Template:CUSWFN/XVIII FU

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{| style="border: 1px solid #000000; padding: 1em; margin: auto" bgcolor="#A8A8B5" align=center The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Fanon Newsletter  Volume Edition XVIII - August, 2008  Hello, , and, once more, the CUSWFN is here to greet you right at your doorstep, for August, 2008!
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The Chosen One

 * Written by Drewton

Brandon Rhea has recently completed a redone Chapter Five and Chapter 17 of his excellent redone version of The Phantom Menace, The Chosen One, and has taken the time to answer some questions on his story.

When did you first start writing Star Wars fan-fiction?

It was in late 2004. A few of us on TF.N formed a site called Sequel-Trilogy.co.uk (now .Net). The basis was to pretend as if Episodes 4, 5 and 6 were not released yet, and only 1-3 had been. We'd be putting out fake press releases, interviews, spoilers, etc. using what we all know about the original trilogy. But, unlike SuperShadow, we were acknowledging that this was pretend and just for fun. Needless to say, this idea crashed and burned, but one idea did still remain, and that was the prospect of rewriting Episodes 4-6. The base question being, "How would the original three movies had been written if there had been modern day special effects?"

Did you have any legal problems with Lucasfilm?

Not prominent enough. Besides, they don't care about fan fiction. So continuing, I was working with Gregg Tasoulas, his online name being Ker-Soth, and we began coming up with ideas for an "Alternate Trilogy". We ended up disagreeing with how to do it and split into our own separate series’s.

Were you planning to completely remaster the special effects of the OT?

This was fan fiction. It was all written; no video stuff. However, some of his BASIC plot ideas still remain in my work.

So you looked at even minor BTS info for the OT, such as the Stormtroopers coming through the roof instead of the wall on the Tantive IV?

Let me finish first, please. For example, it was his idea to have a character named Kane Starkiller, he came up with the original name "Dark Guards of the Lettow" (now Dark Guardians of Lettow) and he wanted to have a group called the "Bendu". But our ideas on those differed. Just as one example, he wanted the Bendu to be a group of Force Ghosts; I wanted them to be a religious group. So we went our separate ways, and I ended up expanding into the Alternative Star Wars Saga. All of this was between December 04 and, say, March 2005.

When you decided to insert Darth Plagueis into Chapter 1 of The Chosen One, were you considering otherwise because of wanting to leave him a mystery, or did you have no doubts with the decision?

I had no doubts. It's a highly important plot point in the saga.

Are there any plans to have Qui-Gon Jinn survive TCO, or can you not say yet?

Won't say. I don't want to ruin the suspense. But I will say this: "survive" is interpretive.

Are you planning to base plot points of Episode II and III, which you’ve said is your favourite of the series, on the actual movies like you have with the first so far, or are you creating a completely new story?

Of this trilogy, Episode I is the only one that is similar to its canon counterpart. Episode III obviously shares basic themes and plots, but in terms of the overall story Episode II and Episode III are totally unique.

Will we be seeing the Clone Wars by the end of TCO?

The Clone Wars series takes place between Episode I and Episode II.

'''How different will your version of the Original Trilogy be? A new story, or basically the same with updates that better connect it to the Prequels?'''

There will actually be two trilogies after this first one. Interestingly enough, the original Episode IV will be the basis for Episode 7, Episode 5 being Episode 8, and Episode 6 being Episode 9. My episodes 4, 5 and 6 are totally unique. But as for 7-9, they will be based on the Original Trilogy, but also following my Episodes 1-6, so obviously there will be some key differences. Episode 9 will be the most different of the three.

'''Sounds excellent, I was unaware of that before. I'd thought that EP 7-9 would be post-ROTJ.'''

There won't be "episodes" or anything past Episode 9. Like with Lucas, "Episode" is going to be just for the story of Annikin Skywalker.

Will Admiral Thrawn appear in any episodes?

No decision on that has been made, but it’s certainly possible.

Did consider any other titles for Episode I besides The Chosen One and The Phantom Menace?

I asked around and got opinions from people, but nothing else felt right. The Chosen One was the one I was always the most fond of, but I started with The Phantom Menace only because it's a pretty cool title and has a great deal of meaning. However, as I developed the story further, The Chosen One was the clear choice and the one that fit the best. Things such as the Ophuchi storyline and parts of the novel that are still to come confirm this.

I like The Chosen One much more too, though the title doesn't just fit Episode I (I assume).

The Chosen One not only refers to the prophecy itself, but also to the coming of age and maturity storyline that Annikin will be going through in the remainder of the novel.

