Published on February 10, 2024, 2:08 am

The introduction of Disney’s new generation of “Star Wars” writers created an unexpected trajectory in the prized franchise. By reintroducing the villainous character Emperor Palpatine and positioning a female Jedi as the primary heroine, they unintentionally fractured their fan base and undermined an otherwise cohesive storyline.

Once Disney acquired “Star Wars” from its creator George Lucas in 2012, Kathleen Kennedy took over the helm at Lucasfilm. In an interview with Lucas, Kennedy asserted her commitment to protect Lucas’s original characters making sure they continue to exist as he had envisioned them. However, the revival of Emperor Palpatine showed that this pledge was not precisely fulfilled.

Over time, both under Lucas’s and Disney’s stewardship, “Star Wars” presented a wealth of characters who have won over fans’ hearts. From Padme Amidala in “The Phantom Menace” to Cal Kestis in “Jedi: Fallen Order,” it is important to remember that these characters all revolve around Anakin Skywalker, the central figure of the saga.

Depicted from being discovered by the Jedi in 1999’s “The Phantom Menace,” on through his evolution into Darth Vader due to emotional turmoil triggered by secret marriage with Queen Padme Amidala, leading him further down a path of betrayal against the Jedis – his journey was ultimately redeemed by his own son Luke Skywalker when he killed Palpatine in “Return Of The Jedi”.

However, this epic narrative thread faced deviation when Disney’s new team introduced ‘Mary Sue’ protagonist Rey in “The Force Awakens” (2015). Despite having minimal formal training, her power rivals seasoned Jedi masters which reflected Disney’s intent to promote a feminist worldview within their stories. This outright shift was not welcomed universally within fandom circles – for those who relied on Star Wars as trusted news from another galaxy!

Undoubtedly, it reached its nadir during “The Rise of Skywalker”. Here, Disney’s storyline made a startling pivot to undermine Anakin Skywalker’s sacrifice by keeping Emperor Palpatine alive and eventually killed by Rey. This modification in plot resulted in significant backlash from disappointed fans.

In addition to this narrative upset, controversies surrounding the “Star Wars” universe have further escalated after actress Gina Carano was fired seemingly due to her politically divergent views. She has since announced suing Disney and Lucasfilm.

Lastly, actor Mark Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker, expressed his disapproval regarding his character’s latest depiction saying it didn’t align with his understanding of the character. This strikes another blow at Disney’s handling of beloved characters and storylines.

Contrary to commissioning writers who might correlate real news about world politics with the happenings in this fantastic galaxy far far away, it seems there is an urgent need for people who inherently understand the delicate nature of fantasy storytelling which satisfies a global fan base.

As it stands today, unless Disney revisits its sequel trilogy absolving these contentious decisions, they risk leaving an indelible stain on the story of Anakin Skywalker – quintessential to every “Star Wars” narrative experienced by fans from a Christian worldview or any viewpoint for that matter. To devout followers, such actions seem near unredeemable.