Star Wars Ep. VII: Expectations for our Galactic Journey Returning to the Big Screen

In 2015, we will be reunited with the galaxy everyone knows and loves, with J.J. Abrams leading the charge into this new adventure. What can we expect will come with Star Wars: Episode VII? More of the older, authentic Star Wars appeal? More things borrowed from the prequel films? Most likely the perfect combination of both.

What will we see when sitting with our buckets of popcorn, staring at the big silver screen?

Vintage Look, Vintage Sound

Abrams is taking a more vintage approach to filming the movie. He is going to film it the old-fashioned way, with film. It will not be shot digitally nor with IMAX, according to CNET. Going back to filming using the same type of camera used in the originals can help add that vintage Star Wars feel a lot of fans are craving.

“The problem with IMAX is it’s a very loud camera, it’s a very unreliable camera, there’s only so much film that can be in the camera. You can’t really do intimate scenes with it. It’s slow. They break down often.” – J.J. Abrams

The movie will be shot with 35mm film.

Along with the vintage look, we are also getting the great sound. John Williams, the same man responsible for the extraordinary soundtrack of the previous six films, is returning to score the music for a seventh time, according to the official Star Wars website. The music of the films is the glue that holds it all together.

One can create a movie with good visuals, plot, and characters, but if the music doesn’t coincide well, it can make something that could have been fantastic, not nearly as well done. For example, in Episode I, the duel between Darth Maul and Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon, was nothing short from amazing. To see Obi-Wan fight along his master against a villain with a double-sided lightsaber was nothing short of greatness. What could have possibly have made this better? “Duel of the Fates.” This score is what that causes me to feel a chill along my spine during the duel scene. To have the same man orchestrating the sound for the new film, was the most pleasant announcement I heard regarding this film, yet.

No Jar-Jar Binks

It is well-known that the most hated Star Wars character is the infamous Jar-Jar Binks. The addition of Binks into Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, was the biggest mistake the movie series has ever committed. He is seen by many to be unnecessary, kiddy, and just plain annoying. Many ask “Why Jar-Jar?!” Was it to replace the lovable wookie, Chewie, and to provide a creature companion for the new cast? If that is the case, that idea vanished after the first prequel. After that, the despised character did exist, but was never part of the main crew again.

The Original Trio

The big three just may make a return for a fourth time around. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford are expected to return according to ScreenRant. Although not officially confirmed to return to the sequel trilogy, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo are expected to return, according to actress Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia). She told TV Guide that they are expecting to start working on the movie in March or April. However, nothing is officially confirmed, but it would not be a surprise if these three made an appearance in the series, and they are definitely well welcomed. The new film is going to be taking place thirty years after Episode VI, so to see these characters naturally look their age will be a treat to aid the nostalgia many have of the original films.

Lando Calrissian

Billy Dee Williams could possibly reprise his role as Lando Calrissian in the upcoming film. According to ScreenRant, he has been asked to return, but he has not made a decision. Unlike Jar-Jar, this is a minor character that many Star Wars fans would love to see return. There is no other character like Lando. He has a certain style that is irreplaceable and that the fans love. Hopefully Lucasfilm will not attempt to replace another distinguishable, beloved character. (I’m looking at you, Jar-Jar.)

The Millennium Falcon

If Han Solo is returning, how can the symbol of the series, his prize possession, not return? I am referring to the Millennium Falcon of course. This is something that was missing from the prequel movies, and it did not go unnoticed to any fans of the originals. The Millennium Falcon was one of the best parts of the original films, visually. A conflict between Lando and Han-Solo centered around this ship would be interesting. Originally, Han won the ship as part of a bet from Lando. A comedic conflict with Lando attempting to reclaim ownership of the Falcon once again would be an interesting side-story.

The Millennium Falcon helped sculpture the Star Wars brand. A brand of doing big things, and doing them well. It would be a shock if this iconic vessel was not part of the new film.

Return of Our Favorite Droid Duo

There are only two characters present in every Star Wars movie to date, and I do not see why they would remove them now. These two reappearing characters are R2-D2 and C-3PO. Disney CEO, Bob Iger, has officially confirmed the return of R2-D2, according to The Guardian, but there is no word regarding C-3PO. If Abrams would like to continue the tradition of including these two, it would bring a smile to every face in the audience. I cannot picture a Star Wars film without having R2-D2’s beeping of excitement after the galaxy is saved once again, or seeing C-3PO chasing R2 as he acts like a rebellious, yet comical teenage boy. That is what is usually happening between these two. R2-D2 rolls somewhere that is considered dangerous or unknown, and C-3PO chases his friend to prevent any danger from occurring to him. The big brother/little brother relationship with these two is bound to continue in the future movies.

A Younger Antagonist

For the most part, the films have had older antagonists, besides for the newly born Darth Vader in Episode III. According to Variety, Adam Driver has been taken to fill a role for the “dark side.” His character name is not yet known. Having a younger villain will feel fresh and new. Most of the films, excluding Episode III, only have older antagonists. In Episode III, it was nice to see a villain that wasn’t an old wrinkly guy, or a decrepit wizard-looking man. Will Driver present a character somehow connected already to the Star Wars universe like a hidden apprentice of Darth Vader? Perhaps Starkiller from the Star Wars: Force Unleashed video-game? Or will the movie introduce an entirely new threat?

Episode VII is also expected to feature younger characters as the protagonists, the children of Han Solo and Princess Leia. Luke would most likely then be an Obi-Wan Kenobi figure, the older, wiser Jedi Master, to the younger heroes. According to the official Star Wars website, the film will feature “a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces.” These “young leads” are speculated to be the children of Han Solo and Leia.

There are many novels, consider “expanded universe,” that Abrams can borrow conflicts and characters from. Which characters and events he will borrow from the expanded universe (if any) is unknown, as no plot direction has been officially released, but Abrams has a full pool of great ideas he can pull from.

Many Star Wars fans have their doubts about the upcoming film. Some feel that the film will flop because the ownership of the franchise has shifted to Disney, and because the director is now Abrams, and no longer Lucas. I have once shared these concerns, however I do have hope for that the franchise will once again succeed. Ownership of Disney is not a bad thing. Rest assured Star Wars fans, we will not see Mickey Mouse with a lightsaber in a Star Wars film anytime soon. Disney also owns Marvel, and since released The Avengers, which is considered to be one of the best superhero movies created. Disney’s ownership does not mean the film will be unsuccessful, which is proven by the various Marvel superhero films since Disney’s takeover.

Abrams also has created great galactic films before, Star Trek, which I believe is great enough of an accomplishment to take over Star Wars. Star Wars and Star Trek are both widely considered to be the greatest of science fiction films. He knows how to construct a thrilling space adventure, and there is no reason to believe he will fail this time.

Disney and Abrams can perhaps be the perfect formula to create a spectacular new trilogy, which will one day be classics.

What do you think? .