How would you change the new Star Wars trilogy

[Celebrim]

1) Show Leia as a Jedi with a lightsaber in TFA, and make it clear that the First Order considers both Skywalkers equally threatening. Give us some sort of motivation within the movie (and not just in the pre-movie scroll) why everyone wants to find Luke given that they have Leia as a perfectly viable alternative. Give Leia some sort of clear motive for wanting to find Luke, even if it turns out that she has ulterior motives later and isn't being fully truthful. In fact, give everyone some sort of clear motivation and have them behave according to their stated motivations in a logical manner, and it wouldn't be that bad of a movie.
2) Remove the entire scenario of the poison gas on the Falcon that goes nowhere, and the entire scenario of Han's smuggling the monsters and the Space Yakuza catching up to him that goes nowhere. Use that wasted screen time to develop the main plot and bring your main characters together.
3) Remove the entire Maz Kanata sequence which likewise doesn't develop the plot. Fill in with something relevant to the plot, like maybe Han visiting the ruins of the Jedi Academy on some mission for the Republic, and Rey finding the light saber there (where the audience wouldn't need a strong explanation why and you wouldn't need to lampshade it away).
4) Remove the 'Star Killer Base' (Death Star III) from TFA and really everything that rehashes the first Star Wars plot. Have the attack by the first order however you want to do it (massive missile bombardment? Self-replicating drone weapons? just anything original) be specifically an attack on Leia for which the damage to the New Republic fleet is only desirable collateral damage and have the conclusion directly tie into the evacuation/chase of the second movie so that isn't going to come out of nowhere.
5) Fix some massive plot holes in the first movie by having it revealed in TLJ that Rey was as a child a student in Luke's Jedi academy, and that she has been repressing memories of the time there. This explains how Rey was able to master the force so quickly, better explains Luke's reluctance to teach her, and makes use of all that foreshadowing that was abandoned by TLJ. It also much sets up better Rey's interactions with Kylo Ren if it is revealed by flashback that they were once friends.
6) Do not beclown your villains or use them as comic relief.
7) Stage a real space battle that makes use of all 3 dimensions and which is visually compelling. Make clear that many Rebel ships fled in many different directions, but that mysteriously the whole First Order fleet tracked only Leia's ship and its escorts. Make the chase longer with multiple frantic jumps and some feeling of energy and tension to it, similar to what BSG did with the classic '33'.
8) Reshoot the Leia blasted into space scene in a way that is more dynamic and less disbelief suspending. Make it obvious that she is trying to use the force to build a bubble of air and debris around herself using force abilities the viewer could extrapolate from what they know. In other words, make her look cool, but not inexplicable invulnerable.
8) Remove Holdo and replace her part with Admiral Ackbar.
9) Explain the breakdown in trust among the New Republic crew that Ackbar believes, quite reasonably, that the reason that they are being tracked is that a traitor (likely Finn) has placed a tracking device on Leia's ship. This, and not Poe's prior mutiny (which would be removed as a subplot entirely), is the source of the internal tension and conflict between the heroes.
10) Remove Canto Blight. Spend that time developing the relationship between Luke and Rey and/or making the chase tense and exciting.
11) Don't make Finn into a Jar Jar Binks that is through his ineptness responsible for the deaths of so many people that he's practically a villain. Or at least, don't do that if you expect the viewer to be sympathetic to him.
12) Have Luke defeat and thwart Yoda rather than Yoda defeat and thwart Luke. Show that Luke has now exceeded Yoda in power and wisdom, and allow him to make pointed, meaningful, and correct attacks on the failures of the Jedi as guardians of the galaxy (and for that matter on the Sith). Have him suggest that he has ultimately found a better way, a way taught to him Owen and Beru, his sister, and his friends, and which is the way that he defeated Vader.
13) Come up with some better reason why Luke's original academy failed, one that explains Snoke, the Knights of Ren, and all the rest and which is tied to the themes built up by the six prior movies and not something inexplicable and vague about his nephew that makes Luke - the same Luke that saw good in Vader - murderous. Maybe for example Luke was too trusting and too willing to see good in people.

