By Ryan Rigley
While there may not be all that much to go off of for the upcoming "Star Wars VII" as of yet, it seems as if that won't be the case once the film actually goes into production. "I think the whole issue of confidentiality is gonna be fascinating as we move into making the movie," states Lucasfilm President Katleen Kennedy in a recent interview with ScreenSlam. "If we're shooting anything outside, it's almost impossible to not have things end up on the Internet. So my feeling is, you need to embrace that, especially with the fans around something like 'Star Wars.'"
It's good to know that we'll be kept in the loop as far as "Star Wars VII" plans go, but when exactly will we start getting our answers? In specific, which characters will be making an appearance in the latest "Star Wars" trilogy? I'm not talking about Luke or Leia. I mean those memorable minor characters, like Grand Moff Tarkin; who was the chief overseer of the Death Star in "A New Hope."
Who?
Born into the wealthy Tarkin family of the planet Eriadu, Wilhuff Tarkin enrolls in a military academy at an early age in keeping with the strong military history of Tarkins past. Wilhuff quickly emerges as a prodigy in a number of fields; military tactics, starship engineering, xenobiology, philosophy, etc. After graduation, Wilhuff enrolls himself in the Republic Outland Regions Security Force where he is almost immediately achieves the rank of commander.
Seeking a career in politics, Tarkin is later elected the lieutenant governor of Eriadu with the help of his family's fortune and multiple connections. Soon, Tarkin meets the enigmatic Senator Palpatine of Naboo (who is a secret Sith Lord, obviously) and the rest is history. Wilhuff is eventually appointed with the title Grand Moff, which means he is in charge of the entire Outer Rim and answers only to the Emperor and, of course, Darth Vader.
Why?
Grand Moff Tarkin is one of the most evil men in the entire galaxy. Who else would stoop so low as to blow up an entire planet (Alderaan) as a means of proving a point? In fact, Tarkin is directly responsible for the creation, construction, and utilization of the Empire's most feared weapon: the Death Star. Deducing that vast majority of the Rebel Alliance would come to fear a weapon so powerful, invulnerable and invincible, Tarkin is made overseer of a weapon so terrifying that it would later become the symbol for the entire Galactic Empire.
How?
Look. I know that Tarkin dies at the end of "A New Hope" when Luke Skywalker blows up the Death Star, but hear me out. What if his wife (Thalassa Motti) and/or mistress (Admiral Natasi Daala) decide to reap vengeance on Skywalker and the gang in the highly anticipated new "Star Wars" films? After all, both women did have an unhealthy fanatic obsession with the late, great Grand Moff.
Alternatively, Tarkin could appear in the "Young Han Solo" spinoff film scheduled to be released sometime during the next "Star Wars" trilogy. You may not realize this, but Han Solo is a graduate of the Academy of Carida which is a military academy sanctioned by the Galactic Empire. In fact, Tarkin was actually present at Han Solo's graduation ceremony wherein the young smuggler gave a speech as valedictorian of his class.
