Han and Chewie: The Early Years
If George Lucas needs any more money, here is my movie idea for him: Make a movie about Han Solo and Chewbacca in their early years. How did a Wookie prince become a smuggler? How did he meet Han? How did Han win the Millennium Falcon from Lando? In my imagination, the movie would be more in the spirit of Raiders of the Lost Ark rather than the most recent star wars movie, putting the emphasis on adventure and action over special effects, Republic politics, and endless light-saber fights. The only real challenge would be casting the young Han Solo part -- who would be willing to try to replace Harrison Ford?
Does anyone doubt that this would make a fortune, particularly if you teamed Lucas with someone to do the writing? The series would easily lend itself to a serial format, with multiple episodes, though in that format it might make a better TV show than movie.
PS- I got started thinking about this because I saw Star Wars III again this weekend. As an update to my review: it did not wear very well. The back third from the (attempted) arrest of Palpatine forward was still engaging, but the front half actually had me squirming in my seat. The dialog still sucks, the initial mission sequence still makes no sense, and the battle with General Grievous is still just one more gratuitous light saber battle and chase scene.
