The Star Wars galaxy has continued to expand over the last couple of years and there's a number of new initiatives to dive into other areas of this universe. The Skywalker saga may be over, but there's so much more to explore from the Lucasfilm and Disney property.
One character who has benefited from this continued expansion is Doctor Aphra. Starting out as a ing player to Darth Vader, she eventually earned her own comic series. The character is back for a brand new run, plus she's got her very own audio drama. She's achieved a lot of firsts, but should she make the jump from the page to the screen?
Shouldn't: Lost In The Shuffle
There's every chance that with everything going on Doctor Aphra could get lost in the shuffle a little if she is brought to the big or small screen. With characters like Ahsoka making the leap, Aphra's spotlight could be stolen.
Right now, Aphra is at the top of the pecking order in the comics world. Sure it would be interesting to see her have some crossovers and adventures in live-action, but she's already achieved so much on the page it would be a shame to risk that.
Should: Rich Character
Out of all the original characters from Marvel Comics, this may be one of the richest. Doctor Aphra has had a complex journey so far, that's prime for some big-screen adaptation.
Aphra is not necessarily a morally good or evil member of the Star Wars galaxy, but she operates in some of the grey areas of the universe. There are very few characters like this incredibly intelligent warrior.
Shouldn't: New Audio Drama
Chelli Lona Aphra has also just done something that very few other characters have. She had her own audio drama. There are very few proper dramas like these available from Star Wars.
What's more, it's incredibly rare for an original character of the comics to get such a big platform. It's an exciting moment for fans of the doctor and it would be great to have more of these before moving to live-action.
Should: Popular Character
Aphra is probably one of the most popular comic book characters out there right now. She's also got quite the cult following amongst Star Wars fans, making this a great opportunity to capitalize on the moment.
There are very few characters in the galaxy far far away right now who are causing this kind of excitement. It would be interesting to see how this actually translates to somewhere like Disney+ as the platform continues to develop new projects.
Shouldn't: Opportunity For Comics
With the character increasing in fame and popularity, perhaps this is a moment that the comics can actually capitalize on. There's so much more to this franchise than just the films and TV shows.
The animated world has only just started to get the recognition it deserves and now it's time for the comics, graphic novels, and audiobooks to get that same attention.
Should: Wider Recognition
Live-action would bring wider recognition to the character though, which could then filter into the comics and books. In fact, it would be a big benefit to the other areas of this franchise.
Introducing the character on the screen will mean that fans look for her story, famous space battles, and wider character development elsewhere, so that the focus filters down to other mediums.
Shouldn't: Place In The Universe
One of the problems of bringing the doctor to live-action is that it's difficult to see where she can be placed in the universe. At the moment, Aphra has carved out a pretty good place for herself.
With the live-action projects all exploring very different areas in the timeline, there are very few ways in which she could be brought in. Perhaps the best route forward would be an older version, but that might limit the narrative of the character in the comics.
Should: One Of A Kind
Doctor Aphra is a one of a kind character in of her origins, her presentation, and the way in which she has interacted with the wider universe so far.
Disney+ and the live-action Star Wars projects could definitely benefit from some of those unique qualities. Aphra is the creative result of a lot of different artists and is now a very well defined and unique personality.
Shouldn't: Losing Her Essence
There's always a chance that when a well-established character gets moved between different mediums, everything that made them unique could be changed to fit the new environment.
There's definitely a risk that the essence of Aphra could be lost if she was moved from the comics and audio drama. While it's likely not a huge problem, every choice affects her story in the comics; especially if there are any shocking deaths or twists in store.
Should: Representation
There's not a lot of representation in the Star Wars franchise. Characters like Aphra are so important as they are starting to change the way in which personalities are created.
Chelli is part of the LGBTQ+ community, which very few characters appear to belong to in this galaxy. Bringing her to live-action would start to increase the much-needed representation for fans across the world.
