Star Wars’ Next Movie Could Finally Give Us Villains Better Than the Sith

The movie titled “Star Wars: Starfighter” is set to premiere in 2027, and while specifics about the plot are scarce, it presents a prime chance for the “Star Wars” universe to venture beyond the realm of the Sith. Traditionally, the main “Star Wars” films have focused on characters learning to become Jedi, making dark side adversaries like the Sith a logical opposition. However, the sequel trilogy opted to reintroduce the Sith, despite their defeat at the end of “Return of the Jedi.

Some “Star Wars” devotees felt disgruntled when this went against the Chosen One prophecy, which foretold that Anakin Skywalker would annihilate the Sith and restore harmony to the Force. Although the prophecy’s interpretation was often contested within the narrative, Emperor Palpatine’s resurrection somewhat weakens Anakin’s self-sacrifice and the relentless efforts of Luke Skywalker and the rebels in overthrowing the Empire. Even Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren bore such a striking resemblance to the Sith that it made little difference whether they acknowledged their connection to them or not.

In the upcoming Starfighter series, which takes place several years following Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the franchise could introduce fresh adversaries beyond the Sith. Although it appears that dark side villains might remain relevant, they won’t be identical to those seen previously. Whatever the theme of Starfighter may be, it is essential for the Star Wars universe to have antagonists, and a future project offers the greatest opportunity to innovate and experiment with something new.

Star Wars: Starfighter Is Clearly Still About The Force

The logo looks very similar to the Jedi Order symbol

The specific details about the storyline of Starfighter remain undisclosed, yet a brief teaser trailer suggests the Force will play a role. As the Star Wars emblem emerges, the beam of light bears a striking resemblance to the Jedi Order’s symbol. Although it might be an understated hint that this Star Wars film is venturing beyond the Jedi, I find it hard to believe they would emphasize the Jedi symbol in such a way unless it has significance for the plot.

It can be reasonably inferred that Ryan Gosling’s character is likely to possess Force sensitivity and serve as a skilled pilot. This choice would be strategic given Star Wars’ tradition of characters who use the Force to excel at piloting, offering rich narrative possibilities. Additionally, his character could become a potential member of Rey’s New Jedi Order, linking the films following Rise of Skywalker.

In essence, if the storyline of Starfighter were to unfold, it might resemble the character arc of Corran Horn from the Star Wars Legends Expanded Universe. Initially, he was introduced as a New Republic pilot in the Star Wars: X-Wing book series. However, his journey took an unexpected turn when he joined Luke Skywalker’s New Jedi Order. The idea of watching a pilot, initially indifferent to the Force, evolve into a Jedi Master is intriguingly captivating and could make for an exciting cinematic experience.

If The Force Is Involved… We Need NEW Force-Sensitive Villains

A Star Wars hero is only as good as their villain

If Gosling’s character is a Force-wielding pilot, this opens up an opportunity to introduce more villains who are also Force-sensitive, apart from the Sith. While the Sith are well-known dark side antagonists in Star Wars, the series has introduced many other dark side factions, both in the current storyline and the expanded universe. It’s intriguing to explore their distinct beliefs, strategies, and objectives, employing the Force in unconventional ways.

In the sequel trilogy of Star Wars, the Knights of Ren were introduced with a more detailed backstory involving the dark side, which has been further explored in the Marvel Star Wars comics. Meanwhile, the live-action Ahsoka series has introduced Dark Jedi Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, who share similar ruthless tendencies to Sith Lords but exhibit distinct personalities. Additionally, the Nightsisters, who employ dark magic to manipulate the Force and raise an undead army, have made their return in live-action through this series.

Lately, Andor has hinted at the Rakatan Infinite Empire from the Star Wars Legends, a fierce warrior species who once dominated the galaxy even before the Republic was established. There are several dark side factions to choose from in this scenario, but Starfighter can always invent something original. Just as there are numerous real-world religions, philosophies, and organizations, there’s an endless variety of ways Star Wars could explore the Force and its applications.

It’s Time To Move Beyond The Sith

Evil can always take a different form

Although it’s clear that many of us are fond of the Sith, it seems fitting for Star Wars to introduce fresh antagonists in the galaxy’s upcoming stories. Some might argue that making the Sith the villains in the sequel trilogy was a misstep, but this decision was made before Disney acquired the franchise. Even the expanded timeline (Legends) eventually reintroduced the Sith several times, leading inevitably back to the age-old Jedi vs. Sith struggle that characterized earlier storytelling phases.

In an ironic twist, this shows how the Star Wars universe can continue to evolve and introduce fresh Force-wielding antagonists. Although the Expanded Universe reintroduced the Sith, it also featured various Sith factions, each with unique histories, philosophies, and strategies for domination. It was intriguing to explore different interpretations of what it meant to be a Sith. If Star Wars: Starfighter were to eliminate that limitation, we might encounter entirely new types of villains in future Star Wars stories.

2025-04-29 15:20