How would you reboot the Star Wars Prequel trilogy?

[themistermanguy]

The Star Wars Prequels aren't looked at fondly among fans. What was hyped up to be the epic origin story of how the original story happened, ended up being a series of bland, boring, convoluted and anti-climactic films that only raised more questions than answers. While not as hated as the Disney-era films are now for their blatantly hamfisted SJW messages and disrespect to the original universe, the prequels are still seen as a joke, and many fans would rather forget they never happened.

Let's say, for some weird reason, LucasFilm and Disney decide to completely retcon the original prequels, and start over again with a new origin story. How would you go about fixing the mess that George Lucas and Fox made with the original prequels? How would you make a Star Wars Prequel Trilogy that both gives backstory to set up the first 3 movies, while also being more faithful to the original films?

In a basic sense, I'd first put more emphasis on action/adventure, not make up random shit to explain Star Wars Terminology on the spot, and absolutely say no to Jar-Jar Binks. I'd also make Anikin a more interesting and likable character who starts off as a genuinely nice person who believes in the Jedi philosophy, but is slowly led down a dark path, and now has to choose whether to stay with the Sith, or return to his Jedi origins. Basically, give us a more believable explanation and conflict as to why he became Darth Vader, rather than some whiny kid who becomes a Jedi because it's cool,

Spoiler

but becomes evil because he didn't get what he wanted.

That's not interesting, that's lazy.

But how else would you make a new prequel trilogy?

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

I wouldn't. The prequels are flawed but overall fine. Same as the Disney movies.

Constantly trying to filter out the things that don't work is the reason there still isn't an unedited home release of the Original Trilogy. Because Lucas kept screwing around with them, trying to improve them. I don't think that's a good idea. The movies have been made, warts and all, just leave them be.

 

[Dalisclock]

I've talked about it on a different thread but my ideas boil down to the following:

-The first movie should not have little kid anakin, unless it's for like a few minutes when introduced. Start with teenage anakin because that's where the bulk of the character development happens.
-The plot of Phantom Pai...Phantom Menace could have easily been reduced to like one act with nothing lost. Use the first movie to get the clone wars either heavily set up or actually going, not waiting until the end of the 2nd movie of 3.
-Crib a lot from the Clone Wars series. Focus on Anakin as a young Jedi and how he slowly drifts away from Obi-Wan and Yoda and more towards Palpatine. Develop the hell out of his character, particularly how insubordinate he can be while often getting things done, and how he sees this as a way to bring the war to an end quickly.
-Show more Emphasis on how the Republic is slowly becoming the Empire as the clone wars drag on. Clone Wars was very good about this, with lots of subtle touches(the Clone Trooper armor slowly evovlves, the equipment gradually becomes more imperial, etc) and outright showing Palapatine consolidating power in the name of preserving the Republic.

Really, lack of proper development is most of the prequels problems, so even though the series is "about" Anakin becoming Vader, he doesn't get enough transition time to make it believable. Instead, he comes across as an entitled shit who throws fits whenever he's told he can't be a Jedi Master right off the bat and jumps pretty much straight into Child Murder from there.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I would keep Ewan McGregor and change everything else. Details don't matter much because those movies can't get any worse.

 

[Squilookle]

Can we just link to that other thread where this exact question was put forward? I'd use the site forum search function but... we all know how busted it is.

 

[Squilookle]

Wait- here it is, I found it.

https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.1030969-Its-1995-Youre-tasked-with-writing-the-Star-Wars-prequel-and-sequel-trilogies

Even better, it's still a young enough thread that new posts can just be put in there.

 

[jademunky]

I'd probably do what the new sequels are doing and just shove all the political machinations off-screen entirely.

Before the prequels, I really did want to know how the empire formed. Now that I know it was because of tariffs and non-confidence votes I kinda wish I'd remained in the dark.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

I wouldn't reboot it all. In my eyes, the Clone Wars TV show IS the prequels. The overall plot of the prequels wasn't such a bad idea. Palpatine uses the war to not only sway the public in his favor but to dull the senses of the Jedi, letting them trust their troops so being slaughtered by clones was all the much easier.

The execution... ehhhh

The prequels just needed to focus more on the Clone Wars more (which would have meant getting to see Anakin slowly fall to the dark side), and removing or glossing over all the dumb ass shit they had (all of JarJar, majority of the romance in Ep II, etc).

