Disney Reveals Their First New Jedi
Disney has begun teasing teasing the first new Jedi developed on their watch, and according to the USA Today, he’s a cowboy. A cowboy Jedi. I don’t know why I like the sound of that, but to borrow a phrase from Karl Pilkington, this news has me dead chuffed.
This preview and last month’s reveal of C1-10P (or Chopper, the Grumpy Astromech Droid) have been timely from my perspective. I’ve been thinking about “The Trilogy” quite a lot lately. It’s been nearly ten years since that chortled “NOOOOOooooo!” resounded throughout cinemas around the world, and then continued resounding in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere, and in that intervening time, I’ve more or less avoided all ‘Wars related media. Yes, even the critically acclaimed Clone Wars series has passed me by.
Frankly, after the special editions and that… other trilogy, I’ve been living in that dark hollow at the center of fandom where its easier to hate than to love.
I recently chanced to watch The People vs. George Lucas, which fames the passionate debate that has been churning through the fandom since the release 1997 release of the Episode IV Special Edition as a sort of courtroom drama. While I’m still convinced that Lucas was in the wrong to muddle with the original trilogy, and that the prequels were far from perfect (or even good), seeing both arguments laid out side by side has softened my heart somewhat to Lucas’ position. And while that hasn’t swayed me per se, it has helped me find a little joy in the Star Wars universe again.
While the news that Disney had purchased Lucas’ businesses put many fans into disaster mode (much like the news of Disney’s acquisition of Marvel three years earlier), I’m of the opinion that Star Wars is a franchise in need of a new vision and a new direction. While Disney doesn’t always have the best vision (it was they who failed John Carter, no the other way around!), they have a track record of amazing films. Certainly no Star Wars fan can fear too much when they see just how well Disney has handled the Marvel franchise–by getting out of the way of good cinema. And that is precisely what Star Wars needs: a benevolent patron that gets out of the way and doesn’t… meddle.
For my part, I’m looking forward to Star Wars Rebels as a story that’s closer to the Star Wars universe I grew up with. While Old Ben is digging in on Tatooine to keep an eye on a kid with a destiny, our cowboy Kanan has hung up his ‘saber and taken up a blaster, trying to carve out an existence in a galaxy that has forsaken his kind. That kind of story just… feels right for the Star Wars universe. For the first time in years, I can say that I’m excited for Star Wars. In fact, one might even say that Disney has give me a new… hope! that’s right kids, I’ll be here all week, two shows a night, three on Saturday!
Caffeineforge 
“Fans love Han Solo. What if Han Solo was a Jedi?”
“But he’s not.”
“But what if? Or someone like him?”
“…go on.”