The new Star Wars trilogy has been met with a variety of different opinions so far, but one man who knows a thing or two about Star Wars has strong opinions about one trend we've seen in the new films. Each episode has given us the death (or at least the apparent death) of a major character. Timothy Zahn is the man who launched the Star Wars expanded universe with his Heir to the Empire trilogy and the author who is back writing Star Wars novels today says he doesn't think Star Wars films should kill major characters because the precedent has already been set not to do so, and that Star Wars movies should send the audience home happy. According to Zahn...
My philosophy before the sequels came out was that Star Wars was not the kind of thing where you killed off major characters. My logic on that one being if that was, we kill off major characters, either Wedge or Lando would not have survived the second Death Star [in Return of the Jedi]. It always seemed to me, this is the type where the heroes get into danger and you have to, they have to figure out a way out of it that you'll be happy at the end.
It's been said before that originally, it was conceived that either Lando or Wedge, or possibly both, were not supposed to survive their attack on the Death Star. However, at some point, the story was changed to give the trilogy a happier ending. It's certainly true that generally speaking, Star Wars movies have happy endings, although it's hard to say everybody went home happy from The Empire Strikes Back or Revenge of the Sith. Both of those films had fairly downer endings.
The current Star Wars trilogy, however, has had no fear when it comes to killing off characters. Han Solo died at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and from all outward appearances, Luke Skywalker also perished at the end of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
So how would Timothy Zahn have approached a new trilogy? He tells SyFy Wire he would have solved the problem of what to do with the original trilogy characters by simply not putting them in these movies.
My vision always for the sequels would be, you would pick up with the children of our main characters. [The original cast] would be the elder statesman type and not necessarily die on camera. They'd be off doing beekeeping like Sherlock Holmes allegedly did. You don't have to kill off a character to get them offstage.
Sherlock Holmes is a pretty good example. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once tried to kill off his famous character, only to be met by fan backlash which resulted in the author bringing Holmes back to life. Rian Johnson can probably relate.
While Timothy Zahn's idea would certainly have the benefit of keeping the original trilogy characters alive, the downside of it is that we wouldn't have seen them in the movies, which likely would have also upset some fans. With so many people being Star Wars fans, it's going to be impossible to meet the expectations of all of them. However, I'd guess that Star Wars Episode IX is very interested in doing whatever it can to send everybody home happy.
To some, this seems like an audacious move and something to be applauded given the weight of their deaths but respected Star Wars writer, Timothy Zahn is not a big fan of killing off major characters.
Star Wars: Timothy Zahn Not In Favor Of Killing Main Characters
Best selling Star Wars author Timothy Zahn says he is against killing main characters. Zahn first burst onto the Star Wars scene with his 1991 book Heir to the Empire, followed by the second and third chapters in his Thrawn trilogy (Dark Force Rising and The Last Command).
Star Wars author Timothy Zahn explains why he's against
Respected Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Opposes Killing Off Major Characters - The new Star Wars trilogy has been met with a variety of different opinions so far, but one man who knows a thing or two about Star Wars has strong opinions about one trend we've seen in the new films.
Respected Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Opposes Killing Off
Respected Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Opposes Killing Off Major Characters August 1, 2018, 3:12 pm 14.2k Views The new Star Wars trilogy has been met with a variety of different opinions so far, but one man who knows a thing or two about Star Wars has strong opinions about one trend we've seen in the new films.
Star Wars Expanded Universe Author Is Not A Fan Of Killing
Author Timothy Zahn argues against Star Wars killing off its major characters, in light of the recent deaths of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in the new films. "Let the past die. Kill it, if you
I'm Timothy Zahn, Star Wars novelist and author of
Respected Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Opposes Killing Off
Now, as he continues to write Star Wars stories in the new Disney canon, there's one thing he wishes the official sequel movie trilogy hadn't embraced so much: killing off characters. In 1991, Zahn's Heir to the Empire was released, and quickly became a bestseller, reigniting Star Wars fandom with its version of what happened to Luke, Han, and
Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Is Against Killing Main
Zahn has stated lower in this thread that he has clear views on good characters and evil characters, but I think Thrawn is one of the more ambiguous Star Wars villains. He's a respected leader who's able to inspire his men, he's a peerless strategist and tactician, and he's a thrilling innovator who accomplishes novel effects with relatively
Timothy Zahn is the man who launched the Star Wars expanded universe with his Heir to the Empire trilogy and the author who is back writing Star Wars novels today says he doesn't think Star Wars
Respected Star Wars Author Timothy Zahn Opposes Killing Off
Best selling Star Wars author Timothy Zahn says he is against killing main characters. Zahn first burst onto the Star Wars scene with his 1991 book Heir to the Empire ,followed by the second and
Star Wars: Decisiones by Timothy Zahn - Goodreads
The most consistently good Star Wars author has been Timothy Zahn and this novel is no exception. The Choices of one takes place in between a New Hope and the Empire Strikes Back. The Rebel Alliance is in need of a new base after the Empire's siege on their base on Yavin 4.
Star Wars Expanded Universe Author Opposes Han And Luke's Deaths