 

[Vael]

I've seen a lot of calls to kill the Canto Blight sequence. And while it's not my favourite part, it is pretty integral to both Finn and Rose's character growth and thematically. It expands the universe in interesting ways, because it shows a part of galactic society that we have not seen before, the wealthy that manage to enrich themselves regardless of what is happening in the galaxy. So I am curious, what replaces it? What are Finn and Rose doing in TLJ?

 

[Zardnaar]

They basically just repeat Finn's Arc from TFA.

Rose is fairly pointless as a character. Build on what Finn already did in TFA and have Rose in whatever replaces Canto Bight.

TLJ script for written at roughly the same time as TFA. It's why Finn goes from coward to hero twice.

And learns to pilot off camera as well apparently.

 

[Vael]

They basically just repeat Finn's Arc from TFA.

Rose is fairly pointless as a character. Build on what Finn already did in TFA and have Rose in whatever replaces Canto Bight.

TLJ script for written at roughly the same time as TFA. It's why Finn goes from coward to hero twice.

And learns to pilot off camera as well apparently.

"Coward to Hero" is a poor and reductive summary. It's also inaccurate. His refusal to kill and breaking out Poe at the beginning of TFA are not exactly actions of a coward. He is, however, a character without connections, without faith. He has renounced the First Order, who has dominated his life. So he desperately wants to get away from them. The first connections he forges are with Poe, who he thinks is dead, and Rey. And those lead him to be willing to fight to save Rey, but he hasn't made a larger declaration by the end of TFA. He's not Resistance yet.

So, at the beginning of TLJ, he wakes up in the same spot. Rey is alone, and possibly in danger, so he wants to save her again. He has no faith in the Resistance, though. Again, not a coward, just a man without hope, without a cause outside of "save my friend". But enter Rose Tico. She mentors Finn, shows him the broader universe, why the Resistance is important. Because just getting by makes you either DJ, or one of those wealthy weapon dealers that frequents the casino. He sees them through Rose's eyes and is repelled. That's why he can proudly tell Phasma that he's "rebel scum".

Rose is the moral center of the movie. She joined the Resistance and is just a maintenance worker, but she understands why and what the Resistance is fighting for, and teaches Finn that.

 

[Zardnaar]

"Coward to Hero" is a poor and reductive summary. It's also inaccurate. His refusal to kill and breaking out Poe at the beginning of TFA are not exactly actions of a coward. He is, however, a character without connections, without faith. He has renounced the First Order, who has dominated his life. So he desperately wants to get away from them. The first connections he forges are with Poe, who he thinks is dead, and Rey. And those lead him to be willing to fight to save Rey, but he hasn't made a larger declaration by the end of TFA. He's not Resistance yet.

So, at the beginning of TLJ, he wakes up in the same spot. Rey is alone, and possibly in danger, so he wants to save her again. He has no faith in the Resistance, though. Again, not a coward, just a man without hope, without a cause outside of "save my friend". But enter Rose Tico. She mentors Finn, shows him the broader universe, why the Resistance is important. Because just getting by makes you either DJ, or one of those wealthy weapon dealers that frequents the casino. He sees them through Rose's eyes and is repelled. That's why he can proudly tell Phasma that he's "rebel scum".

Rose is the moral center of the movie. She joined the Resistance and is just a maintenance worker, but she understands why and what the Resistance is fighting for, and teaches Finn that.

So Finn pulling out a lightsaber on Max's planet and facing down Kylo and getting severely wounded means he is a coward 2.0 in TLJ?

Finn had already done the wants to run and hide thing. He became a hero in TFA.

Roses Arc as such isn't only pointless it undermines Finn's character as established in the previous movie.

See the growth of say Han, Luke and Leia in the OT. Each movie they have grown, Finn goes backwards.

Rose doesn't need to explain why they fight. It was already established in the previous movie.

TLJ screwed Finn, RoS screwed Rose.

 

[Mallus]

OK. Let me try again. Minor edits go!

TFA - this is an unambitious film that works splendidly despite it's modest derivative aim. So only minor changes.
1. Include scenes on the Republic capital on Hosnian Prime (some where actually shot, I believe).
2. Have the destruction of said capital being broadcast to the galaxy, not visible to the naked eye. The FO shoots its on the day of a big public ceremony christening the new New Republic fleet. God that was easy.
3. Show the Kyber crystal core of Starkiller Planet. That would be cool.
4. Have the plan be to the shatter said crystal core. The ground team's job would be to disable the weapons array along the 3000 mile long tunnel leading to the core.
5. Either Finn and Rey or Finn and Poe kiss at the end (I'm a sucker for love stories!).

