As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I’ve been through the highs and lows of this incredible saga. From the moment I saw Luke Skywalker’s first lightsaber ignite on screen, I was hooked. And now, as I watch Disney struggle to keep the franchise afloat, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions.
Star Wars isn’t just about lightsabers and the Force that has captivated fans, at least according to Disney. The company seems to be exhausting every bit of nostalgia they can from the franchise. Just like a finite resource, its reserves are gradually depleting. It appears that the decision to bring back characters like Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Chewbacca in the sequel trilogy wasn’t purely for narrative reasons; it was likely influenced by high-ranking Disney executives. A recent report suggests that Disney views Star Wars as a mechanism where nostalgia is fed in, and profits are generated in return (I’d love to have such a machine).
Based on confidential information shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is grappling with the direction of Star Wars on the silver screen. Given the company’s inherent caution, they find themselves in a challenging situation with this franchise, as fans of Star Wars are known to be highly passionate and demanding. As the report puts it, “Star Wars isn’t just a brand or a franchise, but something akin to a religion.” When it came to developing the contentious sequel trilogy, one source compared it to the task of writing a new Bible, stating that it was like attempting to pen a new holy text.
“As I embark on this cinematic journey, I find myself in the unenviable position of crafting a modern-day equivalent to the New Testament. Yet, the challenge lies not only in the creativity required, but also in the seemingly insurmountable task of gaining consensus among my peers regarding its essence and interpretation.”
Disney is leveraging the iconic Star Wars franchise by tapping into fond memories of yesteryears. A different perspective on Disney’s approach suggests that Star Wars is primarily a business built around nostalgia. However, the company can only revisit the past for so long before it must focus on the future (today’s takeaway). Regardless, it appears they are not quite ready to let go of their nostalgic approach, even though it’s suggested that they may be running out of ways to generate nostalgia.
Disney is Allowed to Take Risks With Star Wars on TV
If you’ve ever pondered, “Why are there numerous Star Wars TV series while we have to wait ages for a new movie?”, today’s your lucky day! Disney’s approach towards the Star Wars intellectual property is focused primarily on the film industry. On the other hand, the television division seems to enjoy greater creative liberties, allowing them to explore diverse characters and storylines. Consequently, the Star Wars shows on Disney+ have featured morally ambiguous spies, a bounty hunter with his adopted child, a beloved Jedi, and even stories set centuries before the prequel trilogy’s timeline.
So far, the Star Wars films have been centered around the same group of characters and their associates since 1977. Regarding future Star Wars movies, Disney seems committed to continuing the Skywalker saga for another trilogy. Simon Kinberg is set to direct a new series of three films. Although it hasn’t been officially announced, there’s a strong belief that Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) will be the main character once more.
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2024-11-16 18:02