kylo is a Skywalker. I believe he may either be a brother to Rey or her cousin. His turning to the dark side would help explain why Rey would be in hiding.

What do you think? Who besides Luke and Leia will be the Skywalkers in the new triology?

Will Vader appear in Rogue One?

Now that it has been confirmed exactly what time the galaxy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set, I have several questions.

The first blog I wrote about Rogue One I stated that I really hoped that they would set the movie in the time of the new trilogy, but now it is known that Rogue One will take place between Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) and Episode IV (A New Hope). This shows us that Disney is really looking to expand the Star Wars Cinematic Galaxy.

Here are my questions...

1. Will Vader appear in Rogue One? - The rumors have been flying since July that the ultimate villain will make his evil reappearance in this film. Last time we saw Vader on screen he was crying over the loss of the love of his life. When I was a child Darth Vader was scary and intimidating. I really hope they redeem him and return him to his roots.
2. What other old characters might appear? Tarkin, Bail Organa, Ezra, Kanan Jarrus and many more have the potential of showing up in this movie in some form or fashion. There are many characters that are known during this period of time.
3. Will we see any of the big 3? We know that Luke, Leia and Han are all around during this period of time. Luke is probably the most unlikely. A younger Han or Leia might make an appearance. Leia seems to be the most likely, especially if Bail Organa is included in the story. 

The premise of the film is "Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters comes together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor's rule." At D23 it was said that this film would focus on ground war and truly be a "war" flick to show the struggle of the rebel alliance. It has been said that it will approach this conflict in shades of gray and not quite as black and white as the original trilogy. 

The film is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2016. I am holding back my excitement for Rogue One until Episode VII has hit theaters. I believe it will be very nostalgic to revisit the galaxy during a very familiar time in history and see the classic storm-troopers, vehicles and hopefully villains. This is a very exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!

Could I Get Any More Excited for Star Wars?

Comic-Con is over and I have watched a ton of YouTube videos about the event. Many of the panels excited me. The panel on "The Force Awakens" was simply amazing. There were no major secrets revealed or new trailers released, but what they did have was Harrison Ford.

I was also able to watch many of the live streaming from Star Wars Celebration and listened to both Mark Hamill's and Carrie Fisher's thoughts, but because of his accident, Harrison Ford was unable to make an appearance.  

Comic-Con, on the other hand, was a whole different story. The panel started with some of the production people, the new cast, and finally both Mark and Carrie joined them on stage to answer questions. There was only one seat left and it did not have a name card. His name was announced and Harrison Ford came out from behind the stage with the crowd roaring.

It was very exciting to see him once again embrace his beloved character of Han Solo. That would have been enough to get me excited, but, to my delight, there was more. Ford took several minutes to praise the new story and the direction the Star Wars universe is going. He seemed genuinely enthusiastic about his arc and the movie as a whole. With both Hamill and Fisher appearing at SWCA, Ford was the last member of the original trilogy to reveal his emotions surrounding his return.

So, I will end this in the words of Han Solo in as far as it applies to the original three..."We're home".

Star Wars Spin-off

The news broke on starwars.com that Rogue One was going to be the name of the first stand-alone film in the Star Wars universe.

You can click here to see the article on starwars.com.

With the release of the title it raises a few questions.


1.Who is this spin-off going to be about? It has been rumored and wondered about a Han Solo stand-alone film. Also, fan favorite Boba Fett has been proposed as a character that people would love to see his history. Another choice would be to explore a story of a character that we will be introduced to in Episode VII: The Force Awakens. The last option would be to choose or create an unknown character in the Star Wars Universe.

2. In what time is the spin-off set? The movie is going to be released a year after Episode VII and 5 months before Episode VIII. It could be that Rogue One is going to set up Episode VIII or further the adventures of Episode VII. If the movie is not going to stay in the timeline, then anyone's guess is as good as the next person's. They could choose from the old republic, days before the empire, or even during the early days of the rebellion.

3. Will this be a story about Rogue Squadron? With a name like Rogue One, fans have to wonder if they are going to see a movie centered around pilots. After the Rogue Squadron games and books, this group of pilots has had it's own following and fandom.

