Trailer Star Wars - Tales of the Underworld

[pukunui]

Looks like we're getting another six-episode entry in the "Tales of" animated series, this one focused on bounty hunters Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress.

 

[MarkB]

Ventress could be interesting, but I can't bring myself to be curious about a Cad Bane backstory, certainly not based upon what they show in the trailer.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Ventress could be interesting, but I can't bring myself to be curious about a Cad Bane backstory, certainly not based upon what they show in the trailer.

Right? I absolutely groaned at Cad Bane. He's so boring and awful in every one of the shows he's been in so far, and trying to give him some sort of sympathetic backstory? Absolutely not. At least he was a proper "black-hearted scoundrel", why detract from the one minor thing he had going for him?

I mean, I think I know the answer, which is that Dave Filoni loves Cad Bane a bit too much and his getting into some George Lucas-style madness, as per changing it so Han shot second, but like god, no.

Always happy to see Ventress again but it kind of looks like they're trying to whitewash her too! Why de-villainize people, man? What's going on? Is it just "we can sell more merch this way!"? This is Star Wars. Are we not allowed to have any villains in Star Wars anymore? The whole point of Darth Vader was the contrast of his redemption with the pure villainy of Palpatine - at this point I feel like we're a few years away from some sympathetic backstory for ol' Palps too. Please no!

 

[wicked cool]

I’m excited for both. Is ventress story post bad batch?

 

[MarkB]

I’m excited for both. Is ventress story post bad batch?

Ventress's scenes in the trailer seem to feature a lot of Clone Wars action, so I'm guessing it's more "how did she get from there to here?"

Or both - these Tales stories have a tendency to feature a lot of time skips between episodes.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Right? I absolutely groaned at Cad Bane. He's so boring and awful in every one of the shows he's been in so far, and trying to give him some sort of sympathetic backstory? Absolutely not. At least he was a proper "black-hearted scoundrel", why detract from the one minor thing he had going for him?

I mean, I think I know the answer, which is that Dave Filoni loves Cad Bane a bit too much and his getting into some George Lucas-style madness, as per changing it so Han shot second, but like god, no.

Always happy to see Ventress again but it kind of looks like they're trying to whitewash her too! Why de-villainize people, man? What's going on? Is it just "we can sell more merch this way!"? This is Star Wars. Are we not allowed to have any villains in Star Wars anymore? The whole point of Darth Vader was the contrast of his redemption with the pure villainy of Palpatine - at this point I feel like we're a few years away from some sympathetic backstory for ol' Palps too. Please no!

Before George Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney, he had plans for a new series, and several scripts were written. I've heard the story involved more background about Palpatine and explain his motivations. So I guess Lucas also kinda felt the need to explain their villains in a more sympathetic light? Which doesn't mean I'd say it's a good idea. It's fine if establishe Star Wars villains are just villains.

Though I am not sure about the details of the story, the existence of these scripts itself seem pretty confirmed, Ron D. Moore (Star Trek, BSG:TNS and For all Mankind) mentioned he was one of the writers involved in the project.
The project was titled Star Wars: Underworld, if I looked that up correctly. But I think it predated the Clone Wars animiated series, so while the titles are related, I am not sure the scripts and characters are.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I've heard the story involved more background about Palpatine and explain his motivations.

And yeah I completely believe it, it's totally on-brand for Lucas.

Also, to be clear, I do like the "everyone is the hero of their own story" idea, but that doesn't mean they need to be right or legitimized. Just for their motivations to make sense to them. Palpatine could have an amazing backstory where he became comprehensible whilst also still being a total bastard (c.f. Mad Men, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, etc.), but I think Lucas, bless his heart, would have gone too far and ended up in the "poor wittle Palpytines UwU smol bean" zone.

 

[J.Quondam]

"poor wittle Palpytines UwU smol bean" zone

In other news, this the working title of the upcoming chibi-style animated SW series for preschoolers, probably.

 

[Kaodi]

I did not used to like Ventress much but she has had a bit of a glow up.

 

[Rabulias]

The project was titled Star Wars: Underworld, if I looked that up correctly. But I think it predated the Clone Wars animiated series, so while the titles are related, I am not sure the scripts and characters are.

I recall this project was to named Level 1313, and would focus on the "scum and villainy" of the Coruscanti criminal underworld during the time of the Empire. The title refers to a level of Coruscant far below the shiny surface.

I imagine we have seen a few of the elements of those storylines showing up in things like The Bad Batch and perhaps The Book of Boba Fett.