With the recent exciting news that Disney/Lucasfilm may be seeking to produce several live-action Star Wars series’ for Netflix, our Jedi Council discusses just who or what from the Star Wars universe we would like to see in a binge-worthy Netflix show.
David (Razor) Harris: For me, the perfect live-action Star Wars series on Netflix would be set in The Old Republic era. The only problem regarding a ToR story, is that Disney/Lucasfilm have completely obliterated what used to be Star Wars canon or even Extended Universe. However, everybody has an origin story…it’s what makes Marvel’s hero series’ thrive on both ABC and Netflix.
So, in my perfect world, I would love to see the origins both the Jedi and the Sith. We know from the old Dark Horse Comics stories, like Jedi vs Sith and Tales of the Jedi, that there is plenty of background and story to fill hours and hours of television viewing. That era of Star Wars saw each faction as George Lucas imagined them, which is akin to the ancient Samurai warriors of feudal Japan. Again, we run into the fundamental problem that this is now considered “Legends” and Dark Horse no longer produces Star Wars comics.
However, though those stories were crafted from another label, Disney and Lucasfilm still own the property, and it would be as easy as igniting a lightsaber, in order to restart and infuse those story-arcs for Netflix.
Imagine a story set on the planet Tython (origin and homeworld of the Jedi), the beginnings of the Jedi Order were taking place. Some Jedi did not believe as the vast majority did, in the tenets of their order, and so they begin to fracture and split from their brethren. This splinter group is given the name Dark or Grey Jedi, as they do not strictly follow the path of the Light Side.
These Grey Jedi leave Tython, seeking a new homeworld from which they can practice their new ways. Eventually, they come upon a world called Korriban (later renamed to Moraband), inhabited by a race of red skinned peoples called the Sith. The Grey Jedi decide to establish their new academy to learning the ways of the Dark Side of the Force, and in the process, they rename themselves — Sith.
This would be the origin from which all the hate and animosity between the Jedi and the Sith, springs. The story telling power of an origin such as this, is absolutely limitless, and if done correctly, would serve as the perfect foundation from which the new Star Wars canon is based.
Next: Obi-Wan's story
Cover of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller
Kyle Warnke: I just finished reading the seventh installment in Marvel’s main Star Wars comic book series line, which you should definitely pick up if you haven’t already. The latest entry revolves around Obi-Wan Kenobi and his time as a hermit on Tatooine while watching over a young Luke from a distance. The issue isn’t perfect, but it’s very good at fleshing out a portion of the Star Wars universe timeline that we always knew about but never really explored.
If nothing else, the comic is essentially a proof-of-concept work that could sell the idea of a Netflix series that follows Obi-Wan as he adjusts to life on Tatooine and watches over a young Luke. The only caveat is that I don’t think there’s quite enough material for such a show to last longer than a season. That’s why I propose a radical solution: set the show in two different time periods.
While one segment of the show would focus on Obi-Wan’s adventures on the desert planet, the other would flash back to his time as a youngling, perhaps even before he joined the Jedi, and show us his early adventures. It would provide a strong juxtaposition of Obi-Wan forsaking his Jedi upbringing on Tatooine while he learns the ways of the Force and trains under Qui-Gon Jinn.
You wouldn’t even really have to find another actor to play opposite the other Obi-Wan, as special effects today could no doubt age or de-age an actor for the role. Of course, that does mean you’d have to replace Ewan McGregor, not to mention the incomparable Liam Neeson.
Next: Darth Bane: Creator of the Rule of Two
Elaine Tveit: When it comes to a Netflix series, or any kind of Star Wars television show, my mind goes to stories like Darth Bane. The story of Darth Bane, who was canonized in an episode of season six of The Clone Wars and made legendary by a trilogy of books by Drew Karpyshyn that detailed his rise and fall, would make for something radical, something different than, say, a series about the war between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire or something equally mundane. By the time Episode VII is released, we will have seen that story enough times (in fact, we’re going to see it again in Star Wars: Battlefront and Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed). But a series that focuses almost solely on exploring Sith, and even Jedi, lore would be uncharted territory, and would border on the fantasy genre, something that I think fans would like to see.
In addition, we would get to see Bane, who is a fan favorite, become a more fully-realized character on-screen. He could be, perhaps, an almost anti-hero, who could be portrayed as having a tragic spiral into the Dark Side, mirroring the fall of Anakin Skywalker, and then rising to become perhaps the most influential being in Sith and even galactic history.
On a more practical level, the series would most likely lead into some of the things that Palpatine talks about in Revenge of the Sith; like the Rule of Two, which Bane established (in Legends and in canon, Bane was the one who initiated the Rule of Two, where there must only be one Sith Master and one Sith Apprentice). Even Darth Plagueis or Anakin Skywalker could get a mention, perhaps in a Force vision or a receipt of the Prophecy of the Chosen One by a Sith or a Jedi.
In addition to being a fascinating tale of darkness and fantasy, a Darth Bane series would give Disney and Lucasfilm the chance to play with interesting visuals; special effects to make the Force a more visible power amongst the Sith and the Jedi; and CGI locations that wouldn’t completely work on a practical stage (like Mustafar). It would also allow them to explore the Sith aesthetic; especially Bane’s, whose design in The Clone Wars was inspired by the ancient samurai, giving him and the Sith (in my opinion) a more layered and fleshed-out quality.
A Darth Bane series, or any series about the Jedi and the Sith and the Force, would not only be unique and fascinating to watch, but would also be on an epic scale to rival some of the Legends. And it would also confirm, or debunk, the story of Darth Bane as laid down by Karpyshyn’s Legendary trilogy.
Next: What is 1313?
Joe Prescott: I recently finished Daredevil on Netflix and was blown away by the production and general awesomeness of it all. This is a great place for making exclusive shows based on current franchises and Star Wars seems perfect for this platform, and surely branching out in this way would help deliver more and more creative people to the forefront of the Saga. We have all seen the work that Marvel Studios are doing — by bringing in as many collaborators as possible — it’s possible to make something really special.
As far as an original series goes, I’d like to see some more exploration of the period between Episodes III and IV, as I’m sure most of us would. We’ve had The Clone Wars animated series taking us on adventures during this period, we’ve seen the start of the Empire and early stages of Rebellion in the Rebels series, and of course we’ve had plenty of literature and video games filling in key points in between the Episodes, and if memory serves I recall talks about a live action series that will bridge the gap between III and IV from a while back, so at least this option is still on the cards.
I mentioned in last weeks Council that I’d like to see something based on the ideas from 1313 in a new Marvel comic, so this would still be something that would make a good TV series. You have the opportunity for denser storylines and series arcs with TV shows that you don’t necessarily have with movies and a lot more space to establish characters and settings, so the show should be something that involves good strong characters that can easily be written and played with, to ensure the audience stays attentive and involved in their storylines.
It shouldn’t be hard really, the Star Wars universe has plenty to offer for these scenarios and I’m sure whoever is involved with the production of the show would throw themselves into it with aplomb. The current collective of pop culture scribes (Kinberg, Whedon, Markus & McFeely) have shown they can write dramatic, action-packed emotional movies and TV shows, so we’re not short on talent and inspiration for writing the shows, and a good story will always be the blueprint for what’s to come in a show.