By Emily Sullivan
Opinion Editor
When I was 7 years old, all I wanted to be for Halloween was Princess Leia. I wanted to have the hair wrapped up on the side of my head and walk around in the white dress she wore. To me, Princess Leia was the epitome of what a princess should be: smart, sassy and full of spirit.
I never thought I’d see the day when Princess Leia joined the ranks of Belle and Ariel as a Disney Princess.
This past Tuesday, the Walt Disney Co. announced it was buying Lucasfilm Ltd. from George Lucas, the creator of the “Star Wars” franchise, for a whopping $4.05 million dollars, according to an Oct. 30 Fox News article. What’s the worst part?
They plan to make at least three more movies.
Episodes VII, VIII and IX will pick up where Episode 6, “Return of the Jedi,” left off and follow the adventures of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia. Episode VII is set to be released in 2015. After the 8th movie, Disney plans to continue making new “Star Wars” movies every two or three years.
In the words of Han Solo, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Star Wars” has been a part of my life since I was born. My parents are huge fans. I watched the original three movies with them growing up. Whenever we watched “Return of the Jedi,” my dad would tell me about watching it in theaters. He told me moviegoers stood up and cheered when Darth Vader threw Emperor Palpatine down the reactor shaft.
I highly doubt Episode VII will elicit the same reaction from audiences.
When Episode I, II and III were announced, I was psyched. I couldn’t wait to see how Darth Vader was born and what Obi-Wan was like as a padawan. Despite the annoying Jar Jar Binks, the first movie was good. The cast was solid and Darth Maul was a pretty good villain.
But then the second and third movies starred the always angry and dreadful Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker. Both movies had their moments, but it was clear the story had to end. Fans were getting tired of the below average movies.
So why is Disney beating a dead horse and trying to milk out a dozen new movies?
I’m a loyal “Star Wars” fan, but I can’t support any of the decisions Lucas made. Even though Lucas will stay on as a creative consultant for the new movies, according to an Oct. 30 Washington Post article, I don’t think it will help the new films.
“I’m doing this so that the films will have a longer life,” Lucas said in an interview posted on YouTube.
For younger generations, these movies might be seen as incredible. Maybe the new movies will inspire young people to watch the old films.
But for me, this whole scheme is a horrible idea. I’ve lost some respect for Disney and for Lucas.
After Episode III, “Revenge of the Sith,” was released, Lucas vowed he would never make another “Star Wars” movie.
“Why make anymore when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?” Lucas told The New York Times earlier this year, according to the Washington Post article.
But something must have changed Lucas’ mind, or he doesn’t mind being a terrible person. Even though he won’t be the one actually making the movies, fans like me will still blame him if these movies ruin something that I hold very dear to me.
May the force be with you, George Lucas. You’re going to need it.
