This might be a slightly controversial question/post and before I start, I post these questions more as observations and a bit devils advocate really to get a conversation going on the subject. Not especially passionate either way, but more curious if anyone had thoughts on the subject...
So, does anyone get a feeling that Lucasfilm/Disney are making a conscious decision to specifically recruit and place female leads in the key roles in the Star Wars franchise?
If so, is this driven by a true gender positive attitude or something that makes them more media friendly and that reflects the modern age?
Is it a stance that feels incongruous with the original trilogy?
Does it feel to anyone that this gender positive stance by the films makers has actually gone a step too far? I do feel personally that a female stormtrooper captain that was quite frankly a bit pants, why was Gwendoline Christie even in it, if it wasn't to add another 'female voice' to the film.
It feels a little like a backlash to an original trilogy that had so few female characters, certainly (Leia aside) none of any note or credibility.
Daisy Ridley is undoubtedly a great, young girl's role model, I'm sure that Felicity Jones will be too... but, is this at the expense of the key 'boy' market for the films and more than that is there is actually a 'boy' role model in the franchise anymore? None of the TFA males are particularly brave, pure of heart or on a journey to aspire to... Poe might be the best shot at one as Finn seemed pretty pathetic and basically a heavy breathing and panting love struck puppy for the most part. It looks like Rogue One will have a crowd of male supporting cast members, but no one chap looks like he will be the guy you'd want to inspire your son's future as Luke arguably did for us as kids.
So, Rey was the lead in TFA (and presumably Ep8 & 9). Jyn will be the lead in Rogue One... Is Han Solo (a law breaking, smuggling, thief that works with and for gangsters), going to be the first male role model in the franchise re-boot.. hardly the best message to sell to young boys, even if he is my favourite character as an adult.
Any thoughts guys?
So, does anyone get a feeling that Lucasfilm/Disney are making a conscious decision to specifically recruit and place female leads in the key roles in the Star Wars franchise?
If so, is this driven by a true gender positive attitude or something that makes them more media friendly and that reflects the modern age?
Is it a stance that feels incongruous with the original trilogy?
Does it feel to anyone that this gender positive stance by the films makers has actually gone a step too far? I do feel personally that a female stormtrooper captain that was quite frankly a bit pants, why was Gwendoline Christie even in it, if it wasn't to add another 'female voice' to the film.
It feels a little like a backlash to an original trilogy that had so few female characters, certainly (Leia aside) none of any note or credibility.
Daisy Ridley is undoubtedly a great, young girl's role model, I'm sure that Felicity Jones will be too... but, is this at the expense of the key 'boy' market for the films and more than that is there is actually a 'boy' role model in the franchise anymore? None of the TFA males are particularly brave, pure of heart or on a journey to aspire to... Poe might be the best shot at one as Finn seemed pretty pathetic and basically a heavy breathing and panting love struck puppy for the most part. It looks like Rogue One will have a crowd of male supporting cast members, but no one chap looks like he will be the guy you'd want to inspire your son's future as Luke arguably did for us as kids.
So, Rey was the lead in TFA (and presumably Ep8 & 9). Jyn will be the lead in Rogue One... Is Han Solo (a law breaking, smuggling, thief that works with and for gangsters), going to be the first male role model in the franchise re-boot.. hardly the best message to sell to young boys, even if he is my favourite character as an adult.
Any thoughts guys?