If I had my preferences, I would like to see a fringe character from either episode 7 or 8. I hope they put the movie in the current movie timeline. I believe that it will be a miss if they do not capitalize on the popularity of Rogue Squadron and the iconic ships of the Star Wars universe.  Whatever the spin-off looks like, fans only want it to be good and help establish the SWCG (Star Wars Cinematic Galaxy).

Rebels Gets Two Big Returns

***This blog will contain spoilers if you have not watched the finale of Star Wars Rebels***

The first season is over and it seems the Disney's XD really wanted to end Star Wars Rebels on a high note. Fire Across The Galaxy, as a fan, seems to be their strongest episode to date. They tie up a few story lines, but really just set the stage for a much broader universe for season 2. Two really big characters make their first appearance in the episode.

Dave Filoni and his team did an excellent job of investing the fans in a whole new set of characters before bringing in the more familiar ones. If you have not been watching Rebels it is a story of a Rebel cell and their adventures against the empire in and around the planet Lothal. The series opens when Ezra, a force sensitive kid, joins up with the other rebels and discovers that there is a Jedi still fighting against the Empire.

The best moment is when, after teasing us all season, they finally reveal the identity of Fulcrum. Chopper (an astromech droid) brings reinforcements to save the day and escape to hyperspace. As the heroes come back together they discover Fulcrum herself has come to their rescue. Most Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans were thrilled to see Ahsoka Tano return as Fulcrum and a leader in the galactic rebellion. Fans have wanted to know what happen to her and did she play a bigger role in the Star Wars universe. Filoni revealed that more of Ahsoka's story is to come in season 2. He also said that she is NOT a Jedi but rather she is neutrally affiliated. When she lights up her new lightsabers they will be white, showing she is neither Jedi or Sith.

Ahsoka's master also returned at the end of this episode. That is right! Darth Vader himself has made an official appearance on Star Wars Rebels. The creators, writers and voice actors promise that they are treating Darth Vader with all the respect he deserves. Dave Filoni does not want to over use Vader but does want to give him a role in this part of the Star Wars universe.

These two returns were huge for fans of the Star Wars cartoons. With these two returning to the small scene it raises a few questions. Will Master and Padawan meet and do battle? How will Ahsoka's story play out? How will Kanan and Ezra be affected by the return of another, former Jedi?

The Lightsaber to Start It All

Is there any cooler sound than a lightsaber igniting?

With the release of the Star Wars VII teaser trailer behind us, it has been amazing to see all of the analysis that has taken place on these short 88 seconds of film magic. In other blogs, I will take time to look at some of the really cool stuff that the film makers showed us and why I am so excited for this movie. For now, I really would like to focus on the very last thing you hear in the trailer.

*Mild Spoilers ahead* (No plot spoilers)

People with more time and resources than me have analyzed the lightsaber sound at the end of the trailer and believe strongly that it is the sound of Luke Skywalker's original lightsaber. The is the first lightsaber we, as an audience, ever see ignited and it is also when we get that wonderful description of this weapon. "This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age." Obi-Wan Kenobi informs Luke that it was his father's weapon and that he wanted him to have it when he was old enough.

If the experts are right and this is Luke's original lightsaber that is amazing, Here are a few things to remember or think about as we explore the idea of the return of the first lightsaber.

1. This was once Anakin's lightsaber as well. Obi-wan picked it up on Mustafar after their last battle in Episode III and kept it for Luke all these years.
2. The lightsaber was lost on Bespin when Darth Vader severed Luke's hand in Episode V. This means someone has to find this in Cloud City and somehow it has fallen into a new character's hands or has been returned to Luke.
3. If this is Luke's lightsaber, then it will have secured a part in all three trilogies: Anakin's weapon in prequels, Luke's in the original, and someone's in the new trilogy.

I believe this raises a few questions.

1. Who found the lightsaber and why?
2. Who is wielding it when it first is ignited?
3. Who will use this lightsaber in the new movies? Could it be another Skywalker?

