It's a double edged sword.
I'm really looking forward to the new one, but have reservations about Disney's long term plan.
The older I get the more I've come to accept that there are really only 2 great star wars films. If you look at the prequels they already look horribly artificial, barely 10 years on. The new ones seem to have accepted this, and from reports are relying heavily on sets and practical effects. Now this alone wont make for a good film, but it's important that they are at least aiming to make something that lasts. The open letter to JJ Abrams seems to chime with the new direction for EP7.
This brings me on to my next point, creating something that is built to last. I think the proposed spin-offs are going to be cheap CGI cash-ins. There's already one lined up for 2016. It'll be popcorn fodder, and will saturate the market, and ultimately dilute Star Wars. I don't really watch comic book films, but having seen most of the x-men ones, it's obvious they let the whole thing spiral out of control.
As for the Expanded Universe, I see no sense in a future Star Wars film being an adaptation of existing material. The books, comics and games will always be in existence. It is a pity all that massive body of work is sort of sidelined, but I think artistically they need a blank canvas to work on. At least they have said they'll take inspiration from the EU. I do think it is naive in the extreme to expect anything more than blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos.
I think that if they can stick to the following parameters, we're in for a treat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaLTZn ... redirect=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_joDNOpeWWo&feature=kpIncidentally, I was standing beside Domhnall Gleeson in a bar the other night.