Hello there. This is my first time posting on this website, so please let me know if I made any mistakes. Regardless of what you think of the sequel trilogy, it is fair to accept that it has mainly two problems:
1-Being a Soft Reboot: Everything and everybody is right at where they where in ANH. And the stories don’t include enough new elements to distinguish themselves.
2-Being Inconsistent: By this I mean not only between the three movies but with the rest of the saga. The biggest inconsistency is Luke’s character.
My solution is to reimagine the story in smaller scale. I must warn you the story is not completed and there are gaps to fill. It’s been years since I have watched the films, so I don’t know if this edit can be done easily or not but I believe that if made this edit would be a 3 in 1 edit. Based on these information let’s start:
SHADOW OF THE EMPIRE
It is a period of peace. The NEW REPUBLIC, governed by the Galactic Senate, has held power for three decades. But in the unknown regions of the galaxy, a plot is underway to unite the shattered IMPERIAL REMNANTS.
Rumors spread of a mysterious figure seeking to galvanize these remnants and ignite another war. Tasked by the Senate, Senator LEIA ORGANA leads an investigation to uncover the truth and restore order to the galaxy.
Leia has sent her most daring pilot on a secret mission to Jakku, where an old ally has discovered evidence of the FIRST ORDER’s existence…
-Kylo attacks Tuanul.
-Kylo tortures Poe.
-Encounter with Rey.
-Poe and Finn escape.
-Rey and Finn escape from Jakku.
-They meet Han and Chewie. (I reimagine Han and Chewie as New Republic operatives doing the “dirty work”.)
-Together they go to meet Leia.
-Rey has visions about her past and future. She sees Luke on Ahch-to. (I think the scene Rey finds Anakin’s lightsaber could be repurposed to happen between Rey and Leia.)
-Rey goes to Ahch-to.
-First Order chases Leia’s fleet. They use a jammer to prevent Leia transmitting the evidence to Coruscant.
-Rey starts to train under Luke.
-Finn and Rose go to Canto Bight. (I am unsure about using this subplot.)
-Rey continues her training.
-With the help of DJ they disable the jammer and the evidence is sent to Coruscant.
-First Order continues the chase.
-Leia and her crew evacuate.
-Rey returns.
-Luke and Kylo battles. (I didn’t decide if Luke is present or projecting.)
-Leia’s crew escape.
I didn’t finish the last part of the story and couldn’t wait to post this because to me this fixes most of the problems of the trilogy. I imagine the last part to be a battle between the New Republic and the First Order. Every feedback is appreciated.
Edit: I imagine that Ben’s fall happened only 1-2 years ago. Luke retreated to study the ancient Jedi texts and figure out his mistakes to understand why Ben fell. I also imagine that the Academy still exists; to achieve that, the flashback scenes must be edited or there must be mentions of Luke’s Order having multiple academies on different planets. I believe these changes improve both Luke and Kylo’s characters. Kylo starts as someone unstable and unsure about his path, and ends as a true follower of the dark side. Luke, on the other hand, is portrayed much more like his Original Trilogy counterpart.