‘Star Wars’ Focuses on Female Heroes in ‘Forces of Destiny’
One of the biggest myths of the Star Wars universe is that its core audience is mostly male. As a matter of fact, a walk through any convention will prove that there are actually more female fans than many realize.
An important reason for the franchise’s longevity is its proliferation of strong female characters. There are no damsels in distress in this galaxy.
Star Wars is celebrating this with its new animated stories Forces of Destiny. The shorts will showcase several popular characters of the franchise including Princess Leia, Padme Amidala, Rey, Jyn Erso, Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren and Hera Syndulla.
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The really exciting part is that some of these characters will crossover into each other’s stories. Since they exist in different time periods this will require some creative storytelling.
The series features eight, three minute 2-D animated shorts set to premiere on Disney’s You Tube channel in July before airing as specials with eight new clips on the Disney Channel.
The characters will all be voiced by the actresses who made them famous except for Princess Leia and Padme Amidala. Leia will be voiced by Shelby Young, while Catherine Taber will play Padme.
The Stories
Leia’s adventure is based on a deleted scene from The Empire Strikes Back and takes place on Hoth as Leia, C-3P0, R2D2 and Chewbacca must fight a Wampa trapped inside the Rebel base.
Rey’s two stories take place during The Force Awakens. One follows her and BB-8 on their journey to Nimma Outpost, when they run into a scavenger and a monster that wants to eat BB-8. She is also featured with Han Solo, Finn and Chewie on the Millenium Falcon diffusing a bomb.
Star Wars Rebels’ Sabine and Chopper find themselves on Yavin 4 and she ends up on a mission which will help her decide whether or not to join the Rebel Alliance.
In one of the crossovers Hera and Leia join forces with Han Solo on Endor, which means there will be Ewoks involved in the plot.
The Toys
It wouldn’t be a Star Wars project without new figures to add to your collection.
Hasbro will release new “Adventure Figures” that feature 11-inch dolls with rooted hair and changeable outfits with weapons.
“They all have an action motion that’s true to their character, so, for instance, Rey can swing her lightsaber,” Hasbro’s Samantha Lomow tells EW, squeezing the character’s legs to make her torso swivel as her blue laser sword cuts the air.
Solo figures will be $19.99, while those with action sets and multiple outfits are $24.99. Some come in sets like Rey and BB-8, Leia and R2D2 or Luke and Yoda.
Producers are trying to balance bringing in new viewers while keeping longtime fans happy.
“That’s really the challenge: How do we make this relevant for somebody who is new to Star Wars, and someone who has experienced all of Star Wars,” said executive producer Carrie Beck. “We have these new access points for kids, but the shorts aren’t so reliant on knowing everything else that’s happened in Star Wars history.”
“There are Easter eggs all over the place,” says Paul Southern, head of Lucasfilm licensing.
More news on Forces of Destiny will be available as Star Wars Celebration continues to roll out announcements.
Star Wars Celebration can be live streamed at starwars.com beginning Friday, April 14 at 11 am ET.
Check back with Geeks of Color throughout the weekend for the latest news and trailers from the big event.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
