Reasons we want to see a Yoda Star Wars standalone film
Recently, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that a Yoda Star Wars standalone film is being considered by Lucasfilm/Disney…
THR announced that early development of a Yoda Star Wars film is currently in the works. George Lucas for years stated that he wants the Yoda origins to remain a mystery, so this recent news is a bit surprising.
Unlike Lucas, I think this is great news and would only enhance the lore of Star Wars. In fact, I think Lucasfilm needs to make this story and here are the reasons why.
Life on Dagobah
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
The film can begin with Yoda in exile and isolation on the obscure planet of Dagobah. He then can meditate on the Force and flashback to his glory days, which we will discuss what content that is below.
Once Yoda is done venturing into his past, the film can end with Luke Skywalker crash-landing on the planet, awakening the Jedi Master from his trance.
Explanation of the chosen one prophecy.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
The “Chosen One” prophecy has always been one of mystery. Maybe that’s the whole point, but a story of how that ancient prophecy came to be would connect so many dots. It’s always been left up to interpretation, with how exactly the prophecy was fulfilled. Ultimately, Darth Vader finds the old Jedi within himself and becomes Anakin Skywalker once again, saving his son from the clutches of the Emperor, destroying the Sith.
However, there has always been speculation that Anakin brought balance to the Force when he turned to the Dark Side, by eliminating the Jedi Order. Once we arrive at the events of The Empire Strikes Back, there are two Jedi and two Sith. I’m no mathematician, but that sounds like balance to me.
Yoda tempted by the Dark Side
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
In The Clone Wars, Yoda faces the darkness within himself and passes the ultimate trial of deflecting the seductive advances of the Dark Side, when he visits the ancient Sith world of Moraband.
Seeing a flashback to this moment or even the little green friend as a youngster dealing with the natural anger that every Jedi faces would be a great addition to the film. When he tells Luke not to give into anger and informs him of the seduction of the Dark Side, maybe Yoda knows this from his own experience. With failure and trials, there later comes experience and wisdom.
How did Yoda become so powerful?
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Yoda is a straight up baller and is able to use the Force in so many unbelievable ways. In both Attack of the Clones and The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda is able to use telekinesis to lift massive objects with relative ease.
Using a Force deflection technique, Yoda is able to not only deflect Sith Force lightning but use it to the fire back at the respective Sith Lords Sidious and Tyrannus. In lightsaber combat, Yoda is able to fight the same two Sith, where in both cases they attempt to flee the little green Jedi. Shown on many occasions in The Clone Wars, Yoda is an unstoppable force in battle.
He is able to sense events (past, present, and future), displaying his deep emotional connection to the Force. When Order 66 was executed, Yoda felt the tremor in the Force and was able to prevent his own death because of that intuition. He is also able to communicate via the Force with Obi-Wan, Kanan, Ezra, and even Ahsoka while not physically in their presence.
One of only three Jedi, that we know of, who were able to become totally one with the Force and maintain a manifestation after death. Yoda was powerful and had enough potential that he was sought out by the Force itself and through many trials, was taught by ancient Sentinel Force users of how to learn this practice, later passing it on to Obi-Wan and (somehow) Anakin.
Homeworld and species
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
We currently have no idea what world Yoda is from or what species he is. Outside of he and Yaddle, a member of the Jedi Council during The Phantom Menace, we have never seen any other members of his species. Diving into the origins of his home planet and seeing what makes this species so special would be really nice to know.
Dooku as Yoda’s apprentice
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Briefly, in Attack of the Clones and in the episodes Ambush and Sacrifice from The Clone Wars, Yoda explains that Count Dooku was once his apprentice, who then left the Jedi Order after the death of Qui-Gon Jinn, falling to the Dark Side as the apprentice to the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.
Yoda training the once noble Jedi Knight and seeing their adventures as Master and Apprentice (including when they faced a dreadful giant Terentatek on Kashyyyk), would be beyond amazing, adding much more emotional depth and layers to Dooku’s fall to the Dark Side, as well as Yoda’s emotional turmoil of losing his prized former student.
Yoda could be the link and catalyst for a Knights of the Old Republic addition to canon
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
Last, and definitely not least, he could be what connects and introduces The Knights of the Old Republic into the Star Wars canon.
Being over 900 years old at the time of death in Return of the Jedi, Yoda’s age matches up with the potential timeline for this era. He may even be alive during some of the final conflicts between the old Sith Order and Jedi Order, possibly playing a key role in the Jedi’s victory in defeating the Dark Side.
If introduced in this film, it would open up the floodgates for more KOTOR stories told through books, comics, Television, and more importantly the big screen.
Next: 50 Most Memorable Moments from Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Do you think a Yoda standalone film would lead to a KOTOR canon movie? What would you like to see in a Star Wars Yoda film? Tell us in the comment section and on our social media pages.