For peripherally-related origin or introduction stories, it goes without saying that I'd absolutely dig a Mara Jade film. The novels Allegiance or Choices of One would work very nicely as tangent Star Wars films. Enough to feel familiar, yet get away from the mess that the franchise has become.
They could stay away from our heroes almost entirely (name checks only) or recast them. If Spock, Kirk, McCoy and James Bond can be successfully recast (and they have been) - anyone can be recast.