James Mangold has recently spoken about his upcomingStar Warsmovie, providing hints of what audiences can expect. TheupcomingStar Warsmovieis unofficially being titled “Dawn of the Jedi,” with the film set to explore an early part of theStar Warstimeline. In comparison to thechronological order of otherStar Warsmovies, Mangold’s film will be set 25,000 years beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.WhetherStar Wars’Dawn of the Jedistoryhappens or not remains to be seen, but Mangold has provided some teases for what to expect.
In an interview withMovieWeb, Mangold expressed his desire to tap into the freedom of making something new inStar Wars. Mangold insisted that this is the main focus for him and his co-writer,Andor’s Beau Willimon, when penning the script, stating that the duo are trying to find a way to"say something original.“Mangold summarized these thoughts by stating:
“The Star Wars movie would be taking place 25,000 years before any knownStar Warsmovies takes place. It’s an area and a playground that I’ve always [wanted to explore] and that I was inspired by as a teenager.I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it’s almost immovable,and you can’t please anybody.”
Evidently, Mangold is putting a lot of thought and care into this project. In delving further back into theStar Warstimeline, Mangold is trying to bring a sense of originality toStar Warsthat may not be as prevalent in the familiar trappings of the Skywalker Saga.
James Mangold Understands The Emotional Appeal Of Star Wars
Mangold Gets What Makes The Franchise Magical
On a deeper level, Mangold’s comments mean that he truly gets the emotional appeal of theStar Warsfranchise. In stating that the franchise feels like a playground that he has been inspired by since he was a teenager, he understands whatStar Warsis at its core.Star Warsis a franchise that inspires, be it children watching for the first time, teenagers viewing the more mature projects, or adults getting a hit of nostalgia.
Mangold’s insistence on tapping into that feeling of inspiration and crafting a story unshackled by other installments in the franchise sums upStar Warswell. After all, the franchise began thanks to George Lucas' sheer determination to tell a whacky space story that no one, himself included, believed would be a success. Thankfully,Mangold understands that theStar Warssandbox is exactly that, a place for imagination and inspiration to lead the crafting of a compelling story.
Our Take On James Mangold’s Promise
While Mangold’s comments are certainly exciting and I believe he does understand the appeal of the franchise, one part of his words does strike a chord of concern for me. It is worth noting that this concern is not directed towards Mangold’s film, but theStar Warsfranchise as a whole. Mangold’s insistence that he needs to travel back 25,000 years in theStar Warstimeline to not be"handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it’s almost immovable, and you may’t please anybody"is somewhat worrying.
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This implies that connecting to known parts of theStar Warsfranchise is precisely the element that causes division among fans. Arguments often tend to spawn out of explorations ofStar Warscanon, though not always. That said,it seems as though creators like Mangold, who are coming into the franchise for the first time, feel the need to distance themselves from canon and established loreto tell a story that resonates with fans on the whole. This is a worrying implication as it may have been proven true recently within theStar Warsfandom.
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi
Announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is a prequel focusing on the first-ever Jedi. Taking place 25,000 before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Dawn of the Jedi will explore the events set prior to the Old Republic and the Disney+ series, The Acolyte.
