As work on the new Star Wars film has gathered pace (Reed, 2014), there have already been a number of decisions that are likely to provoke varying reactions from the fans. On the one hand, there is the very popular return to physical effects of the original trilogy over the green screen effects of the prequels (Gilman, 2014). On the other is the controversial jettisoning of the expanded universe from the established Star Wars canon (starwars.com, 2014).
These two things, together, are promising start. By getting away from green screen, and loosening Star Wars canon into legend rather than history, there is room to tell stories. They offer the possibility of a relatable story, set in a more physically tangible world, but one with a rich mythology that informs and offers vibrancy but does not restrict. Screen time in movies is limited and time spent laying out to us the setting, is time away from telling us a story.
The return of physical sets (Gilman, 2014), itself can be seen as a statement of intent. An intent to return Star Wars to what made the original trilogy so beloved by so many. And the main thing that seemed to generate such love was not that it was a story about a fantasy world. Rather, it just happened to take place in one. It was story about real human concerns, which just happened to include lasers, cool spaceships, space bounty hunters and magical powers.
Despite all of the magical abilities on display, it was love that ultimately saved the day. The bond of love between family, and between friends. It was a tale of love, and integrity, and even a Nietzshean lesson about not meeting your enemies in battle with their own weapons - as well as something about the using the dark side, becoming a monster, and the dangers of starships containing a startlingly vast abyss.
That return, to the real and personally relatable stories set in a fantasy mythological universe, is being accompanied by the announcement that the expanded universe is no longer canon (starwars.com, 2014). However, though no longer accepted as the 'factual' history, like in the real world, the myths and legends of the expanded universe will always continue to play their part (Dyce, 2014).
Myths and legends always endure. They continue to inform the historical, in this case 'canonical', narratives in a million little ways. They are our frame of reference, our folk tales, and a living part of our many, vibrant, and diverse cultural perspectives. By becoming now just many histories and many interpretations, the Star Wars expanded universe just makes the Star Wars universe that little more real, that little bit more like our own.
Together these two factors bode well for what we can expect from JJ Abram's Star Wars Episode VII. A tangible story, set in a more tangible world. All within a vibrant fantasy world, with a rich and diverse mythology. One that speaks for itself, in so many little ways, that a movie doesn't have to spend its precious limited screen time doing anything other than telling us a story.
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References:
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+ Ryan Reed's 'J.J. Abrams Offers First Glimpse of 'Star Wars: Episode VII' X-Wing'; in Rolling Stone; 21 July 2014.
+ Greg Gilman's 'Kevin Smith Gushes Over 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Set Visit: "What I Saw Blew Me Away" (Video)'; on The Wrap; 7 July 2014.
+ Robert Yaniz Jr's ''Star Wars Episode VII' Will NOT Be Filmed Digitally'; on Screen Rant; September 2013.
+ 'The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page'; on starwars.com; 25 April 2014.
+ Andrew Dyce's ''Star Wars' Creatives Explain Why Canon vs Expanded Universe Shouldn’t Matter'; on Screen Rant; July 2014.
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