Could 'Knights of the Old Republic' Be the Next 'Star Wars' Spin-off?

WARNING: Spoilers for KOTOR 1 will follow. Read at your own risk.

In 2003, a Canadian video game development company named BioWare released the critically acclaimed role-playing game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR 1).

The game takes place approximately 4,000 years prior to the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. And follows many iconic Star Wars game characters: Darth Malak, Bastila Shan, Carth Onasi, Meetra Surik, and most importantly, Revan.

Before I get into why this should be the next Star Wars spinoff, I would like to delve into the lore that these films would be based on.

Revan's Backstory

Revan was born along the Outer Rim on an Unknown planet, where he was discovered to posses the powers of the Force. He went on to study under multiple Jedi Masters, and became a Jedi Knight.

During his time as a Jedi Knight, the Galactic Republic and the Mandalorian Tribes began a war that was titled 'The Mandalorian Wars.' Revan was very vocal about his stance that the Jedi Council should aide the Republic against the Mandalorians.

After the Jedi Council took too much time in deciding whether to help the Republic or not, Revan and his close friend Malak brought together an army of Jedi and aided the Republic, at the dismay of the Jedi Council.

After defeating the Mandalorians in the War, both Revan and Malak followed a Sith influence to the Sith Empire where they were converted to the Dark Side of the Force.

They became apprentices to the Sith Emperor, before breaking away from his control and creating their own army to start the Jedi Civil War. Revan and Malak led an army against the Jedi.

During space combat, the Jedi sent a Jedi Knight named Bastila Shan aboard Revan's ship to apprehend him. While Revan and Shan were dueling, Malak ordered his ships to fire on Revan's bridge in the hopes of killing him and Shan, in order to take over as the sole leader of the Sith Empire.

Bastila survived, while Revan was in a comatose state. Bastila protected Revan and took him back to the Jedi Council.

The Council used the power of the force to wipe away Revan's memories and implant him in the Republic army under another alias. He has no knowledge of who he was prior to this. This sets off the events of KOTOR 1.

KOTOR 1 Synopsis

After the ship carrying Revan, Bastila, and a soldier named Carth Onasi crashes on a overrun Sith planet. Revan and Carth set out on a mission to save Bastila.

While on the planet, Revan starts to get back in touch with his force sensibilities. Once they have rescued her and found their way off the planet, Bastila takes Revan to Dantooine where he is re-trained in the ways of the Force and as a Jedi.

The Council sends Revan, Bastila, and Carth on a mission to find the Star Forge: an ancient space station that can create armies. Darth Malak intends on using it to create a larger army to defeat the Republic. Bastila and Revan must find the Star Forge and keep Malak from using it.

Along the way, Revan and Bastila begin to fall in love, and Revan sees the light side of the Force. Even after discovering his true identity as the former dark lord of the Sith; Revan remains dedicated to the Jedi.

They eventually track down Malak on the Star Forge. Revan kills Malak and destroys the Star Forge, keeping anyone from using it's power.

Revan is proclaimed as the Prodigal Knight.

How Could This Spin-off Work?

With Darth Revan being one of Star Wars most dynamic and beloved characters, it is one of the best choices for a spin-off with an already established Star Wars character.

This could be worked into a trilogy at the very least, possibly having Revan as the Luke Skywalker of this generation.

Star Wars: The Prodigal Knight

The first movie could be Revan's origin story, and follow him as he and Malak become Jedi Knights. The movie would then show the beginning of the Mandalorian Wars and the conflict between Revan and the Jedi Order.

The movie would also show Revan and Malak recruiting Jedi to fight along side them, and eventually lead to Revan's defeat of Mandalore the Ultimate, and his decision to destroy Malachor V, and ending the war.

The movie could then end on Revan and Malak being looked at as heroes of the Republic, but traitors of the Jedi Order.

Star Wars: The Jedi Civil War

The second film takes place immediately after the first. The Mandalorian Wars are over, and Revan and Malak set out in search of the Sith Empire on their own.

They find it, only to be overcome with the influence of the Dark Side. They become Sith apprentices to the Emperor, and set out on a mission to find a legendary space station known as the Star Forge, to create an army and destroy the Jedi.

On their way to find the Star Forge, Revan and Malak break free from the Emperors control, but not the Dark Side. They instead establish their own Sith army using the Star Forge. Revan and Malak re-emerge as the first known Sith in centuries, and begin the Jedi Civil War.

The film would follow Revan on his path to becoming the Dark Lord of the Sith and the events of the Jedi Civil War.

It would then end on Darth Malak's betrayal, and have his crew fire on the bridge of Darth Revan's ship while he is dueling with Bastila Shan and other Jedi Knights.

The film would end with Darth Malak becoming the new lord of the Sith and shift the tides of the war to the Sith's advantage. With a comatose Revan having his memories wiped, and being implanted in the Republic Army as a solider.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

The third film would adapt the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic to film.

Following Revan, Bastila, and Carth Onasi as they fight to help the Republic and Jedi stop Darth Malak. It would also show Revan and Bastila falling in love.

Revan will begin to rediscover his powers in the force, and will see the error of what Darth Revan did (unaware that he himself did these things). He will eventually rediscover the truth of his identity, but will remain a Jedi Knight and fight against the Sith.

The movie would end with Revan defeating Darth Malak and being proclaimed as the Prodigal Knight.

Why this Spin-off works

This would be an amazing opportunity for Disney because they already have a great base story line to work with, that fans love. They can adapt the story to film with their own liberties and make a trilogy that could rival the original.

We would finally see a movie from a Sith's point of view. Which would be a very different dynamic to the Star Wars films.

It also gives you the opportunity to introduce many more beloved characters to the official Star Wars canon, and with these events taking place 4,000 years prior to the original movies, you would not need to worry about continuity.

The trilogy I have described above, could also expand into a larger saga.

The sequel to the original game titled Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (KOTOR 2), follows one of Revan's friends and generals in the Mandalorian Wars, Meetra Surik. It shows her after exile from the Jedi Order as she fights to regain her Force powers and destroy the upcoming Sith threat.

The events of KOTOR 2 could make for an interesting fourth movie, but would sideline Revan if it follows the same stroyline. Perhaps Disney could re-work the story to include Revan, while also introducing us to Meetra Surik.

There is also a book titled Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan; it follows Revan after the events of KOTOR 1, and before the events of the online game, Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR).

Many liberities would need to be taken if they choose to adapt KOTOR 2, the Revan book, and online game SWTOR. But it is still a good base that could easily last as long as the original saga, and possibly even surpass it in popularity.

Fancasting Just for Fun:

Here is a list of actors that could play Darth Revan, Bastila Shan, Darth Malak, and Carth Onasi.

• Rupert Friend as Darth Revan
• Emily Blunt as Bastila Shan
• Matt Smith as Darth Malak
• Jensen Ackles as Carth Onasi