With the release of the first Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer just around the corner, the time may have finally come to focus the internet’s attentions on the Star Wars spin-off movies. Because it’s not like we landed on a comet or have immigration reform to worry about. No no, these Star Wars spin-offs are what REALLY make the world go ’round.
But we jest. We’re just as excited as you, and this new rumor from Slash Film about the plot of the first Star Wars spin-off sounds very cool, and it jibes with the rumblings CraveOnline has been picking up from people in the know.
If true, the plot of the first live-action Star Wars spin-off movie since 1985’s Ewoks: Battle for Endor is about a team of bounty hunters hired to steal the plans to the Death Star. This previously off-camera event set the entire original trilogy of Star Wars films in motion, as fans of the series no doubt recall. There is no information in the article, even a rumor, to suggest that Boba Fett – the most famous bounty hunter in the ‘verse – will be a part of the team, but it stands to reason that the idea has at least been considered, given the character’s enormous popularity.
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There is more to the rumor, including the suggestion that the Millennium Falcon will appear in the film, but that Han Solo will not. Since Han Solo obviously owns the Millennium Falcon when A New Hope begins, that would imply that the ship either makes a cameo, or gets stolen, or that this film takes place somewhat earlier than one might expect. After all, we know the Empire had plans for the Death Star since Luke Skywalker was just an infant. That leaves plenty of time for the plans to get stolen, then lost, then finally acquired by Princess Leia shortly before the events of Episode IV.
The final part of the rumor that would be of interest is that this Star Wars spin-off might star a character who is also important in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Speculation has already emerged that this character would be the one played by Max Von Sydow, since he is easily the oldest member of Episode VII‘s cast. Then again, it’s too early to say, and too early to even confirm whether or not this rumor is true.
But this would be an undeniably exciting prospect for a spin-off film, and we think that director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) and his screenwriter Gary Whitta (The Walking Dead: The Game) could turn it into a very cool motion picture.
What do you think?
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
