However, all the presently slated series are focused on characters who hail from the era of the Original or Prequel Trilogies — as of right now, there are no plans for shows focused on characters from the Sequel Trilogy. On the one hand, this move makes sense, considering the Sequels’ controversial reception. Even so, revisiting some of these characters could redeem the reputation of the Sequel Trilogy era while also providing some much-needed time in the spotlight for characters who were poorly utilized in their big-screen debut.
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Out of all the many missed opportunities in the Sequel Trilogy, Poe Dameron has to be one of the biggest. Played by the always-talented Oscar Isaac, Poe initially seems to be the Sequel Trilogy’s answer to Han Solo — a cool, wisecracking ace pilot with a checkered past. But despite a strong introduction in The Force Awakens, in which he quickly forms a strong bond with Finn, Poe ends up being out of commission for most of the movie, only really coming back into prominence during the attack on Starkiller Base.
Unfortunately, neither Rian Johnson nor J.J. Abrams seemed to know what to do with Poe in future movies. He receives his own subplot in The Last Jedi, but it’s inconsequential to the main story and separates him from the other main characters. And while The Rise of Skywalker hints at Poe’s history as a spice smuggler on Kijimi, he and Finn both contribute nothing of note to the plot. Despite being billed as one of the main characters of the Sequel Trilogy, Poe ends up as little more than a footnote.
However, a spin-off show could be exactly what Poe needs to live up to his full potential. A prequel that shows how Poe went from a criminal to a Resistance pilot could make for a compelling character arc, while also developing his allies like Zorii Bliss and the beloved Babu Frik. Plus, it would make for some compelling worldbuilding, showing what it was like to live through the rise of the First Order.
Introduced in The Force Awakens, Maz Kanata (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is the “smuggler queen of Takodana”, a major player in the galactic underworld who’s lived for over a thousand years. At first, it seems like she’s being set up as the main mentor figure of the trilogy, thanks to her clear knowledge of the Force and her possession of Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber. However, Maz only appears in minor roles in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, making her initial prominence somewhat confusing in hindsight.
Like Poe, Maz’s background could easily make for an engaging spin-off series. There’s no shortage of potential stories to explore, from watching the rise of her criminal empire to how she got her hands on Luke’s old saber in the first place. Not to mention her history with Chewbacca, who she refers to as her “boyfriend” in her introductory scene. Maz Kanata is one of the most unique and interesting characters introduced in the Sequel Trilogy, but there’s still so much about her that we don’t know. A prequel series focused on her would be the perfect opportunity to develop her further.
Another element from The Force Awakens that ended up having minimal impact on the trilogy was the Knights of Ren, the mysterious order of Dark Jedi led by Kylo Ren. The group is only mentioned by name once by Supreme Leader Snoke, and only appears in person during one of Rey’s Force visions. The Knights of Ren are completely absent from The Last Jedi, and while they finally appear to fight alongside (and eventually against) Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker, they essentially serve as glorified Stormtroopers. None of them receive any lines, characterization, or even individual names.
A spin-off series that depicts the backstory of the Knights of Ren would go a long way to making them feel like more than mere extras. As is, there’s very little in the films that makes the Knights of Ren feel distinct from the Sith, so any additional worldbuilding to help develop them would be appreciated.
Another character who was sorely wasted in the Sequel Trilogy was Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie. Despite initially being presented as one of the main villains of the trilogy — not to mention a personal nemesis for Finn — Phasma receives very little screen time before she’s unceremoniously killed in The Last Jedi. A prequel series that depicts Captain Phasma’s rise to power could help turn her into the compelling, intimidating villain who she was meant to be. Plus, it would be a perfect opportunity to flesh out the inner workings and ideology of the First Order.
You may remember the thief known only as DJ (Benicio Del Toro) from his supporting role in The Last Jedi, in which he’s recruited by Finn and Rose to help them infiltrate the First Order’s flagship, only to sell them out. DJ ultimately has a minor role within the larger plot of the film, and while he brings up some interesting ideas about the war between the Resistance and First Order being a mere symptom of the systemic greed and corruption profiting off the conflict, these ideas are never examined in any depth.
Thanks to DJ’s selfish, amoral nature, he might be a bit too unlikable to serve as a compelling protagonist. Even so, he would fit right into a story that properly delves into the dark underbelly of the galaxy. Not only would a gritty crime thriller be a fresh change of pace for the Star Wars universe, it would also allow the opportunity to expand on some of the underdeveloped themes set up by The Last Jedi.
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