16 "Star Wars" Characters That Deserve Spin-Off Movies

Time to get serious, Disney.

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Disney recently announced the title of its first stand-alone Star Wars movie. Coming out in summer 2016, Rogue One will star Felicity Jones and be directed by Gareth Edwards.

But if they're sticking to their guns about releasing one new Star Wars movie a year, they're going to need a whole lot more than that. Here are some ideas.

1. Mace Windu

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Famous For: Being the baddest mother-fudging Jedi Master in the galaxy.

This one's not so much a long shot as a "...how the hell do you replace Samuel L. Jackson?!?" quandary. But if they get the casting right, who wouldn't want to see how an orphan from the jungle world of Haruun Kal rose to become one of the greatest warriors in the galaxy?

Casting Choice: Trying to replace Jackson might be this movie's biggest challenge, but how about Tequan Richmond from Everybody Hates Chris?

2. Zam Wesell

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Famous For: Trying to kill Senator Padmé Amidala in Episode II.

The Star Wars movies have teased bounty hunters and criminal organizations, but we haven't actually seen all that much of them. Zam Wesell is shape-shifting assassin with ties to famed bounty hunter Jango Fett as well as Coruscant's criminal underworld, which doesn't sound like a bad film premise at all!

Casting Choice: If not Leeanna Walsman, then Brie Larson.

3. Biggs Darklighter

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Famous For: Being Luke Skywalker's childhood best friend and having most of his scenes deleted.

Now, a stormtrooper defecting from the Empire appears to be something we might see in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. How Biggs enrolled in the Imperial Academy and what experiences led him to defect would provide insight into a monolithic, and mostly faceless, enemy organization.

Casting Choice: Miles Teller.

4. The Jedi Council

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Famous For: Sitting quietly while Yoda and Samuel L. Jackson do all the talking.

Characters like Adi Gallia, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto had a few moments to shine in the Clone Wars TV series, but they are largely background characters in the films. There was a ten-year gap between Episodes I and II, so what were these badasses up to before the war started?

Casting Choice: This really depends on which characters they use, but Zoe Saldana should be everyone's top pick for Adi Gallia.

5. Bossk

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Famous For: Scaring an Imperial officer to death in The Empire Strikes Back.

It's all but assured that Boba Fett will get his own spinoff movie in the next few years. But he'll be needing other characters to play off of. "Boba & Bossk" could be like a darker, more evil, more reptilian version of Han & Chewie. Make it happen, Disney.

Casting Choice: Benedict Cumberbatch.

6. Tarfful

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Famous For: Helping Yoda escape from the traitorous Clone troopers during the Jedi Purge.

Before becoming chieftain of his city, Tarfful led missions to rescue other Wookiees from Trandoshan slavers. He also counts Yoda and Chewbacca amongst his best friends. It's not a stretch to think there is good story potential here for a movie.

Casting Choice: Someone... tall!

7. Mon Mothma

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Famous For: Being the leader of the Rebel Alliance.

A young Mon Mothma was very nearly featured in Revenge of the Sith, but her scenes were deleted. What were her political maneuvers after the establishment of the Empire, and what did she do when the Senate was disbanded? Politics aren't usually Star Wars's strong suit, but as long as they steer clear of trade negotiations...

Casting Choice: Cate Blanchett... or give poor, deleted Genevieve O'Reilly another shot.

8. Mother Talzin

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Famous For: Being the leader of the Dathomir witches.

Talzin ruled over a female clan of alabaster assassins, along with their harem of male sex slaves. What is the secret behind her dark magic, and what is its relation to the Force?

Casting Choice: Glenn Close.

9. Count Dooku

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Famous For: Being played by Christopher Lee.

Trained by Yoda. Master of Qui-Gon Jinn. Leader of the Separatists. The apprentice of Darth Sidious. And yet Count Dooku appeared in just a handful of scenes, his motivations always unclear. How and why did this great Jedi Master fall to the Dark Side and become Darth Tyranus? Star Wars fans deserve to know!

Casting Choice: Michael Fassbender, and Christopher Lee for flash-forwards.

10. Wedge Antilles

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Famous For: Being the only Rebel pilot to survive the attacks on both Death Stars.

Wedge helped show Luke the ropes when he joined rebel ranks as an X-Wing pilot, and eventually became leader of his own squadron. He was the lead character in the popular X-Wing novels and if he's not in Rogue One, he should definitely get his own movie.

Casting Choice: Charlie Cox.

11. Padmé's Handmaidens

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Famous For: Being Padmé Amidala's bodyguards and decoys.

An elite squad of warrior women trained in hand-to-hand combat, firearms, and hair-dressing? Sign us up! What did they do after their queen died? Best guess: they joined the Rebellion and kicked Imperial butt.

Casting Choice: Keira Knightley and Rose Byrne are already handmaiden alums.

12. IG-88

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Famous For: Being one the bounty hunters hired to track down Han Solo and Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back.

WALL-E proved that a movie about a robot can sell tickets. IG-88 is here to prove that a movie about a murderous, double-crossing, bounty-hunting robot can also sell tickets.

Casting Choice: Alan Rickman.

13. Lando Calrissian

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Famous For: Making bad deals.

Despite being a major addition to our heroes' inner circle, Lando has probably received the least amount of attention by the makers of Star Wars books, comics, and video games. A movie about Lando's rise from gambler to Baron Administrator of Cloud City sounds a bit like Ocean's Eleven: Space Edition, i.e. 150% amazing.

Casting Choice: Anthony Mackie.

14. Ahsoka Tano

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Famous For: Being Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice.

A year before the Clone Wars ended, Ahsoka turned her back on the Jedi Order. 15 years later, she was a top agent of the Rebel Alliance. What was her life like during those intervening years? How did she react to the deaths of friends like Padmé, Aayla, Plo, and the Jedi kids she helped train? And does she know that Darth Vader is really Anakin?

Casting Choice: Candice Patton, who plays Iris West in The Flash.

15. Darth Maul

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Famous For: Being sliced in half.

Maul's survival after The Phantom Menace has already been chronicled in the Clone Wars TV series. But you know what was missing? An in-depth exploration of his training as Darth Sidious's first apprentice. That, and a proper rematch with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Make it happen, Disney!

Casting Choice: Sam Witwer now effectively owns the role, and he's got the body to go with it. Maybe he can share the role with Ray Park?

16. Mara Jade

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Famous For: Being the Emperor's assassin, and then marrying Luke Skywalker.

Disney may have nixed most of the Expanded Universe, including Luke's marriage. But they've also reintroduced the Inquisitors, who aren't all that different from the Emperor's Hands. We don't need to see her fall in love with Luke, but her journey from Sith acolyte to Jedi Master is a story worth telling.

Casting Choice: Emily Blunt.

Oh yeah, and obviously this guy.

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