Star Wars Needs To Copy DC In One Important Way

For this comparison between Star Wars and DC to make much sense, we need to contextualize what’s happening with superhero cinema. In the wake of one high-profile flop after another, the DCEU was put out of its misery, but not before Warner Bros. released successful films outside of that universe. Thanks to their positive critical reception and healthy box office numbers, both The Batman and Joker films are getting sequels that will, like their predecessors, be completely disconnected from any existing cinematic universe. 

At this point, nothing in the galaxy is keeping Disney from taking Star Wars in the same direction as DC, and it’s a direction that might finally calm some of the crazier elements of the fandom down. For example, some fans hate The Acolyte so much they are threatening to leave the fandom altogether over such minor issues as Ki-Adi-Mundi’s age getting retconned. While I will forever be skeptical that these are real opinions and not just parroted points from YouTube, the fact remains that Disney could make these lore debates a non-issue by intentionally releasing non-canonical films and shows.

Aside from theoretically taking the wind out of the culture wars, how could Star Wars benefit from copying the DC formula? In short, filmmakers and showrunners could create their own separate universes in which they can borrow, ignore, or remix as much of the existing canon as they want. Countless fans would love to pretend the Sequel Trilogy never happened, and this might be the perfect compromise, allowing for future stories in which Rey and Kylo Ren just don’t exist.

If Star Wars took DC’s idea of non-canonical content to heart, the sky’s the limit: we could finally get movies and shows featuring fan-favorite characters like Mara Jade and Talon Karrde. We could also get adaptations of the Star Wars Infinities comics which imagined how different things would have turned out if, say, Luke Skywalker failed to blow up the Death Star. Honestly, I’d be a happy camper if we got a Wraith Squadron comedy show complete with that Ewok X-Wing pilot.

Another benefit of Star Wars following in DC’s footsteps is that we could finally have movies and shows that exist primarily to tell great stories instead of setting up the next big television event. Right now, the endless focus on canon restricts creators: they have to be very careful not to disturb existing lore while also not disturbing Disney’s next dozen Star Wars projects. By allowing for non-canonical films and shows, Disney could give freedom back to those creators while encouraging audiences to judge something new on its own merits rather than how well it adheres to an old, dog-eared book of Star Wars trivia. 

As I write this, I’m keenly aware that both The Batman 2 and Joker 2 could be major flops, but that’s kind of the point: those filmmakers get to take big, creative swings, and if the public doesn’t enjoy Joker and Lady Gaga singing, they can go back to enjoying whoever inevitably puts on the clown costume in the DCU. Star Wars copying DC by creating non-canonical content means that everyone gets a bit of what they want, and Disney can revive beloved Legends stories and characters while still forging ahead with something new.

Plus, let’s be real … Disney couldn’t even create a cohesive plan for a single trilogy of films after paying billions for the franchise. They were never going to be good keepers of the canon. They can, however, be good keepers of the flame who bring new fans in by doing what the franchise once did best: throwing both caution and canon to the wind and finally taking some creative chances again.