I’m a huge Star Wars fan and watch the movies over and over – lately – but as great as Star Wars: A New Hope, for example, is, the fighting action really isn’t the showpiece. While the space duels remain fabulous, for example, the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinnes) and Darth Vader (David Prowse) drops significantly. Of course this is a special and rightly legendary scene, but nothing really choreographically exciting happens there. On the contrary: If you put on the action glasses, you can only conclude that the combat in this respect is quite boring (and especially wooden) – although there were excellent sword duel choreographies back then.
Lucasfilm has tried to do this better in the recent past. When Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) also crossed paths in the series “Obi-Wan” on Disney+, specialists from Germany were brought on board. The Berlin team of Real Deal Action Cha Lee Yoonwho most recently doubled for Donnie Yen in John Wick 4, choreographed the scene. It’s not the first time there’s been such prominent action support for “Star Wars” on Disney+ lately. So Tyler Rake: Extraction director Sam Hargrave was brought on board for The Mandalorian’s second season – which immediately resulted in some of the series’ best action sequences.
My wish: Sam Hargrave should make a “Star Wars” movie
But despite this improvement in action, there’s still room for improvement – I felt that every time I watched. Because you often notice that that some of the brilliant choreography may have been lost in editing, when the action experts were no longer there and could not provide additional input. Especially the animated series like “Bad Batch” or “Visions” with their scenes made me feel like a real hardcore live-action “Star Wars” action movie – maybe from Sam Hargrave?
The Extraction director has a Star Wars background and has worked for comic giant Marvel for over a decade, including stuntman and fight choreography, and knows the challenges of such franchises. In addition, his long-running approach in the “Extraction” movies on Netflix would bring a special twist to the “Star Wars” saga. When I recently interviewed Sam Hargrave about “Tyler Rake: Extraction 2‘ I had to ask him if he wanted to make a ‘Star Wars’ movie and then which figure should be the center of attention. We also spoke directly about Disney’s other major franchise…
Sam Hargrave: Yes! If the opportunity ever arises to be part of a Star Wars movie or anything else in this universe, I’d be happy to consider it. As for the figure. My type of action should fit what I want this character to embody. So it would have to be a completely new character that we haven’t seen before, or an existing character that has room to bring in my very specific point of view. Otherwise there would be no point in ruining this great canon they’ve created.
What about a Marvel return for the action expert?
Sam Hargrave: When it comes to stories and characters that appeal to me, that’s conceivable. But it needs a story I find compelling and a character I can relate to, contribute to and would benefit my take on action. What Marvel has created in the movie world over the past decade is revolutionary. Being a part of it has been an honor so far and of course it would be in the future. That is why I would of course immediately think of such a possibility.
Tyler Rake: Extraction 2 – Coming to Netflix June 16, 2023
It remains to be seen if Sam Hargrave will ever fulfill my wish for a Star Wars action movie. What is certain is that youTyler Rake: Extraction 2on Netflix starting tomorrow, June 16, 2023. I can’t tell you how I like the film at the moment, but the FILMSTARTS review will appear in the course of the afternoon.
At the beginning of the streaming there is also my detailed interview with Hargrave about his new film and modern action cinema, as well as his special approach with long one-shots.