There are also many things about the prequels that are just objectively bad. Lots of visual effects, editing, acting. To this day I can't see Natalie Portman as anything other than a terrible actress.

Basically, I wouldn't really reboot the prequels, just "remaster" them.

 

[DarthCoercis]

for their blatantly hamfisted SJW messages and disrespect to the original universe

Dude, no. Please, stop whinging about ess-jay-dub-yoos. The disney movies are fine, especially Rogue One. They're certainly not "disrespectful".

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't think it's a good idea to begin with. But if you have to make prequel movies, you should make them the as movies, not as a series of cameos and references to the original movies. Don't set things on Tattoine, no Jabba the Hutt, no Greedo, no explanation of why Bobba Fett hates the Skywalkers because he didn't in the originals. Also, no midichlorians unless you are going to do something cool with them. I'm not sure if they were trying to make SW sci-fi rather than space fantasy by explaining the Force, or if they were trying (and badly failing) to recapture Yoda saying how all living things are linked from Empire Strikes Back. No elected Queen for a limited term.

As to what you should actually do, instead of what not to do...hard to say. Personally, I think the romance between Amidala and Anakin wasn't a bad idea, just (like with everything), they didn't try getting it right, because they knew SW fans would pay for any rubbish, and that mindset dooms your project.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Reboot? Naw...

More Obi Wan vs Vader. How about a movie or two of Vader hunting down Jedi?

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

Said it before and will say it again: Jar Jar Binks origin story. Dark and gritty. I want to know what sort of intergalactic child abuse is responsible!

 

[Something Amyss]

I wouldn't, and the timing of this video is particularly good because Hello Future Me released a video on the problems with prequels recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMaZcCEm2Gs

Don't worry, I'm not just "gonna leave this here", but I figurd I'd link to it because it does dovetail with why I wouldn't do it. Taking events from established canon and fleshing them out is a minefield with radioactive mutant bears and dragons patrolling. It's possible, but it's pretty much a no win scenario, and I can't James Kirk my way out of this one. And Han;'s solution of shooting first seems ill-advised, and Lucas shot first and thought later.

If I had a gun to my head, the main thing I'd do is try and make Anakin more likable. I think the Clone Wars did a good job of making me care about the inevitable fall of Ani. The Prequels already make him kind of a dick as a teenager. It's not "I'm a shining Jedi with a dark streak," it's a Denis Leary video.

I think the best thing to do with the prequels is to leave them in the dustbin of history and try and tell stories that are in the universe, but not to tie them directly back to the events established by the OT.

I'd also avoid things like KOTOR, because I would never ever ever please the fanbase.

 

[Jute88]

I don't have a clear story in my mind, but here are some points:
-Make it so that the Jedi are in decline. It always felt to me that the Jedi were becoming less important on a galactic scale when Obi-Wan became a Jedi. Sort of like the witchers.

-No dumb celibacy rule for the Jedi

-Make Anakin a likable guy with a short temper. Make us see how he's really struggling with how the Jedi should act. Make him realize that the Jedi are in decline and maybe he wants to stop that in ways that would be against the Order's principles.

-No Sith. Get rid of them. The Rule of Two is, problematic, to put it mildly. Have the Emperor and Vader be just Force users.

 

[Trunkage]

for their blatantly hamfisted SJW messages and disrespect to the original universe

Dude, no. Please, stop whinging about ess-jay-dub-yoos. The disney movies are fine, especially Rogue One. They're certainly not "disrespectful".

And, other than bikini Leia, Star Wars was pretty SJW.

I have no idea what people are talking about when they say disrespect. Sure, the new movies aren't to your liking. That doesn't mean they're disrespecting. The problem with Luke in the Last Jedi is that he's copying Yoda and Obi Wan. Make a mistake? Fuck the universe then I'm going hobo. At least Luke ended up helping at the end. Obi Wan tripped a switch but then brought Vader to the good guys. Yoda just sat on his ass.

 

[Something Amyss]

It always felt to me that the Jedi were becoming less important on a galactic scale when Obi-Wan became a Jedi. Sort of like the witchers.

New idea: make Obi-Wan a Witcher.

-Make Anakin a likable guy with a short temper. Make us see how he's really struggling with how the Jedi should act. Make him realize that the Jedi are in decline and maybe he wants to stop that in ways that would be against the Order's principles.

