"Star Wars: The Next Generation"? We've seen the rumors Harrison Ford will reprise his role as cosmic gunslinger Han Solo in "Star Wars: Episode VII," and now a new report suggests the film's plot may focus on his children, as well as Luke Skywalker's brood.
Veteran entertainment reporter Roger Friedman is convinced the Skywalker and Solo kids will be the stars of "Episode VII," claiming he was "told some time ago" about the entire idea just now taking shape in the media.
"Obviously this new movie won't pick up where 'Return of the Jedi' ended," Friedman wrote for Showbiz 411. "It's some time in the future. Han, Princess Leia (with a presumably better hairstyle), and Luke Skywalker will be a lot older. Their children will be the new main characters. R2D2 and C-3PO will be unchanged, I would guess, since they are not human. But suffice to say, the three main actors are definitely coming back. The bigger question is, which young actors will play their kids?"
Just where Friedman gleaned this insider information from is anyone's guess, but it definitely echoes much of what we've been hearing whispered for a few months now.
The Hollywood Reporter hinted at "Episode VII" screenwriter Michael Arndt taking such a direction back in December. For "Episode VII," Arndt's treatment would focus on a new generation of heroes and would feature appearances by Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in older incarnations of their beloved characters from the original "Star Wars" trilogy, said The Hollywood Reporter.
Series creator George Lucas has also indicated in the past that episodes VII, VIII, and IX would follow Skywalker and Solo's kids.
In an interview for Prevue magazine in 1980, Lucas said that "Episode VII" would begin "roughly 20 (or perhaps 30 or 40) years" after the end of "Return of the Jedi." He also told TIME in 1983 that he imagined Hamill, Fisher, and Ford appearing in Episodes VII, VIII, and IX when they're in their 60s or 70s.
Hamill himself confirmed much of this in a press conference at Fox Home Entertainment's junket for the DVD release of the Original Trilogy in September 2004. Recalling Lucas' original plans for his involvement in a sequel trilogy, Hamill revealed, "[George] said, 'Um, how'd you like to be in Episode nine?' This is 1976. 'When is that going to be?' '2011.' I defy anyone to add 36 years to their lives and not be stunned." Hamill then added, "I said, 'Well, what do you want me to do?' George said, 'You'll just be like a cameo. You'll be like Obi-Wan handing the lightsaber down to the next new hope.'"
Sci-Fi author Timothy Zahn, who popularized the so-called "Expanded Universe" of "Star Wars" with The Thrawn Trilogy back in 1991, also suggested the plot of "Episode VII" would focus on the next generation of Jedis earlier this year.
According to Zahn, he was "briefed" on Lucas' plans for sequels years ago and how the Thrawn books would fit in. "The original idea as I understood it- and Lucas changes his mind off and on, so it may not be what he's thinking right now - but it was going to be three generations," said Zahn to Entertainment Weekly.
"You'd have the original trilogy, then go back to Luke's father and find out what happened to him [in the prequels], and if there was another 7th, 8th, or 9th film, it would be Luke's children."