I have completed the first draft of Book 5, going through the bug & story review phase right now, so we’re still looking good for a this week release. That final battle ended up being a doozy to edit! Had some details I needed to keep consistent throughout the battle and it was a maze of scenes to reorder. I’ll probably have some storyline changes to make so I won’t post the changelog until I get all the finer points worked out, but it’s getting close.
Also with regards to Book 5, I also hope that you are leaning more towards including the Pershing stuff, with the final lobotomy scene towards the end. And keeping the Shadow Council scene in Book 5 because I really don’t think it worked in Book 3. (Although, I do know you did a lot of work on Gideon’s hair.)
Are you meaning to say put the Pershing stuff in Book 6? And then add a Book 7? Book 5 is what I’m working on now which is largely the BoBF content and some other Mando stuff.
I don’t know how you’re doing it – and it sounds like you have some exciting plans – but just interweaving the Pershing stuff into the plot, and have the final lobotomy scene with Pershing come into play as a consequence of what side you choose. Many said there was no reason for the Pershing storyline, but I disagree. I DO think it should have been integrated throughout the entire season instead of just a one-off episode, but I think it did have a purpose. And I think that by weaving it throughout will show that purpose.
Pershing chose the wrong side; he chose the Empire (even the remnants), and in the end, we see the consequences of many getting happy results of not doing so (Carga–who only “worked” with Gideon to keep Nevarro safe and then turned against him right away, the Mandalorians getting a home, etc.) and those who didn’t (Gideon) and, of course, Pershing. So when we get our resolution scenes towards the end including the Pershing lobotomy scene, I thought it would add this bitter note, yeah, this is what happens when you stick with the Empire too long… and that those remnants still remain alive and kicking.
Now that I’ve got a full picture of Book 5, I’m officially starting Book 6 production! Hope to answer many of these questions soon. As I like to do, I am going to look for my ending first and then work backwards. My two options are to start with the Nevarro ending and work back from there, trying to extend everything to a Book 6 & 7, or to use the Season 3 ending and work backwards from there.
At this point, I think I am leaning towards a 2-book ending rather than shoving everything into 1 movie. For Book 5, I ended up using very little Luke/Grogu content so I have a good amount of that to show throughout Book 6 to fill in for the weaker parts of Season 3. Not yet sure if that would bump Pershing stuff into Book 7. Running an A/B/C plot with Grogu, Din, AND Pershing in one movie might get a little crowded.