The problem with the live-action series.
Star Wars' essential character is that it doesn't exist in that kind of "real world." It exists in a stylized cosmos derived from myth, which has a deliberate air of unreality about it. Regardless of whether you think there's some kind of "eternal clash between good and evil" in our universe, there's one in the Star Wars universe, and in fact, that's the single defining element of that universe.
So the Deadwood approach would be off-brand even if it were as sanitized as Sesame Street. It exists in the wrong universe.
To have a grown-up Star Wars simply would mean more complexity and depth to personalities and politics. The OT was pretty simple (if effective) in that regard; a TV series would give you more latitude to play with. There could even be more theological/metaphysical complexity, delving more into the actual meaning of the "eternal clash between good and evil."
The violence never needs to get worse than PG - the good guys fighting and killing actual flesh and blood beings, not just robots, but not necessarily in a graphic way. And sex has always struck me as out of place in Star Wars. Leia's bikini is about as far as they need to take it.
Basically, take the approach of The Clone Wars and put less emphasis on action, and more on the characters and the complexity of the storyline. You could have a show that a smart eight year old could follow, but wouldn't bore a grown-up.
It's possible to make Star Wars that is "grown up" but not "adult." McCallum is right that Deadwood is outside the Star Wars brand, but doesn't need to be like Deadwood to have appeal to grown ups. The series doesn't need to be "gritty" (to use an overused term) by having the sex and violence of a cable series, and the overarching sense of doom and the futility of human existence blah blah blah.But according to longtime Lucas producer Rick McCallum, there's a bigger obstacle than the show's finances: It's not exactly family-friendly...What's got McCallum more worried is how to sell the show's adult content and still maintain the Star Wars brand."Our biggest problem is that these stories are adult. I mean...these are like Deadwood in space. It so unlike anything you've ever associated with George before in relation to Star Wars. These aren't for kids. I mean, we hope they'll watch, but it's not being targeted at 8-to-9 year old boys."
Star Wars' essential character is that it doesn't exist in that kind of "real world." It exists in a stylized cosmos derived from myth, which has a deliberate air of unreality about it. Regardless of whether you think there's some kind of "eternal clash between good and evil" in our universe, there's one in the Star Wars universe, and in fact, that's the single defining element of that universe.
So the Deadwood approach would be off-brand even if it were as sanitized as Sesame Street. It exists in the wrong universe.
To have a grown-up Star Wars simply would mean more complexity and depth to personalities and politics. The OT was pretty simple (if effective) in that regard; a TV series would give you more latitude to play with. There could even be more theological/metaphysical complexity, delving more into the actual meaning of the "eternal clash between good and evil."
The violence never needs to get worse than PG - the good guys fighting and killing actual flesh and blood beings, not just robots, but not necessarily in a graphic way. And sex has always struck me as out of place in Star Wars. Leia's bikini is about as far as they need to take it.
Basically, take the approach of The Clone Wars and put less emphasis on action, and more on the characters and the complexity of the storyline. You could have a show that a smart eight year old could follow, but wouldn't bore a grown-up.