Could Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Be a Big Screen Movie?

Posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is one of the few video games I’ve seen that immediately feels like a movie. I had the chance to watch someone play through the game while I was working, and I kept asking myself - why doesn’t George Lucas make this into a big screen movie?Force Unleashed project leader Haden Blackman tells the Los Angeles Times that “It’s not impossible.”

“Never say never. George [Lucas] has looked to tell new ‘Star Wars’ stories through the games and with the entire Star Wars Expanded Universe, and then he has also shown a willingness to let the characters come into the films. Look at Aayla Secura, a creation in the [Dark Horse] comic books who became part of the theatrical films.”

The Force Unleashed takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and tells the story of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, who is instructed to hunt down the remaining Jedi. Vader’s ultimate plan is to assassinate the Emperor. I’m not going to go further into the plot, because I would hate to ruin it for anyone. But if you’ve seen the commercials then you know that Starkiller learns the way of the Jedi and has an epic confrontation with Lord Vader.

One of the things that is great about the Unleashed story is that it takes place in the fringe of the Star Wars universe. Sure, some of the minor side characters make appearances, and there is a big cameo by Princess Leia, but for the most part the story avoids stepping on the original film’s toes. We are instead brought to places that we’ve always wanted to see within the Star Wars universe. And the ending inspires and compliments A New Hope without feeling like a forced/inserted plot point in star wars history (ala the Special Edition changes).

What do you think? Would The Force Unleashed make a good movie? Its certainly better than The Clone Wars, or any of the prequel films for that matter. But would George Lucas allow it?

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  • while were young, why not?...
  • charles
    It could have been but it's too late. In addition if Lucas is directing its not worth it. I don't hate Lucas but he suffers from extreme hubris. The film would be such a disater.
  • Albert Brodsky
    Alright, I've been hearing a lot about this lately on different sites, and I have to say that even though the game has some cool elements, overall the story has been pretty lame.

    SPOILERS:

    The dialog hasn't been great and the storyline has been a big "meh" to me. Not to mention that there is a fight with a robot who apparently can mimic powers of the force (allowing a lame excuse to bring back the most wasted character ever created by Lucas)

    The believability is out the window when Vader stabs his apprentice through the heart with a light saber, casts him into space, and somehow he survives.

    The female protagonist doesn't serve any purpose other than being eye candy for the main character to fall in love for no reason other than she's the only meat around.

    Sure, the idea of an anti-Luke raised in secret by Vader seems cool, but in it's current form, it's just not that compelling.
  • Indiefilm
    We have two issues

    A) Its a video game and no filmmaker in Hollywood has attempted to make a scene for scene adaptation of the video game. The creative team feels their ideas are far superior to the video game (for example Silent Hill) and everything goes sideways.

    B) At this point, if any Star Wars film is made, the film should separate itself from the prequel trilogy. If I had my hands on the property, the film would utilize mostly practical effects and return to the strength of strong character studies and well developed screenwriting.

    And no Star Wars movie should ever use bullet time.
  • Alberet: Obviously, the game would need to be developed more for a feature film adaptation. I don't think anyone expects a line by line faithful adaptation, because that wouldn't work.
  • Ian
    Star Wars TFU would make an incredible movie. The cinematics in the game were phenomenal, and using the force powers was awesome, altough the combat lacked a bit.

    My favorite shot was towards the end (slight spoilers) when Vader walks up to the apprentice on the ground. It was a low shot, and there was some fire in the shot that looked real. Plus you feel like a badass at the end of that game. the jedi ending of course.

    Anyways the story would make a great plot, and if you got the writers from the game to pen the screenplay, and either lucas producing or directing, it would be good. I would like to see a fresh face direct a live action star wars film though.

    Ian
  • kheas
    i finished the game and i have to say, this is the Star Wars "prequel" we have always hoped for but were unfortunately denied. If they had forgone Episode 1 and finished with this as Episode 3 then the prequel trilogy may have been saved of it's shame. But, alas, George had already blown it and it its too late for redemption, even for a man who's every plot line revolves around that word.
    Damn good game though, I'm happy that George has allowed for this story to be concidered cannon. Bully for him!
  • REAL6
    Damn i would love for him to makee it. As much as we all hate George Lucas for Ep I, II & III, let him do this. I really wish he could do Heir to the Empire or whatever it was called. Timothy Zahn Trilogy. That was so fucking awesome!!! Ford, Fisher and Hamel are too old now.