I sort of like hast they did with Ani in the third movie in the sense that he was torn between loyalties to the senator and the Jedi, and what really pushed him over the edge was when one of the Masters behaved as extremely as the people he was supposed to be stopping. Granted, it was mired in some really bad context, and it pretty mujch came out of Lucas' ass in the third movie, but still.

If Anakin had been likable and if they operated more in those tones, the movies might have worked better. And you could still have your "no Sith" rule by not having a senator who is also a Sith.



Though Ian was one of the best parts of the prequels

And, other than bikini Leia, Star Wars was pretty SJW.

Bikini Leia is pretty much the equivalent of MASH using the term "negro", to boot. You won't see a modern film of most stripes using the word, but it existed at a time when the word was more acceptable. Though MASH was on so long they removed some of those elements.

Star Wars was progressive and had messages about peace, love and an end to war, but it was still a science fiction/fantasy movie in the 1970s, and Jedi was not so far removed from the era that people would blink at fanservice of the sort.

Even the prequels managed to avoid this, far as I can recall. They did a lot of things more progressively because they were a couple decades later, and the times had changed, so it can't even be blamed on Disney.

I have no idea what people are talking about when they say disrespect. Sure, the new movies aren't to your liking.[/quote]

Then you do know what they mean. "Disrespecting the originals" is a way of saying "they didn't go with the headcanon I've built up over the last 30-40 years."

The problem with Luke in the Last Jedi is that he's copying Yoda and Obi Wan. Make a mistake? Fuck the universe then I'm going hobo. At least Luke ended up helping at the end. Obi Wan tripped a switch but then brought Vader to the good guys. Yoda just sat on his ass.

Arguably, though to be fair, Luke was always a quitter. He was such a quitter he's quit more times in the movies than there are movies. He folds faster than some sort of automatic folding machine. That after a major failure, Luke would go back to character not only makes sense, it's sort of the theme of the old characters in the new movies: Han goes back to smuggling, Leia goes back to resisting, and Luke goes back to quitting. Chewie goes back to being the guy who keeps his idiot human companion alive, and R2 goes back being a plot device.

Tat the Jedi are a line of quitters may never have come into play.

 

[Erttheking]

Chewie goes back to being the guy who keeps his idiot human companion alive

*Makes uncomfortable noise*

for their blatantly hamfisted SJW messages and disrespect to the original universe

Dude, no. Please, stop whinging about ess-jay-dub-yoos. The disney movies are fine, especially Rogue One. They're certainly not "disrespectful".

And, other than bikini Leia, Star Wars was pretty SJW.

I have no idea what people are talking about when they say disrespect. Sure, the new movies aren't to your liking. That doesn't mean they're disrespecting. The problem with Luke in the Last Jedi is that he's copying Yoda and Obi Wan. Make a mistake? Fuck the universe then I'm going hobo. At least Luke ended up helping at the end. Obi Wan tripped a switch but then brought Vader to the good guys. Yoda just sat on his ass.

Yeah I gotta echo that the main problem with last Jedi is that it tried to do Empire Strikes back AND Return of the Jedi at the same time (And the gambling planet sub-plot goes nowhere and barely has anything to say). And both Poe and Holdo are idiots. Also, it was kind of paradoxical in that it kept copying everything but also ripped things up at the last second. Luke goes into scary dark cave and has a dark vision of Darth Vader. Rey goes into a cave and finds...nothing.

Hey, more power to you if you want to rip up established trends. The thing is, there's a general rule for media. For everything you take out, you have to put something else in to replace it. Last Jedi took a lot of stuff out and replaced it with...nothing. Apart from a few things that tried to make the universe come off as complex but was more eye rolling. Someone was selling weapons to both the First Order AND the pathetically undermanned Resistance? Yeah, I'm sure the twenty or so fighters sold would be worth the First Order blowing a hole in his head when they inevitably found out.

But I gotta say, Last Jedi is a bad movie, but it's not any worse than the prequels.

 

[Something Amyss]

*Makes uncomfortable noise*

Relax, Chewie, I fixed the hyperdrive last week!

Yeah I gotta echo that the main problem with last Jedi is that it tried to do Empire Strikes back AND Return of the Jedi at the same time (And the gambling planet sub-plot goes nowhere and barely has anything to say). And both Poe and Holdo are idiots. Also, it was kind of paradoxical in that it kept copying everything but also ripped things up at the last second. Luke goes into scary dark cave and has a dark vision of Darth Vader. Rey goes into a cave and finds...nothing.

