Sci-fi Rey from Star Wars, and Katniss Everdene. <poss spoiler alert re Star Wars>

[Pannn]

I appreciate this may not get much traction in FWR, but having seen the latest Star Wars film, I'm speculating on the poss thread between Rey and Katniss from Hunger Games. And I'm doubtful if Chat may come up with responses.
Sooo..I'm suggesting that Rey could not become a Jedi warrior, in the Star Wars narrative unless Katniss led the way in terms of female hero in sci-fi? Allegedly Lucas had 12 films scripted back in the 70s BUT..I'm doubtful if he foresaw then the social change leading to Rey being a Jedi (though she doesn't know this yet - hence the next narrative for at least 3 films).
So am I being fanciful in thinking Rey is a legacy of Katniss, and if she is, what is the next step for her?
I also ask as dd is a fan of Katniss but hates sci-fi though for media studies she is being asked to have a sci-fi focus for GCSE Media.

[DrSeussRevived]

There are other females in sci fi, though - Ripley first and foremost. Ghostbusters remake, Gravity, Clara, River Song, Missy and Mayor Me in Doctor Who, Captain Janeaway in ST:V

[DrSeussRevived]

[TheCrowFromBelow]

I think you are being fanciful as there are female Jedi in films 1-3.

[DrSeussRevived]

I think a GCSE project charting "women in scifi from original Star Wars to the present day" could be awesome, though.

[Pannn]

ah interesting, thanks! I obv know about Ripley..but I think dd is too young for seeing the Aliens series, esp as a sci-fi refusnik ( but I will bring them to her attention)... but had discounted Gravity in my head, which I watched with dd last year and she remained unimpressed by, sadly.
Crow tbh I haven't seen 1-3 and wasn't aware of the good female characters there. Thank you.
Overall though yes Dr she has a tight timeline to get on board with sc-fi in the coming months and likes to see girls/women taking leads usually but she still sees sci-fi as a 'boysy' indulgence rather than good 'life' analogies.

[tabulahrasa]

Sci fi is often much better than other genres for female characters...

Leia is pretty good actually, so Rey is IMO following her lead anyway.

[slightlyglitterbrained]

Haven't watched Hunger Games, but agree it's unusual for the "hero's journey" (ala Campbell) to be played by a woman. I think there is a HUGE difference between there being female supporting characters and being the protagonist. Hollywood is quite comfortable with kickass females if they're there to support the man (The Lego Movie is particularly bad but not scifi.)

Is the focus of her course around the media itself, or does it cover wider industry influences (e.g. the #wheresrey debacle).

[VertigoNun]

I though KE was inspired partly by Lara Croft?

[ChocChocPorridge]

I'd contend that in the original Star Wars (episode 4), that whilst it was nominally Luke's story, Princess Leia was HUGELY important - also braver (a member of the resistance, risking herself, commanding troops etc.), more mature, and generally a better character (Luke didn't even take responsibility for the robots properly!)

[DrSeussRevived]

Your DD hating sci fi shouldn't affect her ability to do a good project on sci fi and the media!

[FeckTheMagicDragon]

Did you know that Ripleys script was originally written for a make lead?

[MyCrispBag]

I would say there is some truth in it. Hollywood is about money, if they think they can gauge more money with a young female lead then that's what they'll do. I wouldn't be surprised if this was part of the motivation. Suddenly young girls (ca ching) are into sci-fi. Boys were already on board with Star Wars anyway so throw in a female lead and you can maximise profits.

[Pannn]

Catching up with this and thanks for thoughts.
Dr, nope, for dd hating sci-fi does impact on her ability to work well, or at least her willingness to. When the media tutor said "sci-fi" dd loked like she'd been asked to drink a cup of cold sick. She sees sci-fi as battles with laser guns out in space, what boy geeks like and nothing to do with her. (and I was like this at her age despite being a boy.)
It's also remarkable how physically similar KE and Rey are - both lithe, long-limbed, same hair colouring and length, both carry their weapons slung over their shoulders, and yes stylistically taking a lead from Lara Croft.

With your insights I'm debunking the KE - Rey lineage when talking to dd about sci-fi. It's a lot more complex than that.

[MephistophelesApprentice]

Just an interesting aside, the original cut of Return of the Jedi had female starfighter pilots, including an extended in-cockpit scene with a page worth of script for one of them.

In the final cut they were all edited out - even in the briefing scene, a male voice was dubbed over a female pilot confirming her orders.

I think most sci-fi has seen gender equality as part of it's vision of the future. It's the money and publicity people that are stuck in the past.

[Destinysdaughter]

In this interview, JJ Abrams says he wanted 'a film mothers could take their daughters to'. Profit motive or female empowerment?

Sorry for DM link!

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3339834/J-J-Abrams-cast-strong-female-lead-Star-Wars-Force-Awakens.html

[MrsJayy]

Celia imirie (sp)is a pilot in the original starwars princess laya kicked arse and was the DD of a Jedi and lead the resistance there is loads of women in SciFi I know you are looking for modern and relevant but you can find women in scifi

[HelpfulChap]

Ripley is one of my favourite ever movie characters male or female, sci-fi or otherwise.

Can't wait for Alien 5.

[tabulahrasa]

"It's also remarkable how physically similar KE and Rey are - both lithe, long-limbed, same hair colouring and length, both carry their weapons slung over their shoulders, and yes stylistically taking a lead from Lara Croft."

Taken in isolation, yes, but the actress looks very like Natalie Portman and Rey is styled similarly to Padme and Leia, very probably for the future plot.

Honestly, I don't think you can look at the film 'heritage' of Rey and ignore the fact that this is the 7th film in a series.

[almondpudding]

The other obvious contemporary female lead in a scifi franchise is Tris in Divergent.

Hunger Games is more of a Dystopian action film than a scifi film.

[VertigoNun]

Yes though Tris has a haircut.

[FeatheredBumpkin]

I'm with DrSuesss, you really can't ignore Star Trek - even the original series had Uhura in a command position.

[GingerPCatt]

You can't (imho) talk women in sci-fi without touching on Servalan from Blake 7. Great villain.
Looking at gender and the Borg would be interesting. They're a queen but are all other borgs male or do they keep their original gender like 7of9?

[almondpudding]

There's a useful list of female characters here:

www.afterellen.com/general-news/107375-the-top-40-kick-ass-female-sci-fi-characters

It's a couple of years old so it misses out Teresa from the Maze Runner, Tris, Rey, Furiosa etc.

[HelpfulChap]

Uhura also had the first televised interracial kiss. It was with Captain Kirk but it was meant to be with Mr Spock.