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#10: Director Problems
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Various It’s no secret that the Disney era of “Star Wars” has had a major problem with directors - namely with keeping them around. Directors have been let go from films like “Solo,” an unproduced Boba Fett film, as well as Colin Trevorrow, who was famously dropped from “Episode IX.” The exact reasons likely vary on a case-by-case basis, but the most common factor reported seems to be that most aren’t willing to go along with Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy. Some fans would probably characterize this as a Lucasfilm or a Kennedy problem rather than a director problem - and they have - but the fact remains that Disney would probably rather we ignore all the butting heads behind the scenes.
#9: Finn & Rose’s Forgotten Romance
“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017) Finn and Rose spend a large chunk of “The Last Jedi” together on an extended adventure – more on that later. But even so, a lot of fans were left with whiplash when Rose kissed Finn after stopping him from sacrificing himself to protect everyone. Of course, it was even more jarring when Finn and Rose barely said two words to each other in “The Rise of Skywalker,” and Finn’s admittedly limited storyline was instead focused on connecting with another former stormtrooper. While Rose’s reportedly reduced role in the film likely had something to do with their suddenly ignored romance, we can’t help but feel like the backlash to the character also had something to do with it. Or Finn just didn’t like her back.
#8: Digital Peter Cushing
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) Recreating deceased or older actors is nothing new in Hollywood. Even so, the revivification of Peter Cushing’s appearance to use for Grand Moff Tarkin’s role in “Rogue One” raised objections as well as eyebrows. Sure, something similar was achieved in the same film with Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, but in her case, it was only for a few seconds and Fisher reportedly approved of the recreation before her untimely passing. Tarkin, meanwhile, plays a large part in several scenes. The uncanny valley effect is upsetting enough, but the whole business of using someone’s likeness postmortem feels wrong to many fans.
#7: Canceling “Star Wars 1313”
“Star Wars” video games have often delved into darker territory than the films or TV shows. But fans were especially looking forward to exploring “Star Wars 1313,” a gritty look at Boba Fett’s rise as a bounty hunter in the 1313 section of Coruscant. Unfortunately, after Disney acquired “Star Wars” in 2012, it shut down LucasArts, thus halting production on “1313.” Although the location of Level 1313 would be revisited in “The Clone Wars,” and rumors have persisted for years that the game itself would be revisited, nothing concrete has emerged as of this writing.
#6: The Casino Sidequest
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“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017) We said we’d be getting back to Finn and Rose, didn’t we? Midway through “The Last Jedi,” these two leave the ragtag remains of the rebel fleet in pursuit of a codebreaker in the Cantonican city of Canto Bight. While there are a lot of criticisms of this sequence, from its design elements to the mixed messaging on environmentalism and war profiteering, it's the structural issues that stick out particularly for most viewers. Finn and Rose’s adventure here is much lower on stakes and investment than the other major plotlines. Additionally, it doesn’t amount to anything in the grand scheme of things, since their “codebreaker” ends up betraying them. Despite how forgettable the sequence is, “Star Wars” fans refuse to let it go.
#5: Captain Phasma’s Lost Potential
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“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017) In “The Force Awakens,” we’re introduced to Captain Phasma, a female stormtrooper played by Gwendoline Christie. Imposing in her awesome chrome armor, Phasma met an unceremonious defeat in her first appearance, getting thrown down a garbage shoot. Fans’ hopes that she would have a better outing in the sequel were basically dashed as well. Despite getting a fight with Finn, Phasma receives a final ending falling into flames aboard a half-destroyed ship. Granted, “Star Wars” characters have come back from worse, but many can’t help comparing her to Boba Fett, a character with a lot of potential that was ultimately squandered by a lame conclusion. We’ll have to see if Phasma can climb out of her own sarlacc pit and redeem herself like Fett has.
#4: Gina Carano Controversy
“The Mandalorian” (2019-) Gina Carano first appeared in “Star Wars” on the hit show “The Mandalorian,” where she played Cara Dune, a former rebel that’s eventually minted as a marshal for the New Republic. She’s a frequent ally of hero Din Djarin. Unfortunately, Carano made several remarks on social media which caused a swarm of backlash, leading to Disney firing her from “The Mandalorian.” The announced “Rangers of the New Republic” series, which would have presumably also starred Carano, has also reportedly been shelved. Disney seems determined to sweep any involvement they had with the actor under the rug. On a related note…
#3: Canceled Shows & Movies
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Various Disney has thrown everything but the kitchen sink into “Star Wars” in recent years, so that has left quite a few projects on the cutting room floor. While a few have been reworked as TV series, such as the solo films based on Obi-Wan Kenobi and Boba Fett, not all have been so lucky. “Game of Thrones” showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were once slated to work on a series of films, but these were cancelled after they signed a deal with Netflix. Likewise, Rian Johnson’s long-rumored trilogy of “Star Wars” films have also likely been canceled, after years of conflicting reports about their status. And given the delays on Patty Jenkins’s “Rogue Squadron,” we’re not optimistic we’ll see that anytime soon.
#2: The Fall of Skywalker
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“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017) Luke Skywalker is the hero of the original “Star Wars” trilogy. To say that fans felt a little betrayed by the direction his character took in “The Last Jedi” would be quite the understatement. Luke is a broken and defeated man after a lapse in judgment almost led him to kill his own nephew. It’s quite the dark place to take the character, and a lot of fans, even Mark Hamill himself, were on team #notmyLukeSkywalker. While “The Rise of Skywalker” clearly tried to backpedal on certain aspects of Luke’s characterization, it was too little too late for many.
#1: The Sequel Trilogy Having No Plan
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“Star Wars” Sequel Trilogy (2015-19) The sequel trilogy felt rushed compared to the films they followed. And while some fans enjoy the trilogy, most will probably agree that they could use some tightening up. Mysteries set up early on receive disappointing or no payoff in later films, and characters like Finn, touted as major players, are gradually pushed to the side. Conflicting visions could explain some of the poorly received elements of the sequel trilogy, but not all of them. Disney has claimed in the past that they had a plan, but evidence clearly points to a trilogy made without a road map in mind. Which is weird, considering George Lucas had one and they threw it out!
