Written By Kieran Bugg and Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Patty Jenkins’ Star Wars film Rogue Squadron might be based on an Expanded Universe (EU) novel.
Perhaps.
At this point, it’s a process of follow the clues.
And the new one raises eyebrows.
Lucasfilm announced various planned Star Wars movies and TV series in 2020.
Of them, The Book Of Boba Fett and the first season of The Bad Batch already aired on Disney Plus. The other shows, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, and The Acolyte, are coming.
Nevertheless, there are more Star Wars projects that are still struggling to get off the ground like the Rangers Of The New Republic spin-off series. The controversy surrounding actress Gina Carano and her subsequent firing requires changes.
Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron Might Adapt The Star Wars EU Novel
Image: Bantham Spectra
Moreover, Jenkins’ Star Wars movie, Rogue Squadron, ran into scheduling issues. Furthermore, rumors circulated that creative differences between Jenkins and Lucasfilm has prevented it from taking off.
In addition to Rogue Squadron, Jenkins will return and direct the upcoming third film in her Wonder Woman trilogy.
Now it appears that Jenkins has managed to clear up her filming schedule. In fact, Jenkins is now prioritizing on starting production on Rogue Squadron.
Still, the plot of the movie remains a mystery.
Suspiciously, Rogue Squadron shares the same title of Michael A. Stackpole’s 1996 novel. In other words, is it an adaptation?
Stackpole’s Rogue Squadron was the beginning of a ten-book series. There’s enough material there for a series of Star Wars films.
Many assumed that Jenkins would ignore the novels. After all, the EU is not canon. Lucasfilm pulled an Order 66 on this material.
All non-movie projects prior to April 2014 are essentially fan fiction. That’s a harsh interpretation of what is basically a pocket universe. In comic books, it’s nothing new. Marvel Comics and DC Comics, for example, have multiverses of pocket universes.
Still, Lucasfilm has broken its own rules already. Indeed, The Mandalorian name-dropped EU Big Bad Grand Admiral Thrawn from Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire. Without a doubt, Thrawn is coming.
Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron Might Adapt The Star Wars EU Novel
Image: Dark Horse Comics
At Galaxy Con, Stackpole revealed to a fan his excitement for the Rogue Squadron film. In addition, he revealed that he and Jenkins have been in contact with each other regarding the movie.
Taking to Twitter, @Jedi4Liberty, who met Stackpole at Galaxy Con, wrote:
Not every day you get to chat with one of your favorite #StarWars authors. Great meeting Michael Stackpole who told me he was highly excited about the upcoming #RogueSquadron movie and assured me Patty Jenkins had been in contact with him early on.
Stackpole is best known for his X-Wing series of books, of which Rogue Squadron was the first.
The author also covered the marriage of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade in the graphic novel Union. He collaborated with Zahn on Jade’s early career.
Given that Jenkins contacted Stackpole is intriguing. Granted, Jenkins explained in 2020 that Rogue Squadron will ‘be “something original.”
Still, she added that Rogue Squadron will have “great influence from the games and the books.” Since she spoke to Stackpole, the imagination raises a huge question: How much of the EU original is in it?