JJ Abrams to Reboot Prequel Trilogy Using Real Sets and Practical Effects!

We heard this through the grapevine from Jacen’s cousin Marvin! JJ Abrams is in talks with Disney to reboot the Prequel Trilogy following the conclusion of Episode IX. Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy thinks it’s a great idea, and Disney’s Bob Iger and Alan Horn seem very interested! More details after the jump!
The confirmed slate of Star Wars films includes 2015’s The Force Awakens, the untitled Episodes VIII and IX in 2017 and 2019 respectively, and anthology films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016, the untitled young Han Solo prequel in 2018, and a third anthology film with a mystery topic and setting in 2020.

Following the third anthology film, which we’ve heard is based on the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi set between Episodes III and IV, will be JJ Abrams’ brand new Prequel Trilogy beginning with his interpretation of Episode I – The Phantom Menace. For those of you unaware, JJ was a huge fan of The Clone Wars TV series, so he will be bringing Dave Filoni on board to help sculpt a new Prequel Trilogy and bring fan favorite Clone Wars characters onto the big screen.

Filoni said he was thrilled to be brought into the project and will do his best to make Uncle George proud. While some fans would do away with certain characters such as Jar Jar Binks, Watto, or Captain Panaka, JJ and Filoni will be embracing them and making them more likable. He will also be doing other characters more justice. Darth Maul, who was JJ’s favorite prequel character, will be given more screen time and a role of higher importance throughout the entire Prequel Trilogy, Count Dooku will be a Jedi giving information to Darth Sidious before becoming his apprentice following the “death” of Maul. Maul on the other hand will go on to reveal himself as the true antagonist of the Prequel films and attempt to overtake Palpatine with his newly formed Sith spin-off band called, the “Knights of Ren.” Since the death of Christopher Lee will certainly impact the films, Ian McKellen has signed on to portray Count Dooku in hopes of bringing the character to life the same his late friend did.

Most of the original main cast will be brought back to reprise their roles, or take on new, more age-appropriate ones, including Hayden Christiansen, Ewan McGreggor, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Liam Neeson, Ahmed Best, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison, Jimmy Smits, Ray Park, Matthew Wood, Jake Lloyd, and Silas Carson.

Sam Witwer and Ashley Eckstein will also join the cast as Jedi Galen Marek and Ahsoka Tano respectively. For those of you wondering, Marek will not be the same as his character in The Force Unleashed, rather re-imagined as a high ranking council member. Lucasfilm will soon be casting other characters including Caleb Dume, a young padawan who grows up to be the Rebels hero, Kanan Jarrus.

From what we are hearing from Jacen’s cousin’s Lucasfilm contacts, the storyline will greatly follow the original prequel films but with JJ’s added flair for real sets and practical effects, as well as tie-ins with newer Star Wars media such as The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the Sequel Trilogy.

We here at Faking Star Wars are very excited for this announcement and we will report more info as we learn it.