I hope this gets you thinking without giving away too much about the new movie. I am very excited, but I am trying to stay away from too many rumors. Do you think it is going to be Luke's original lightsaber? Who do you think will use it? Are you excited that JJ Abrams may have wanted to bring it back?

Is the Emperor still alive?

As we look forward to the return of Star Wars to the big screen, you have to wonder...who is going to be the bad guy? What is the new danger that our heroes will face in their journey? Is the Empire really defeated and gone from the galaxy?

1. The first option would be to create a new nemesis much like Timothy Zahn did in his Thrawn Triology books. If they choose someone connected to the empire, but not someone we are familiar with, it could work well. The villain would love the empire and hate our rebels for its destruction.
2. The second option seems to be that they could have one of the heroes fall to the dark side. In the Legacy of the Force series, Jacen Solo becomes the main antagonist who gives the face to the power of the dark side.
3. The third option seems to be that the emperor we all love to hate is still the main villain. With the return of Darth Maul, could the emperor have survived? If the Jedi can prolong their stories by becoming one with the force and guiding our young heroes, can it not be conceivable that the dark side of the force has a similar power? Will the emperor continue to manipulate the galaxy even if it has to be from beyond the grave?

These are the three most viable options I see for the villain. With an entire universe of books and stories, outside of the movies and cartoons being declared non- cannon, the one thing that is certain is that we have no clue which direction they might go. I would not even put it past Lucusfilm and Disney to release misinformation just to keep us all guessing. We will all just have to wait and see when the movie comes out 2015.

Star Wars Rebels

Disney XD has launched its new Star Wars show set in the time period between Episode 3 and Episode 4. This is a very rich time but also a dark time in the Star Wars universe. The defenders of the light side of the force, the Jedi order, are in hiding because of order 66. The majority of Jedi have been killed, captured, or escaped into exile. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has sent a warning telling all Jedi to stay clear of the temple and not to return to Coruscant.

The show seems like it is going to focus on one small band of rebels and their adventures facing the ever increasing power of the new galactic empire. Star Wars Rebels introduced us to young Ezra Bridger and Jedi Kanan Jarrus who is the leader of these rebels. Ezra is sensitive to the force and Kanan is teaching him about it. It will be interesting to see how they weave in the known Star Wars characters with this unknown period of the Star Wars universe. There is potential for cameos from everyone including Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Yoda, or even younger versions of Luke, Leia, and Han Solo.

Dave Filoni did an amazing job bringing the period between episode 2 and 3 to life with his Cartoon Network show Star Wars the Clone Wars. I am very excited to see what he and his team can do with this time in the Star Wars universe. May the force be with you.

Star Wars VII: Will We Have to Say Goodbye?

Are We Going to Say Goodbye to a Classic Character?

First, let me say that the studio (as always) is doing a great job at keeping its secrets. I have found blogs and rumor sites but most of them are just guessing at what they think will happen. We know that J.J. Abrams is directing Episode VII and he wants to dedicate this film to a proper treatment of our heroes.

But... will one of them die?

My guess would have to be... yes.

In both Episode VI and I, we said goodbye to a major character. This helps to drive the development of heroes and moves the story arc forward. You feel the pain and see the struggle while Luke watches as Old Ben is struck down by Lord Vader. In Episode I, you can feel the sense of loss as Anakin does not get to train under Qui-gon Jinn. Death is an important part of the Star Wars stories.

So who will not make it to Episode VIII?

I believe of the three major characters the most likely candidate is Han Solo. Since the end of Episode V, Harrison Ford has been rumored to feel that Han Solo needs to sacrifice himself for the cause. My guess is that he will finally get his wish. Leia is another possibility. I think it would be more likely to lose both Han and Leia in this Episode before we would lose just Leia.

I believe the least likely to get killed in Episode VII is Luke Skywalker. Since both I and IV started with the death of a Jedi mentor, I believe Abrams will try to avoid this pattern. I believe that Mark Hamill has the most to give to the new trilogy. He can keep it consistent and believable. I think that the character of Luke creates the best bridge of the old and new cast.