TLJ - overall, this is a very well constructed movie, but if had to tweak it.
1. Reframe the slow-speed space chase so it more explicitly mirrors the Falcon's escape from Hoth in ESB. The FO has an Interdictor (sp?) class destroyer. It's preventing the Resistance fleet from jumping to hyperspace. Sublight chase ensues.
2. Change Finn's story so it's unambiguous he's not running away. He tries to steal an X-wing, maybe?
3. Replace Canto Bight with someplace more visually interesting. Finn, Rose, and Poe take one of the only hyperdrive shuttles (mirror scene in ESB where the Falcon pretends to be trash) to Nar Shadaa to rescue a trapped Maz, who can then break them onto the Interdictor ship so they can sabotage it.
4. Keep the same themes as Canto Bight, but lose the space horses and FX-heavy scenes. Replace with caper-movie wretched hive of scum and villainy banter. Bonus points: introduce Poe's shady background here.
5. DJ is a criminal on Nar Shadaa. Helps them get Maz and get out. Arrested later by FO and rats them out.
6. Holdo's plan is the same. Sublight crawl to Crait. When 'true fans' bitch, point out this is the same as the Falcon traveling to Bespin.
7. Finn, Rose, and Maz break onto FO ship after dropping Poe off onto the Raddus to mutiny, badly.
8. Last act the same. Because it's nearly perfect!

RoS - not the movie I would have made, so I can't think of much.
1. Slow the first 30 or so minutes down. I swear JJ filmed it at 24 scenes per second.
2. Actually follow a group of the heroes rallying the galaxy, instead of fetch-questing. It's amazing how well the Not Fleet, People scene worked given how barely it was set up.
3. Give Rose more scenes. Also, Finn-Rose-Rey-Poe love triangle (maybe).

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So Finn pulling out a lightsaber on Max's planet and facing down Kylo and getting severely wounded means he is a coward 2.0 in TLJ?

Finn had already done the wants to run and hide thing. He became a hero in TFA.

Roses Arc as such isn't only pointless it undermines Finn's character as established in the previous movie.

See the growth of say Han, Luke and Leia in the OT. Each movie they have grown, Finn goes backwards.

Rose doesn't need to explain why they fight. It was already established in the previous movie.

TLJ screwed Finn, RoS screwed Rose.

Han was ready to ditch the rebels again in the beginning of Empire.

 

[Imaculata]

What I would do in general:

I would write a comprehensive draft of all 3 movies in the trilogy, before starting any filming. I would make sure that any plothooks that are left dangling in the first movie, have an answer to them that are set up and revealed in the last 2 movies and are set in stone.

I would also make sure the overal vision of the trilogy as a whole is consistent across all 3 movies. The best way to achieve this would probably be to have the same director for all 3 movies, or to at least have the same writers on all 3 movies and have the director(s) stick to that.

I would not let JJ Abrams write anything. He is a great director but a terrible writer. I would also not hire the same writer as Batman V Superman. Get competent writers.

I would make sure the second movie properly sets up the events of the third movie. If any new villains need do be introduced, the 2nd movie is the moment to do so.

I would not have the main plot revolve around another galactic super weapon. I would do something new.

I would make sure that actors that have great chemistry together, also have lots of scenes together throughout the trilogy.

I would keep the plot of Rey and Kylo switching sides and keeping them both in the moral gray. Their romance is fine. But I would also give Poe and Finn more to do in the plot. Their character arcs should come to a satisfying conclusion.

I would probably keep Snoke as the main villain throughout all 3 movies.

If any fans happen to guess the plot of the upcoming movies, I will NOT panic and change the plot because they guessed it correctly.

The Force Awakens:

I would take out the Starkiller Base plot and give Luke at least some lines. Everything else is just fine.