    But this is good. Let George just Edit and ex produce it. Have a good director direct unless its a really dope script then let George Helm. If he loves Star Wars so much, give us a few more movies before you pass away (God forbid)
  • ungabunga
    Without having played the game and being still spoiler-free, what are the chances this could be the focus, or at least an aspect of, the live-action TV series? The timeline is right, I guess very few familiar faces, and they modeled the character after a solid, unknown TV actor. Maybe not a show *about* the Apprentice, but could he be a part of it?
  • Meli
    I liked The Force Unleash I've been watching/playing with my brother and it has some cool story elements. Of course has a video game story it is not completely fleshed out, but it's a good side story.

    As for new SW movies - make Heir to the Empire byTimothy Zahn and if it does well continue with the other two books. I would LOVE see Grand Admiral Thrawn brought to the screen. Mara Jade and Talon Karrde are good characters too.

    I would even like to see the first Rogue Squadron series written by Michael Stackpole as movies those would be a lot of fun!
  • Goobity
    Why couldn't these characters be explored in the live action Star Wars tv show - set between Episodes III & IV - due to come out next year?
    I'm betting some of them will...
  • krackajap
    IMO, Knights of the Old Republic would make a MUCH better movie than that game. The dialog is great and the story is fantastic. It would also provide the much needed history of the Star Wars universe, which I feel the prequels should have done. Right now it's as if history started at WW2.

    KotOR also had one of the most epic twists ever.
  • kfizz
    I think it should only tie in to the tv show a bit. since it takes place in the same time frame.
  • digitalet
    I've read the book, and I would LOVE to see this as a movie, Lucas should let someone else direct though, it has to be dark, and evil and I just don't think Lucas has that in him. He wants to maintain a kid friendly universe and thats not what the Sith are about at all.
  • Iron Matt
    This movie needs to be made. Witwer is awesome.
  • Christopher Marc
    If Lucas is allowing horrible CGI cartoons to be released..anything is possible..I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan..I think Empire is the only solid movie out of the six...Force Unleashed seems like it could be another Empire if done properly...As long as Lucas is only a producer I'm all for it....considering most of the voice actors could be cast in the live-action and a script could be developed easily
  • Ian Blake
    Just made the movie pliz
  • My guess is we won't see another live action Star Wars film for quite a while, if ever. If this gets made, it will be animated like Clone Wars.
  • slee77
    Ummm why not make this one and based off it's success make Shadows of The Empire based around Dash Rendar:) Now THAT would be a great movie!!
  • We all need to stop dreaming before George Lucus decided so follow our advice and then ruin all expectations.

    Notice how all the stories he not directly involved with rule? He needs to step aside and let some kick-ass directors and writers take the world he's created and actually make a good movie out of it.
  • slee77
    @.sean
    I agree as long as the story does not directly involve his core group of story i.e. The Skywalkers he should open it up for others to play in that universe. Some great things could happen at that point!
  • muffin
    Sure it could, but that doesn't mean that it should...
  • jj gonzo
    I think the fu would be a total kick ass movie!!!
    It is not 1985 mr.lucas, We still need star wars
    to keep going!! the CLONE WARS movie was a "bomb", but
    personally I love ALL the star wars movies!
    how about visting the world of LEGACY
    (for those of you that don't know ,LEGACY
    takes place 125 years after the events of JEDI
    and features all new charcters (and some familiar
    ones!!!) and is one bad ass comic and it's just
    as good as any STAR WARS movie!!! pick it up!!!
  • MoparSRT
    How about an opening mini series for the proposed live action TV show? Though the video game story was lacking in some aspects, the novel provided plenty of back story to round it out. The Force Unleashed story serves as a good bridge from Episode III to Episode IV, along with continuing the theme of the Sith turning on each other and establishing Vader's plan to over throw the Empire.
  • GregoryV
    Why not? As long George Lucas doesn't direct it and doesn't have cheesy comedy relief. But I see it as a serious, hardcore attention to detail type anime film.
  • alan
    Im all for a force unleashed movie, and to Albert, he doesnt stab him in the heart he stabs him in the stomache, also hes a jedi he can probobly survivie in space for a little bit. of course they would have to fix some things but the force unleashed movie would be so sweet
  • Really?

    George Lucas didn't have much participation in the creation of the story and development of the game. The team would send him a list of requests and he would either check Yes or No.

    So, No.
  • I wish people went into the Prequels with the open mind with which they went into the Force Unleashed (or, at the very least, went into The Force Unleashed with the ridiculous expectations they had for the Prequels).

