Knights of the Old Republic: A Star Wars Story (Josh Sarnecky)
As everyone knows, there is only one character in the Star Wars universe that really deserves a spin-off film. And that character, of course, is none other than fan-favorite Jar Jar Binks. But in all seriousness, one of my major concerns with spin-off films based on characters we’ve already been introduced to is we already know where most of these characters end up. As interesting as it may be to see a young Han Solo become our favorite “stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf-herder,” we already know his fate. We don’t need to know about his past to appreciate him as a character, so there isn’t much tension or intrigue for the upcoming film to utilize. This problem applies to nearly every character being thrown around as the possible focus of a spin-off film. In order to avoid this conundrum, I’d like to see the franchise explore an entirely new time period in the Star Wars universe with characters we’ve yet to see on the big screen.
One of the most popular pieces of the Star Wars Expanded Universe (i.e. all of the books, comics, shows, and games of varying canonicity that have been produced over the years) is the original Knights of the Old Republic video game. Set nearly 4000 years before the films, the game explores a Sith lord’s war against the Galactic Republic and the Jedi that defend it. Knights of the Old Republic was hailed as one of the best games of the year thanks to its compelling plot, vivid characters and second best plot twist in the Star Wars franchise. Characters like Canderous Ordo, Jedi Bastila Shan, and killer droid HK-47 would surely capture the hearts of viewers unfamiliar with the game, and make the game’s players rejoice.
The game has such a strong sense of adventure, and has created such a fully realized world that a film based on the game would be a sure hit. The material is so intriguing and deep that the plot could even be turned into its own trilogy; between searching for the Star Maps and avoiding the Sith armada, there is a real sense of energy in the adventure. And because the game takes place so long before the Episodes already released, the film would have room to make dramatic turns without impacting the other movies. There’s so much material and freedom to play around with that the filmmakers could create something truly distinct and entertaining while remaining true to the overall Star Wars franchise.
If such a film were to be made, I’d like to see the movie fall under the adventure genre, since so much of the plot is based on searching for artifacts. Because the story’s major strengths are its characters and their dynamic as a team, the movie would need a director that can balance a large cast of strong personalities. With that in mind, my top two choices for would be X-Men’s Bryan Singer and Guardian of the Galaxy’s James Gunn. Both directors have shown a gift for blending action and comedy, and keeping those elements grounded in their characters, which would be pre-requisites for any filmmaker chosen to lead this project. In regards to casting, the protagonist (nameless in the game) would need to be able to capture an air of mystery and moral ambiguity; possible leading men could include Ryan Gosling, Kit Harington, or Michael Fassbender. I’d also like to see Stephen Lang as Canderous Ordo, Yvonne Strahovski as Bastila Shan, and Tom Hardy as Darth Malak.
I’ll be the first to admit that this idea is a long shot, but I think this spin-off could be a major success that would open up new avenues for the Star Wars franchise. In any case, the executives back at Disney should consider taking some risks and be not afraid of taking inspiration from the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Just as long as they stay away from Jar Jar.
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