The Last Jedi:

I would rewrite the Canto Bight plot, so that Finn is actually trying to call for help on the casino planet, by trying to reach an important dish/antenna. This would allow rebel reinforcements from nearby planets to come to their aid. Instead of the slowest chase in history, I would have the First Order create a blockade that stops the rebels from escaping the system. The rebels hide away on Krait, unable to leave without being shot to pieces. The First Order then invades both Krait and Canto Bight, and a big fight on both planets follows with lots of walkers. I would take out Holdo entirely as a character, and not have this weird plot for Poe where he disobeys a direct command because they withhold their plan from him. More should be revealed about who Snoke is, and I would not have him die in this movie. I do like Kylo Ren's heel turn, but I would also have Rey turn away from the light side of the force. I would also involve the Knights of Ren and maybe have a big fight where Kylo and Rey fight side by side against the Knights of Ren; Sort of a combination between the fight we got in The Last Jedi, and the fight we got in Rise of Skywalker. It just fits better here. I would have Leia die in this movie, instead of Luke.

Also, no hyperspeed tracking nonsense.

The Rise of Skywalker:

No involvement of the emperor what so ever. But a new threat should be tackled and snoke should die at the end. I would also change Rey's parentage and maybe give Luke a big fight. No giant fleet of Star Destroyers conjured out of nowhere.

 

[Vael]

So Finn pulling out a lightsaber on Max's planet and facing down Kylo and getting severely wounded means he is a coward 2.0 in TLJ?

I don't consider Finn a coward, those are your words. I think it takes a fair amount of courage to rescue Poe in TFA, one of his first acts. I don't even think his actions at the beginning of TLJ when Rose catches him are an act of cowardice.

But what both Finn and Poe do suffer from in TLJ, is myopia. Finn only sees Rey, he thinks only about saving Rey. Poe sees an enemy ship in front of him, and he thinks taking it out will save lives. Neither are wrong, but what Leia, Rose and Holdo are trying to teach Finn and Poe is that they need to look up and see the bigger picture. Poe's story is learning to be more strategic than tactical. Finn is learning a similar lesson, but about the systems that allow the First Order to flourish in the first place and why the Resistance is important.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Oh, just "Special Edition" version. That is going to be difficult. I'll probably alter way too much to be realistically feasible.

Over all the Trilogy
I guess I'd want to do some "reshoots" to suggest Palpatine's return earlier.
Maybe have Ben and Rey both have a nightmare that involves Palpatine's "death".
Ben says something about "completing what his grandfather started" - show a hint that he has seen a vision or a force spirit of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker that reached him sometime after he turned against Luke and joined the First Order, realizing that it was actually Snoke/Palpatine manipulations that lead to it.

The scene where Luke is contempating to murder Ben - turn it into a nightmare they had, something both believed to be a force vision, but was actually Palpatine or Snoke's manipulation - it never really happened, but both were certain it would, and thus they were driven apart. Maybe Ben and Luke's vision is actually a mix of the vision fight on Hoth and the fight on the second Death Star, where Luke is attacking Vader in anger, before he realizes what the Emperor is trying to do.

I wish "The Force Awakens" meant something more. Maybe we can tie it in with Rey, with that broom-swinging kid, with Finn, and the Stormtroopers on Endor. Something to suggest that the Force is doing something new, becoming present in more people than before, maybe even becoming present in people that were not always sensitive to the force. A way to find the force even if you were not born into it, truly "democratizing" it.

The Last Jedi
The Canto scene might stay, but change a few details:
1) The not-Yoda-Woman-Whose-Name-I-Forgot is not in the middle of some action spectacle, but they are listened to by a spy droid or agent of the First Order (either on her end, on their end, or some in-between thing)
2) They don't get into trouble for wrong parking. First Order loyalists actually intervene, but the local law enforcement is a little underpowered to deal with them.

The Space Chase:
1) I would put in a scene where Poe points out that destroying that Dreadnought might have saved their asses. Holdo or Leia can still have a meaningful counter, like that it delayed their escape and might have allowed the enemy to locat ethem.
2) There isn't a novel hyperspace tracker device on the First Order ships. Options:
a) There is a novel Spy Droid aboard that sends hyperspace tracking information without them being able to detect the transmission. Once they realize this, Holdo secretly formulates her plan on how to use the connection of the droid and BB8/R2D2/C3PO (whatever Droid is at hand, I forgot) to set up her light speed crash, disabling some safeties on the other ship that would normally make such a thing impossible.
b) Ben/Snoke are tracking Leia with a new force technique.