The concept of standalone Star Wars movies is great, but the results have been underwhelming. We think Disney should give these four Star Wars characters their own movies.

Recently, I wrote about the disappointing Solo: A Star Wars Story, a movie that feels more like a wasted opportunity than a meaningful backstory for one of the most beloved characters of the franchise.

Standalone Star Wars movies are appealing, especially to those fans excited at the chance of seeing some exciting world building, but so far, movies like Rogue One and Solo have felt like big misses. Perhaps that’s because these movies are following the same rules Disney used to build the MCU.

Marvel built its cinematic universe by following a few simple rules. First, every movie should adhere a similar structure for all action sequences and narrative arcs. Second, every movie should serve to serve the central narrative of the franchise, pushing it forward even if it is in the smallest, most tangential way. Three, familiarity with characters is important, as it is the driving force behind audience loyalty.

These rules are present in every single Marvel movie released since the franchise kicked off ten years ago. Some installments are able to observe these rules while managing to feel fresh and exciting, while others fall into a trap of feeling dull and self-serving.

If the standalone Star Wars films are going to be successful, they would do well to throw out these rules and try something new. Here are some ideas to get them started…

R2-D2 and C-3PO

In the opening scene of The Return of the Jedi, C-3PO and R2-D2 make their way through the desert towards a large compound. They’re on their way to see Jabba the Hutt, assisting Luke, Leia, and Lando to rescue Han Solo. The scene is complete with C-3PO and R2-D2’s classic banter and delightful cleverness; qualities that have helped cement their legacies in Star Wars canon. It’s about time they get their own movie.

The inclusion a commentary on droid rights and autonomy in Solo suggests that the franchise may be ready to use droids as more than just supporting characters. The series has long used droids as a helpful hand in assisting human counterparts, but to give droids their own movie would be an exciting step forward into new territory for the series.

Styled in the vein of Pixar’s WALL-E, it’s easy to imagine all the possibilies for a movie like this. As two of the most beloved Star Wars characters, C-3PO and R2-D2 are more than qualified to carry their own movie.

Ahsoka Tano

Those familiar with Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the animated series that focused predominately on Anakin Skywalker’s journey during the Clone Wars, know the name Ahsoka Tano. As Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka played a key role in the series, making it all the more disappointing that she has never appeared in a live action Star Wars movie.

Ahsoka represents a wealth of untapped potential that could easily carry a full-fledged Star Wars movie. Her characterization is that of a risk-taker and adventurer, full of life and spirit. Her involvement in the Clone Wars and the Rebel Alliance make her a suitable character to lead a standalone film.

Unfortunately, Ahsoka does not fit cleanly into the mold of what Star Wars films have looked like. Letting Ahsoka lead a Star Wars film – or even R2-D2 and C-3PO – would force the franchise to stop using humans as their main protagonists. Despite the wealth of planets and species in the Star Wars universe, these characters are typically kept an arms length away – standing at the periphery, achieving supporting character status at best.

Ahsoka would be a great character to focus on for a standalone movie. She satisfies the desire to have a character that ties to the main franchise, while maintaining her own independence. The Clone Wars themselves still remain only vaguely fleshed out in the standalone movies and are ripe for adaptation.

Shmi Skywalker

For a franchise built upon legacies – particularly those of powerful men like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker – remarkably little time is given to those that made such legacies possible.

You may remember Shmi Skywalker whose brief appearances in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones served to provide color for Anakin’s origin story and his transition to Darth Vader, but Shmi is far more captivating a character than the prequels would lead you to believe.

Shmi lived on Tatoonie in slavery during the final years of the Galactic Republic, giving birth to Anakin under difficult conditions. After Qui-Gon Jinn discovered Anakin, Shmi consented to let Anakin study as a Jedi leaving her alone. Before being abducted by Tusken Raiders, Shmi married Owen Lars, who would later raise Anakin’s son Luke.

Shmi’s story is one that has always existed at the periphery of the Star Wars universe, used primarily as a tool for Anakin’s development. However, hers is the story that birthed the Star Wars legacy – giving way to Anakin and later Luke and Leia. Shmi’s story would be a rather uncharacteristic move for the franchise, far more a personal drama than an intergalactic adventure, but no less important.