That'd be my preference as well. The Clone Wars universe has been very strongly presented. If the mentality that brought it to light is applied to the new films, they will do just fine.
Oh my. And Princess Leia thought being chained up to Jabba was a raw deal. http://www.charactercentral.net/L57...neyWorld_MagicKingdom_PrincessHallofFame.aspx http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Princess_Fairytale_Hall
If the movies are going to focus on twin offspring, perhaps one will go to the Dark Side, becoming the new Darth Vader, and the other must oppose him. That would not only serve to bring back the iconic villain in a way, but the sibling conflict would bring in a new dynamic.
I somehow don't think Disney holds the EU in contempt, given this portion of their purchase announcement: "its universe of more than 17,000 characters inhabiting several thousand planets spanning 20,000 years offers infinite inspiration and opportunities" They probably see it as part and parcel of the IP they just paid dearly for and will now want to utilize to its fullest to see a return on that investment.
Dinsey is smart. I don't think they paid that much. 4.8 billion sounds like a lot, but over half of that was just shares given to Lucas. As for the other half, it's a good investment. Most big blockbuster films will take in close to a billion dollars just on their initial theatrical release. Doing the number from that point of view, where they get back half of their cash out investment just by releasing a film - not even looking at how much engrained into pop culture the characters and universe is and now they have the rights to them, it's a pretty sweet deal for Disney
Lucas was really the guy who started related merchandise (clothes, toys, kitchen ware, etc), and Disney mastered the art so in that sense this is a match made in heaven.
The EU is just more polarizing amongst the small subsection of the internet fandom. Posters take an extreme stance just to spite the other side.
I'm a Star Wars fan; but of the films, not any of the books that came later. So when you guys start talking about the "EU" all I think is WTF is that?
Yeah, I don't think Disney detests the EU either. I don't think they will be beholden to it though. That being said, despite some criticism-and some well deserved-of the post-ROTJ EU, there's a lot of good ideas and characters there that can be mined for inspiration if not outright adaptation of EU work. I seriously doubt that Disney is going to give us something so radically different than the Imperial warlords, alien invaders, ancient evil entities, or new Jedi and Sith concepts that the EU came up with. Perhaps the names and looks will be different but the basic ideas won't be. I'm curious to see how Del Ray (if they continue on as publishers) will deal with any changes in the post-ROTJ EU. Will they finish up their run on the books, or change course to fit the new post-ROTJ starscape?
It should be interesting what direction Disney chooses to go here. Sure the characters are iconic, but you can overuse characters. I personally think the universe of Star Wars is where there's more potential for new stories. Plus I would hope that with this new acquisition, people can be creative and tell new stories and not have everything come back to how it connects with Skywalkers or Kenobi's, or - for God's sake - R2-D2! Geez man!
I think it'd be incredible if we got the live action "Underworld" TV series at almost the same time as the new Sequel Trilogy in theaters, one to help fill in part of the 20-year gap between Episodes III and IV and depict the growing reach and power of the new Empire during that time frame and the other to show the events that take place in the decades following the Empire's crushing defeat at Endor and the loss of its two top leaders. Show how the Empire rose and grew on the one hand and on the other depict how the galaxy slowly recovered from its rule and adjusted to a new Republic and revived Jedi Order.
Which is also why they are stepping on the gas and releasing their first SW in 2015.. prepare for new Star Wars movies every 3 years or so until the first trilogy is out. Then they'll judge interest and if it's high enough they'll probably continue for as long as it's profitable. No to mention animated movies, comics, books, toys and all kinds of other merchandise.. Disney will get their investment back easily within a decade if not sooner. Time will tell if they try the patience of the audience by oversaturating it with Star Wars.
All I know of the EU is what I've read in this thread. I didn't realize one of the twins went to the Dark Side. I still think it's a pretty good idea, though.
I believe Luke himself also fell to the Dark Side in one series of EU novels set after Episode VI and his sister had to travel the galaxy to save him from himself. A Luke-turns story could also work seeing how close he came to giving in to the Dark Side in his final battle with his father and the Emperor, but probably unlikely at this point.