When it comes to Star Wars, it's no secret that the original trilogy of movies is seen by fans as the pinnacle of quality for the series. The following prequel trilogy was not held in as high regard despite still being loved. The newest trilogy of Star Wars movies is the topic of much debate. From differing opinions on the overall quality of the films to the direction of the franchise as a whole, it's clear that Star Wars has begun to struggle with representing the series that fans know and love while also branching off into new directions.
Early attempts to cash in on original trilogy nostalgia either leaned too heavily into old characters to prop the story up, or in the case of The Force Awakens chose to essentially retell the exact same story as A New Hope. This method of using nostalgia to get fans on the side of the new trilogy has overall backfired though. Take the inclusion of Princess Leia, who is suddenly able to use the force in surprising ways in The Last Jedi. The tragedy of Carrie Fisher's death essentially left a gaping plot hole that is clumsily patched up in The Rise of Skywalker using leftover footage shot during the two previous films. Leia is and has been a major character, but no amount of movie magic can hide the fact that she's just not a crucial part of the plot in this final film. It's great they were able to include a farewell for Carrie Fisher, but the film's outcome isn't heavily changed as a result of not having her.
With Luke and Han already out of the picture, Star Wars was more or less forced to turn to one of the few remaining characters of the original trilogy, Lando Calrissian. Again, there's nothing wrong with bringing older characters back, but the most recent trilogy never really felt like it decisively stood on its own. The newest trilogy feels reactive, not proactive, with it's plotting. The good news is that Disney can easily overcome this, and has done so already with shows that almost entirely neglect Jedi like The Mandalorian on Disney+.
Disney will eventually thirst for total dominance of the box office again once theaters begin reopening, and a new Star Wars trilogy seems more like an eventuality than a possibility. So where should Star Wars go next? Well first, it's time to ditch Jedi. A new trilogy doesn't have to act like they don't exist, but shouldn't center around them. Fans have yet to see a non-human protagonist. There are literally thousands of imagined species within the Star Wars universe, so why not see the universe through their perspective? Perhaps a film trilogy similar to that of the recent Planet of the Apes movies, where an alien race of creatures must fight for their independence amongst the impending threat of imperial colonialism. Just stop creating entire species of creatures like Gungans for failed comedic relief and convenient wartime reinforcements.
Additionally, and this may seem a bit too much to some, but why not lean more into the fantasy elements of Star Wars than the sci-fi? Take inspiration from something more along the lines of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Instead of one ring to rule them all, perhaps there are indications of a great solar flare or cataclysmic event that is sure to wipe out life in a large portion of the galaxy. Here's how this trilogy could work:
Movie 1
Indications of an impending galactic event that will destroy a large portion of life in the galaxy. A team is assembled to take a device to the source of the event and attempt to stop it from occurring. This movie would cover the journey of the team assembled and how they overcome a cult of Force worshippers that believe the event is necessary to rebalance the universe after the absence of Jedi and Sith.
Movie 2
The team of heroes makes it to the event with the device, however one of their own turns on them, revealing himself to be a member of the Force cult as well. The device is destroyed and the cult performs a ritual, bringing forth the calamitous event sooner and forcing the heroes to flee for their lives. It's revealed at the end of this film that the destructive force is now somewhat sentient and aiming to move into additional parts of the galaxy.
Movie 3
This final movie would follow our heroes trying to warn others in the galaxy of the unleashed creature. As battle after battle is lost and the Force Monster continues to eat planets as it goes, hope seems to be lost. However, realizing they can predict the path of the monster the team of heroes triggers a black hole via the brave sacrifice of one rogue pilot. The monster is consumed in the black hole and the day is saved, though the Force cult still remains...
A New Hope
This is all hypothetical of course, but the point is that the next trilogy shouldn't be afraid to take a leap of faith into uncharted waters. The original Star Wars movies weren't afraid to take real chances. They let the bad guys win sometimes. They had a confidence to them that the most recent trilogy just didn't. Whatever Disney chooses to do with future movies in this historic franchise, let's hope they have a story they're passionate about and they have confidence in. May the Force be with them.