Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker marked the end of an era for fans of the world’s biggest and most iconic franchise, Star Wars. It marked the end of the Skywalker saga which began from the mind of George Lucas in 1977 and stretched over 9 saga films which created a pop culture phenomenon that is beloved by millions.
The final entry of the saga has proven divisive, similar to the whole sequel trilogy, and its merits as closer to the entire saga have come massively into question. With Disney in possession of Lucasfilm, and lots of Star Wars works in production, the question now stands will there be an Episode X? Here are 5 reasons why there should be an Episode X and 5 reasons why the episodic saga is over.
SHOULD: INTRODUCE A NEW GENERATION OF FANS
One of the most beautiful things about Star Wars is the way it inspires love and passion in people from childhood and whether you grow up on the originals, the prequels, or the sequels the films, the universe, the characters, all of it sticks with you.
Should Disney release an Episode X in the distant enough future, it will bring together a whole other generation of fans. Yes, the filmography is there to be watched and loved as it is, but the special feeling of a new film, for a new set of fans, is incomparable, and one of the many perfect things about the franchise which shows it should last just a little longer.
SHOULDN’T: DO NOT WANT TO TARNISH THE SAGA’S LEGACY
There has been an immense amount of division within the fandom when it comes to certain films. The prequels, alongside The Last Jedi and The Rise Of Skywalker, come to mind.
However, all these films have something to love and when a franchise is so beloved and is stretched out too long the risk runs high of tarnishing its legacy by overstaying its welcome or by putting out a unanimously disliked film which fans just cannot ignore anymore.
SHOULD: IT IS INEVITABLE
Disney has been producing a big amount of content in its first half-decade of Star Wars ownership since the announcement of their new canon. Not only that, but there is so much more on the way. They may be done with the Skywalker saga, but there is no way Disney does not pull the trigger on Episode X eventually.
This is a good thing because Disney can be trusted. While people have their issues with the sequel trilogy, each film is great in their own way despite their flaws, and are overall much more well made than the prequels which people love. With stuff like The Mandalorian, and the Obi-Wan series, as well as two good to great standalones, as long as Disney has a plan and an idea, they can make Episode X work.
SHOULDN’T: SHOULD THEY BE IN THE EPISODIC SAGA IF THERE ARE NO SKYWALKERS?
All nine of the saga films thus far have been the central story of the Skywalker family. From Anakin to Luke, Leia, and Kylo, the series has always focused on the family to craft its narrative and without it in Episode X will it really be a part of the same saga?
If there were to be Skywalkers and it follows on from The Rise Of Skywalker it would likely feel shoehorned in alongside the fact that film was marketed as the final chapter of the Skywalker saga. So then if there were no Skywalkers, would there be any point in not creating fresh newly marketed films (even with characters like Rey, etc.) other than to milk the episodic structure.
SHOULD: EPISODIC FILMS FEEL MORE IMPORTANT
Going to see the new Star Wars movie has always been a different type of experience from other movies. There are levels of anticipation and uniqueness about the episodic films that just have not come to be in other films or media from the Star Wars franchise.
The episodic films are more popular and are a cinematic experience which is more unique than anything else even if say the two standalone movies are better than some saga films. Disney can buck this trend but by releasing an Episode X and since the mainline of movies always have stakes and effectiveness on the universe more than anything else, it can garner that excitement and importance once more.
SHOULDN’T: THE TRILOGY CYCLE SHOULD BE BROKEN
Star Wars has grown and evolved throughout the years to the point that the continuous trilogy structure no longer works and the franchise needs to continue on its track of open-ended narratives.
The franchise can never be concluded. While the Skywalker saga is concluded, that is one story. There are so many stories, in so different eras in the universe with such a vast array of characters, that moving on to another trilogy in the same saga is pointless and will not work the way the nine movies have already. This, of course, does only apply if Episode X is the beginning of a trilogy.
SHOULD: FILM COULD BE A PERFECT EPILOGUE
Then again, if Episode X is not the beginning of a trilogy but is instead just a singular movie that follows on from The Rise Of Skywalker it could be brilliant, and unique territory for the Star Wars franchise.
The movie could perfectly wrap up the whole saga and does not have to be a big dramatic ending like Return of the Jedi. It would instead be more of an epilogue that eased the saga into rest and wrapped up the story of the sequel trilogy and the overall saga in a character-driven way that set the franchise up for more stories that are related to the saga but do not fall under its banner.
SHOULDN’T: FRANCHISE FATIGUE WOULD KICK IN
Sometimes franchises run their course, and then they run further than that. It is a common problem in today’s world where studios milk franchises dry and then overdoes it to the point people get sick of them, even if they were big financial successes.
This may become a problem if Disney pulls the trigger on Episode X, even if they do wait a decade or two (considering the amount of content they will have put out by that time). The Rise of Skywalker has made over $1 billion, but still, if Disney keeps pushing this saga beyond its limits, that billion may not be seen again.
SHOULD: CAN ANSWER THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OF THE SEQUEL TRILOGY
The sequel trilogy left a lot of questions unanswered, and a lot of plots unresolved. Should Disney go ahead and make Episode X (even XI & XII) they can create a solid narrative while tying up all those loose ends.
Finn’s Force sensitivity immediately pops to mind as a big point the film would tackle, so too does the rebuilding of both the New Republic as well as Rey’s rebuilding of the Jedi order. Explanations of the unexplained, answering of the unanswered, and a final look into the fate of our heroes whose stories are not finished would make for a great Episode X.
SHOULDN’T: FRESHER STORIES TO BE TOLD
The Star Wars universe is vast and expansive with a galaxy largely unexplored, stories largely untold, and eras largely unseen. Disney and Lucasfilm have a lot on the slate and so much more unannounced and in development, but Episode X should not be one, especially right now, because there are so many more stories to tell.
This new canon of Star Wars has been mainly focused on the time of the Empire and the Rebellion, with some time spent delving into the prequels and sequels. But, there is a whole galaxy and an infinite timeline to examine, a whole Expanded Universe to pick from, and an insurmountable number of stories to tell.