Hey, more power to you if you want to rip up established trends. The thing is, there's a general rule for media. For everything you take out, you have to put something else in to replace it. Last Jedi took a lot of stuff out and replaced it with...nothing. Apart from a few things that tried to make the universe come off as complex but was more eye rolling. Someone was selling weapons to both the First Order AND the pathetically undermanned Resistance? Yeah, I'm sure the twenty or so fighters sold would be worth the First Order blowing a hole in his head when they inevitably found out.

But I gotta say, Last Jedi is a bad movie, but it's not any worse than the prequels.

My biggest problem is i was bored with pretty much any scene not involving Rey Luke, or Chewbacca. There were a couple of scenes with Kylo I didn't care about or I'd include him. None of the rest entertained me. I could complain that Finn and Poe were dumb and I could complain that the casino planet was pointless, but honestly, I could watch the best scenes on YouTube and probably take a half an hour.

I do have to agree with the whole "tearing things up" thing. A little subversion is fine, but when you subvert all the tropes it ends up as a mess. And it becomes boring. I call it "Joss Whedon" Syndrome, because I experience it all the time when I watch something he's written.

 

[Trunkage]

Chewie goes back to being the guy who keeps his idiot human companion alive

*Makes uncomfortable noise*

for their blatantly hamfisted SJW messages and disrespect to the original universe

Dude, no. Please, stop whinging about ess-jay-dub-yoos. The disney movies are fine, especially Rogue One. They're certainly not "disrespectful".

And, other than bikini Leia, Star Wars was pretty SJW.

I have no idea what people are talking about when they say disrespect. Sure, the new movies aren't to your liking. That doesn't mean they're disrespecting. The problem with Luke in the Last Jedi is that he's copying Yoda and Obi Wan. Make a mistake? Fuck the universe then I'm going hobo. At least Luke ended up helping at the end. Obi Wan tripped a switch but then brought Vader to the good guys. Yoda just sat on his ass.

Yeah I gotta echo that the main problem with last Jedi is that it tried to do Empire Strikes back AND Return of the Jedi at the same time (And the gambling planet sub-plot goes nowhere and barely has anything to say). And both Poe and Holdo are idiots. Also, it was kind of paradoxical in that it kept copying everything but also ripped things up at the last second. Luke goes into scary dark cave and has a dark vision of Darth Vader. Rey goes into a cave and finds...nothing.

Hey, more power to you if you want to rip up established trends. The thing is, there's a general rule for media. For everything you take out, you have to put something else in to replace it. Last Jedi took a lot of stuff out and replaced it with...nothing. Apart from a few things that tried to make the universe come off as complex but was more eye rolling. Someone was selling weapons to both the First Order AND the pathetically undermanned Resistance? Yeah, I'm sure the twenty or so fighters sold would be worth the First Order blowing a hole in his head when they inevitably found out.

But I gotta say, Last Jedi is a bad movie, but it's not any worse than the prequels.

The whole of the time between Hoth and Cloud City was a waste of time so Luke can get a couple of days of training. While the casino was a waste of time, at least it wasnt 80% of the cast doing nothing, and it pushed the Poe storyline along.

I also wonder how much difference it would have made if Leia had the Holdo storyline. You can ignore Holdo becuase we have no relationship with her. But betraying Leia? That might have been more interesting

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

The whole of the time between Hoth and Cloud City was a waste of time so Luke can get a couple of days of training. While the casino was a waste of time, at least it wasnt 80% of the cast doing nothing, and it pushed the Poe storyline along.

I also wonder how much difference it would have made if Leia had the Holdo storyline. You can ignore Holdo becuase we have no relationship with her. But betraying Leia? That might have been more interesting

I'm about 90 % sure this was their original intention and it's what they would have done if Fisher had been in better health. Admiral Holdo was a very obvious substitute for Leia. From a screenwriting perspective there would have been no reason to have two sassy older women who occupy high ranking positions in the Resistance and act in a way that puts them at odds with their younger subordinates. The only thing that distinguishes Holdo from Leia is having funky hair and being played by a recognizable character actress. It's one of the few things about the movies that I find unfortunate. Leia spending most of the movie in a, somewhat contrived, coma while all of her scenes go to a new character the viewer have no connection to, is pretty sad. But what can you do when the actress was practically on her deathbed?