In another interview from his appearance at the Paley Center on Thursday, Lawrence Kasdan told Hero Complex that he wants his film to be something new:
“I’m trying to start fresh,” he said. “There are certain pleasures that we think the saga can bring to people that they’ve been missing, and we’re hoping to bring them that, and at the same time, have them feel that it’s all new.”
It’s implied (by Hero Complex) that means ignoring the existing Expanded Universe, but it’s worth noting that some fans are also hoping these spin-offs don’t rehash things that the EU has already covered extensively – like Han’s backstory.
He also credits George Lucas with bringing him onto the project, his favorite Star Wars film, and the focus of the original trilogy.
The Star Wars Universe can be great fun to work in. As a novelist, I worked with Lucasfilm on a number of early projects, and George was always very supportive of his artists. I suspect that we’ll see some great things in this film.
I’ve been reading the EU for as long as its existed… if the new film makers and Disney try to treat it like it never existed and reboot the universe or just ignore it even I’ll be disappointed and a little flabbergasted by the whole experience. One of the things I’ve always loved about Star Wars is the way the universe flows together.
P.S. Dave … I’ll never forget laying on the grass in my front yard reading The Courtship of Princess Leia!
I think ideally it would be great to see a new story, that is not a book-turned-to-movie, but also one that doesn’t destroy EU continuity. Frankly I don’t think some of the books would make very good movies, (though they are fine books). It wouldn’t be too hard to have a completely original story that doesn’t conflict with EU too much. We see it several times a month in the form of a new comic-book, new novel, new video game etc. That is what is awesome with Star Wars. Any nerdy thing i memorized about a cantina alien back in the 90’s still applies today. Let’s keep the EU intact!