Star DON'T: Why Remaking the Star Wars Prequels is a Bad Idea

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise. Initially the passion project of George Lucas, the franchise-to date-has spanned almost nine movies (one of them a spin-off), three TV shows and dozens upon dozens of video games, books, comics, audio recordings and web-shorts, to name a few. It’s even gained new life in recent years following the acquisition of the IP by Disney in 2012 and the promise to keep it going until, as of now, 2030. There’s much to discuss with the movies specifically, but it’s almost unanimously agreed on that the era of films from 1999-2005, known as “The Prequels”, are the worst aspect. And with Disney trying to please fans, there’s been demand to remake them from scratch, this time the “right” way. But is that necessarily a good idea?

I’ll be the first to admit that The Prequels aren't “great”. I don’t despise them like so many, especially since all three have moments of brilliance, but time hasn’t been kind to my perceptions of their quality. I also know that many die-hard fans have pitched their thoughts and ideas on how to “improve” the trilogy, most-notably Belated Media, but I’m not so sure that going back and fixing these films would be so great. I, honestly, think it’d be a terrible idea, for one reason: continuity.

See, Star Wars thrives on continuity. It might not seem so initially, especially since the universe is so vast, but it absolutely has connecting themes and plot-threads. The Prequels, for example, tie directly into The Original Trilogy through inter-connected world building, as does The Original Trilogy to the newer films. In the same breath, The Prequels also tie into the new films, as do they to the two cartoons considered canon. And, of course, said shows tie directly into the movies, including the spin-off film that, you guessed it, ties directly into everything in the Star Wars chronology.

To give an example, let’s use Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker. Considered one of modern-Hollywood’s greatest characters, his presence is felt in every canon film and show. In the original films, he was the looming baddie that shifted from a nasty villain, to a villain with depth, to a redeemed villain. The Prequels added context by showing his descent into villainy, transforming him into a tragic hero. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, both the pilot film and the 6 Season TV series, then further fleshed him out, while Star Wars Rebels showed the time period between his downfall and his initial reveal in the original film. And finally, the newer trilogy, if everything is playing out the way it has been, is building on the aftermath of the character’s death by showing how the galaxy has progressed. Everything Star Wars that’s canon has built on this one character.

But even outside of that, and this is delving into spoiler territory, Star Wars canon still fits together via easter eggs and/or callbacks. One of the best examples is the franchise’s first side-film, Star Wars: Rogue One. The movie’s littered with details that fit into the grander universe: Saw Gerrera is a character from one of the story-arcs in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and his character-arc is completed via his death at the hands of The Death Star. Conversely, this is the last canonical appearance of Senator Bail Organa, a character featured heavily in The Prequels and TV shows, before his death on Alderaan in Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope when it’s blown up. The movie also has The Ghost, a ship that takes centre-stage in Star Wars Rebels, and an indirect mention of Mustafar from Star Wars Ep. III: Revenge of the Sith in the second-act. And, lest we forget, it ends seconds before Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope, with its last shot being of the same ship we see in the latter film’s opening scene.

The canon is so meticulously woven together at this point that if Disney were to remake even a tiny detail of The Prequels, it could throw everything off. It’s not impossible, but it’s tricky. Because you’d risk messing up everything, and that’s not what people want either. I know it’s tempting to take the gamble anyway, but in the long-term it’s better not to. Especially considering how the newer films and shows are working with a trilogy that’s already messy anyway.

I get it: The Prequels are embarrassing. They’re a reminder that Star Wars isn’t flawless. They bum out fans by the sheer fact that, yes, everything in them is canon. It seems like such an easy remedy in the hands of talented individuals who respect the collaborative process of film, something George Lucas didn’t. But “fixing” them would do so much damage that it’s not worth the chance.

And honestly, it reeks of entitlement. A good artist learns more from their failures than their successes, while a great artist learns from others’ failures. If the current holders of the Star Wars franchise are the “great artists”, they’ll take that to heart. Especially since The Prequels are a valuable learning experience, and instead of erasing them, Disney has an opportunity to incorporate their best ideas effectively in future movies and shows.

But ultimately, fans need to let it go already. So what if The Prequels were “bad”? So what if you think you can do better? There’s a time for do-overs, and a time for restraint. This is one of those times for restraint. If fans can accept the good with the bad, instead of ignoring the bad, then perhaps we can move on and focus on the future of the franchise.