Episode VII and Beyond...

Before a new child is born there is so much potential and hope for the future. There is a feeling that anything could happen. There is a mystery surrounding who that child will be and what their life will be like. So too with the future of the new Star Wars franchise. But if people want a taste of what this future will look like, they can look no further than the parent company’s other baby, the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In 2009 Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment and audiences have been treated to 1-2 films per year. The rate that Disney is pushing these babies out is impressive, but what is even more surprising is the quality of the films and the way they intertwine. Disney has not just built a franchise, they have built a universe of characters.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe began with the first Iron Man film. After which, it didn’t take long for the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to all have their individual stories. Of course the big pay off came in 2012, when Joss Whedon directed the film of his career. Yes, The Avengers was ambitious and over-hyped, but the final product disappointed neither fans nor casual viewers. It was big, it was bold, and it was beautiful.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now deep in Phase II of their mythology. The team-members get another run of stand-alone films, which will be followed by a second Joss Whedon Avengers film in the summer of 2015. Spin-off titles such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant Man are also deep into production.

The success of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic formula brings high hopes to Star Wars fans. Disney has promised a Star Wars film each year. Episodic Star Wars films will release every two-years with character-focused spin-offs releasing between the gaps. And with a galaxy rich in characters, Disney has a lot of great options.

Although Disney has announced Episodes VII – IX would release in 2015, 2017, 2019, fans can only guess what spin-off titles will hit cinemas in 2016, 2018, or 2020. Could we see a young Han Solo adventure? What about Ewan McGregor reprising the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi? Will we see a Knights of the Old Republic film or flash forward into the future with the Star Wars: Legacy line?

But one character's chances are higher than the rest. The demand for a Boba Fett flows through the veins of Star Wars fans young and old. And isn’t is about time? Boba Fett had such a small role in the original trilogy and he was foolishly killed off in ROTJ. The prequels didn’t do him much justice, either. But which era of Boba Fett will be explored? Will we get young Boba Fett or will we see the character climb out of the Sarlacc and rocket into the future?

Star Wars was born in the imagination of George Lucas and we are all eternally grateful- but now that he has released it to the world, the possibilities are endless. George gave us the best and worse Star Wars films, and now we shall see what other artists can do with his world. With Disney’s Marvel Universe films acting as an older sibling, they should have no trouble steering the new Star Wars Franchise in the right direction.