    If so, they would realize that this game (in terms of gameplay, as a narrative, and as the latest Star Wars gaming title) is just not that great.
  • Wall•E Plays Pong
    How about no more crappy Star Wars movies. The classic trilogy and the prequels were as far as they needed to go. Lucas didn't even need the prequels, but now we've got the clone wars, potentially this . . . just stop driving the franchise in the ground already on film. As a videogame, great. As a tv series, fine. Just no more films. We have the ones we need.
  • Chris
    In response to Albert way up there,

    the apprentice does die. Vader tells him why he had to kill him - he then retrieved the body and restored him to life much like the Emperor rebuilt him. Sure it's stupid, but Ewoks defeated imperial troops with sticks and stones. I will admit, Proxxy imitating force powers is even more far fetched though. Personally, I think it would have made a much better movie than say, Episode 1... although the Phantom Menace did have some cool aspects - Darth Maul and Qui Gon Jin...
  • Iron Matt
    I would also like to point out how epic it would be to see the Star Destroyer be brought down with the force ON FILM, as opposed to playing that ridiculously difficult segment.

    Granted there would be some parts that would need retooling for a proper film, and definitely more development for the plot and supporting cast (a la Juno and Kota), but this could be a potentially great story.
  • krackajap
    has no one played KotOR?
  • fex
    I'd love to see this as a movie. Sam Witwer is crazy talented.
  • theGinna
    Way to go with the spoilers Peter!

    "I’m not going to go further into the plot, because I would hate to ruin it for anyone."

    ...

    "...and there is a big cameo by Princess Leia".
  • Mike in L.A.
    Sure, why not! I'm sure that deep, down inside of George Lucas' noggin he is questioning himself and his handling of the prequel trilogy. The first one was muddled and disappointing at best, the 2nd & 3rd films were better however not up to the original trilogies lofty entertainment achievement levels. This would be his way to make what appears to be a ready-made good script that just needs to be fleshed out and appeal to the legions of fans of 'the dark side'. Personally I would much rather see him work on Star Wars 7 (part 3 ½) rather than Indy-5 or the Red Tails movie he is doing. He probably felt a bit boxed in writing the prequels as he did need to fit timelines, characters, etc into what we all saw the future would bring to his fantasy world. This would be a way he could step out a bit and explore the fringes of the star wars galaxy and hopefully cap off an exciting franchise that lost a bit of luster the last decade or so...
  • Eric R.
    Well, I've read both the book and played the whole game to the end. I too believe that this would make a very interesting story. I would pay money to see it. The only advice I would give is to keep Lucas from altering any part of it. For God sakes George, let someone else bring their creative juices to the screen.
  • Oh God, no. The only way it might be acceptable is if Darren Aronofsky directs.
  • I surely hope not, the storyline was even more atrocious than that of the prequels - it completely undermines the original trilogy to the point of parody. Ugh. I can't believe people think that this flimsy video game (based on gimmick gameplay and no real story) could be better suited for the big screen.
  • This movie should definatley be made. I've noticed that there is a large gap between ROTS and ANH and I think making another movie or two or maybe even three would help make the series stronger. For instance let's bump the original trilogy to episodes 7-9 and make 4-6 in this middle period. I think good choices for this trilogy would be the book "Dark Lord: The Rise of Vader", The Force unleashed, and then some other movie linking the original trilogy in. For instance including some backstory, how the Rebellion was formed, how Han Solo fell into the debt of Jabba the Hutt, the rise of the empire
  • It better not be a freakin cartoon.
  • Camilo
    I think that, if they (Lucasfilm) are going to do a TFU Movie, it would be awesome!
    But this movie must be better than The Clone Wars (The Movie, not the animated series in 2D and 3D, because I found them a great job for a serial, like the old Droids), because this film was ugly, and could be easily noted thas was made to make more money.
    First, TFU Movie must be a live-action movie, not animation (this last thing will fuck all the story)
    Second, they must adapt the story a little to made it a mvoie (i think that the story still hast the parts for a videogame, not a movie)
    If they make TFU Movie with real actors and a great story for movie, and if the movie doesn't like much to EPisode I or Episode II, this movie would stand as one of the greatest star wars movie along with all the original trilogy and the revenge of the sith.
  • I agree with Camilo that the story needs to be more developed. I had an idea similar to Chase, to expand the star wars saga. Only in my idea there were only two movies after Revenge of the sith and before A New Hope, and there was a movie before the phantom menace that shows Anakin's conception.
  • luke
    If they do make this game into a film, i think the man who acted in prison break would be good to play the apprentice because he looks just like him
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