It’s no secret that Star Wars continually tries to restore the magic that was first established in the original trilogy, but as of late, it looks as if the franchise is starting to intentionally attempt to make newer recreations of these beloved movies. As the origin of the franchise itself, the first three Star Wars films serve as constant inspiration.
The fact that we’ve only just started to break outside the Skywalker saga in movies, TV shows, books, and more proves just how influential the original trilogy still is. As of late, however, a new pattern regarding these films has emerged, and it seems to suggest that Star Wars is seeking to recreate these three iconic movies.
The Force Awakens Draws Heavily From A New Hope
Perhaps Star Wars’ biggest and most crucial relaunch arrived in 2015, just after Disney had purchased Star Wars and was attempting to establish a new legacy within the franchise. Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the first franchise movie since 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and the first film without George Lucas.
When it came to creating this story, Star Wars decided to draw heavily from A New Hope. In fact, at the time – and often still to this day – The Force Awakens is criticized for the way it beat-for-beat echoes everything that happens in A New Hope. From Jakku mirroring Tatooine’s sandy environment to a giant planet-killing weapon, it’s very uncanny.
There’s no mistaking it, either. The Force Awakens makes it very clear that it wants audiences to think about A New Hope, especially with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa playing such critical roles in the story. Whereas Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was something very new and different, The Force Awakens went back to what worked.
Unfortunately, this backfired quite a bit for the sequel Star Wars trilogy, especially as the era of nostalgia was ushered in alongside it. The movie has since been credited as a pinnacle point for this phenomenon in greater pop culture and media alike, and it made it more difficult for the trilogy to branch off and do something different.
Star Wars’ Next Movie Is Looking To The Empire Strikes Back
It’s been nearly six years since Star Wars released its latest movie, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and the franchise is now preparing to relaunch once again with The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. This film, while based heavily upon The Mandalorian TV show, already seems to be acting as a recreation of the beloved The Empire Strikes Back.
From AT-ATs on a snowy planet to bounty hunters like Boba Fett – and perhaps even the first live-action appearance of a planet first mentioned in Empire – The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t hiding the basis of its influence. According to Sigourney Weaver, via Collider, who will play Colonel Ward in the movie, it will also have a more serious tone.
That is exactly what The Empire Strikes Back was like for the original Star Wars trilogy, taking the whimsy from the first movie and spinning it on its head with real, impactful character and story stakes. The Mandalorian and Grogu certainly has the potential to do so, and it’s not beyond ending on a cliffhanger, just like Empire.
The extent to which The Mandalorian and Grogu intends to recreate Empire is yet to be seen, as we only have a single trailer to go off of so far, but it certainly isn’t hiding the strong influence it’s already absorbed from what’s widely regarded as the best Star Wars story ever told. It will, however, have to do much more than that.
As proven by the criticisms The Force Awakens faced, The Mandalorian and Grogu will have to emulate the boldness and overall darkness that Empire did. It cannot play things safe; though The Mandalorian has already reset some of its story ahead of the movie, it must be willing to make risky decisions to achieve what Empire first did.
Will Star Wars Attempt To Recreate Return Of The Jedi In Later Years?
If The Force Awakens recreated A New Hope, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is recreating The Empire Strikes Back, then it stands to reason that at some point in the future, Star Wars may seek to recreate Return of the Jedi in some way with another new film. That could even be as soon as 2027’s Star Wars: Starfighter.
Star Wars replicated aspects of this movie in other projects, most prominently The Book of Boba Fett episode 5 “Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian” – which quite literally borrows its тιтle – but that wasn’t a direct replication, especially as a TV show episode rather than a full-length feature.
While Star Wars may not consciously have a plan to make a movie that mirrors Return of the Jedi, this interesting pattern seems to suggest that it could very well happen. The franchise is clearly looking to the original trilogy as a template now more than ever before, especially as far as their movies are concerned, which is both a good and a bad thing.
It’s good in that the franchise seeks to revisit the elements that made Star Wars what it is in the first place, but it could become dangerous in the level of recreation that occurs – as Star Wars shouldn’t be afraid to take risks. It is interesting, however, to watch this fascinating pattern unfold.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
