New STAR WARS Movies to Redefine Longform Storytelling
According to a recent report over on Badass Digest, Star Wars: Episode VII and the rest of the new Star Wars movies in the works will "redefine longform storytelling." They reveal some really interesting details about how Lucasfilm will take the Star Wars franchise a step further than what Marvel has done with their connected cinematic universe.
A Lucasfilm employee told the site, "We’re going to redefine longform storytelling." Not only has the story arc of the new trilogy been planned out in advance, but that story will be incorporated throughout all other forms of media as well. Some of that media will include books, comics, games, and more. The site states that "there have been big meetings setting the future of the Star Wars universe, and these meetings are going to impact everything we see from Star Wars moving forward. Everything."
We've already seen some of this stuff happening already like in Star Wars Rebels, where it's believed that The Inquisitor from the series will be connected to a group of villains in the upcoming films. There are also several comic books and novels which will flesh out and expand this new Star Wars Universe. Apparently, everything that they do with Star Wars is going to matter. The report goes on to say,
“That longform vision alone is exciting. But what’s more, they’re going to weave this story through cartoons and books and comics, making every piece of side story count. Star Wars has too long been a central series of movies surrounded by absolutely disposable books, comics and games. No more. You won’t have to know that stuff to follow the main story, but if you do know that stuff you’re going to be rewarded. As a nerd I like knowing that stuff, and I like knowing it counts.. It’s all going to matter.”
I don't really agree that all the stuff created in the past is disposable, but I get what he's trying to say. This isn't really news as it was announced in a press release that Lucasfilm sent out awhile back.
Under Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s direction, the company for the first time ever has formed a story group to oversee and coordinate all Star Wars creative development. 'We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon,' said Kennedy. 'We’re set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics, and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before.'
But it's just one of those things that I think a lot of fans missed or they didn't really think about the possibilities of what that could mean for them. This is kind of a huge deal for any Star Wars fan, and I'm glad that Badass Digest pointed it out to us. My excitement for what Disney and Lucasfilm is planning for the Star Wars Universe is even more magnified now! This is going to be so cool, and I can't wait for the new Star Wars adventure to begin.