Are you able to say yet what titles you’re considering for Episode II?

I've already selected a title for Episode II. I won't reveal it, but it might *Dawn* on you eventually. Take that as you will.

'''Ah... Are there any plans to add a Han Solo-like character into the PT?'''

Yes, there are plans. Both in the Clone Wars series and the episodes.

'''Have you thought about him being portrayed by Hugh Laurie? ;) To me, he screams "Solo" in the House series.'''

It won't be him, unfortunately.

'''Right. Will we see more, less, or the same amount of the politics that were in The Phantom Menace in future chapters?'''

More. Much more. The last chapter I wrote alludes to this with the thing about Valorum's supposed sex scandal. Writing assumes you saw that Chapter Seventeen went up.

'Also, currently the Episode II'' article says that it will be released in Summer, 2008. This needs to be corrected, right?'''

Very much so.

Unless if you can finish Episode I and II in a few days...

And have my other writer finish the Clone Wars series between then, lol.

'''How positive have others been for using the name Mace Windy instead of Mace Windu? Mixed?'''

Mixed. Some like that it hearkens back to to the original drafts. Others thing it sounds stupid. I'm of the former, which is why I chose it.

I could be completely oblivious this, but wasn't Star Wars originally titled the Adventures of Luke Skywalker/Starkiller in the original drafts?

There was a series of titles, let me walk you through them. So there was Journal of the Whills, The Star Wars: Story Synopsis, The Star Wars: Rough Draft (note *The* Star Wars), Adventures of the Starkiller, Episode I: The Star Wars, and then that eventually was rewritten into what we know as A New Hope. And the main characters name went through changes like Deak Starkiller, Kane Starkiller, Annikin Starkiller, Anakin Starkiller, Luke Starkiller and then eventually Luke Skywalker.

And Luke Skywalker was originally also Leia.

Indeed. Someone's done their homework :P

'''LOL, not me, just the person who added that to Wookieepedia. Will Dooku’s relationship with Obi-Wan work as a new side story for Episodes II and III?'''

Yes.

Was Anakin named Annikin because of a personal preference for the name or because you think it would be such if Episode I had been made first?

The former. It was Vic who convinced me to do it. More can be found about it in the BtS at Annikin Skywalker.

'''I've read the story, but I admit I haven't read very much BTS for it yet. A slightly more random question: Who’s your favourite character in the Star Wars universe?'''

Obi-Wan Kenobi.

I was just about to say except for Kyle Katarn, but it wasn't him anyway...

Lol.

Which do you prefer: the six films, or the expanded universe?

The films. Most of the EU is garbage, especially after Zhan's stuff Post-ROTJ. And Anderson's stuff, he's good too. But starting with like Junior Jedi Knights, and on to NJO and beyond is awful. The Republic Commando stuff in the ROTE era pisses me off. And don't forget Dark Empire...good God.

'''I liked LOTF when I first read it because I'd skipped to there from Heir to the Empire, but not after I read more about Jacen. I liked the Darth Caedus story, but not after finding what Jacen was really like before. He was completely ruined.'''

Yeah. And I found it to be an Anakin Skywalker ripoff. "I'm doing what my grandfather did just, you know, better imo!"

'''And the Republic Commando books are Karen Traviss' sandbox where she can add anything Mandalorian she wants. She's a great writer, but she needs to leave out all of the Mando stuff. More than half of Revelation was taken up by Mandalorians.'''

And she just continues to fuel the fire of her mutant Fandalorian spawns who have taken the place of Trekkies who speak Klingons in the "Who's the bigger nerd competition".

'''LOL. Will the Clone Wars last for three years, longer, or shorter in your series?'''

About three years.

'Did you get any inspiration after seeing The Dark Knight''? If you saw it. Or is that just an odd and random question?'''

It's a valid question, but there were no changes after seeing it.

'''Right. Just asking since it's what inspired me to write my own PT. I decided to make Anakin more like Batman, and make the battle droids more like HK-47. Though I suppose this is off-topic for this interview.'''

Lol.

Are you going to put anything from The Force Unleashed into your episodes, or even cameos?

Funny you should mention that. The character that I have, Kane Starkiller, has similarities with Starkiller from TFU. But I came up with it in early 2005; they just released theirs now. So I didn't take those elements from there.

'''So they really based Starkiller off of Kane Starkiller, eh? ;)'''

I'm not saying anything, lol :P

'''Anyways, I believe that's all the questions. Thank you for your time, Brandon.'''

''CUSWFN edition XVIII CUSWFN EXIII''
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