Not just here, but there is a lot of comparison to Marvel in regards to the way they put their movies out and how Star Wars has, per some, failed. But, I think it requires some reminding that Marvel started out slowly with their releases. Starting in 2008, there were six movies over five years (if you include Universal's The Incredible Hulk in the equation). And Phase Two moved into the two movies a year category, releasing six movies over three years.
But Star Wars is different. I admit wholeheartedly that a part of what makes Star Wars special is lost by the increased release schedule of the films. It was something else when a new Star Wars came out, because they were so few and far between. I was born in late 1979 so while I did see Return of the Jedi in the theaters, I don't know that I understood that at the time. And say what you will about the prequels but having the big gap between Jedi and The Phantom Menace made what is considered now by many to be a mediocre entry in the saga to be something really special. I remember being in college and downloading the first Episode I trailer overnight on dial-up from my dorm room. I had to see it right then and there. I remember having a positive opinion coming out of Episode I for the first time and then I kind of bought into the hate until right before The Force Awakens came out and I watched it again and I realized, "This isn't that bad." The next two, in my opinion, left a little to be desired, but TPM was a good story with a flawed way of telling it.
I think its telling that Bob Iger is suggesting Disney "might’ve put a little bit too much in the marketplace too fast.” I think its also telling that they've slowed down. They realize that what they have is something a little more special than releasing two or three movies a year. So this idea that Disney Star Wars is a failure because Solo failed to do gangbusters at the box office? Well, one movie doesn't make a franchise failure, particularly if that franchise has made $4.8 billion over the four movies that have been released since Disney bought LFL. And no, box office does not equal quality, but it does show audience interest and that, to the studio fronting the bill is the most important thing. There's something to remember that not everyone who bought a ticket to The Force Awakens or Rogue One or The Last Jedi were as obsessive about Star Wars as we are. Not everyone talks about it on the internet. Not everyone reads blogs and watches vlogs about it. Not everyone reads the books and comics and discuss this stuff ad nauseum. They want to go see a movie. "Hey, look, the new Star Wars is out!" "Is it supposed to be any good?" "I don't know. But let's go!" They watch it. They like it or not. And they move on with their lives. That is what is special about Star Wars. Its accessible! People across demographics can share in the mythological tales that have been entertaining for over 40 years but are rooted in stories that are timeless.
Yeah, I think Disney is recognizing that industry analysts (not YouTube commentators) are suggesting that franchise fatigue plays a part in this. Not one movie in particular, but a slew of too much, too fast. I think that's fair. But I don't think its suggesting by any stretch of the imagination that the backlash for The Last Jedi was the only reason Solo failed. There's been a slew of reasons that have led to it including: bad word of mouth, too many blockbusters in the cinema and the aforementioned franchise fatigue. Plus was Solo a film anyone really asked for? Did it break any kind of new ground? Were people maybe burned by the last Star Wars Story with Rogue One? Sure, a lot of fans loved that one, but what about the average movie goer? It was different tonally than anything from Star Wars before.
Ultimately, and I have been very forward with my feelings in this matter, I believe there has been too much too quick with Star Wars. I think that having Johnson work on The Last Jedi while The Force Awakens maybe caused some issues that could have been better resolved with another year. And I think the Anthology films would have all been better suited on a streaming service from the get-go. I think moving Obi-Wan from the big screen to Disney+ is the smartest thing they could do. The Mandalorian looks very different (in a good way) and even though I wasn't overly fond of Rogue One, I liked Cassian and K-2SO and am interested in seeing what they can do with the series. Waiting three years between The Rise of Skywalker and whatever is next is actually a good thing in my opinion. It allows some creative space to be able to develop the future of this franchise and take it in the direction it needs to go and hopefully make it special again.
For me, yeah, in some form or fashion, I've enjoyed every Star Wars film I've seen. But none of them have been perfect. But I had fun! And that is the most important thing I've taken from this saga.
So, I am cautiously optimistic for the future of Star Wars. And for the last time, no, that does not make me naive.
But Star Wars is different. I admit wholeheartedly that a part of what makes Star Wars special is lost by the increased release schedule of the films. It was something else when a new Star Wars came out, because they were so few and far between. I was born in late 1979 so while I did see Return of the Jedi in the theaters, I don't know that I understood that at the time. And say what you will about the prequels but having the big gap between Jedi and The Phantom Menace made what is considered now by many to be a mediocre entry in the saga to be something really special. I remember being in college and downloading the first Episode I trailer overnight on dial-up from my dorm room. I had to see it right then and there. I remember having a positive opinion coming out of Episode I for the first time and then I kind of bought into the hate until right before The Force Awakens came out and I watched it again and I realized, "This isn't that bad." The next two, in my opinion, left a little to be desired, but TPM was a good story with a flawed way of telling it.
I think its telling that Bob Iger is suggesting Disney "might’ve put a little bit too much in the marketplace too fast.” I think its also telling that they've slowed down. They realize that what they have is something a little more special than releasing two or three movies a year. So this idea that Disney Star Wars is a failure because Solo failed to do gangbusters at the box office? Well, one movie doesn't make a franchise failure, particularly if that franchise has made $4.8 billion over the four movies that have been released since Disney bought LFL. And no, box office does not equal quality, but it does show audience interest and that, to the studio fronting the bill is the most important thing. There's something to remember that not everyone who bought a ticket to The Force Awakens or Rogue One or The Last Jedi were as obsessive about Star Wars as we are. Not everyone talks about it on the internet. Not everyone reads blogs and watches vlogs about it. Not everyone reads the books and comics and discuss this stuff ad nauseum. They want to go see a movie. "Hey, look, the new Star Wars is out!" "Is it supposed to be any good?" "I don't know. But let's go!" They watch it. They like it or not. And they move on with their lives. That is what is special about Star Wars. Its accessible! People across demographics can share in the mythological tales that have been entertaining for over 40 years but are rooted in stories that are timeless.
Yeah, I think Disney is recognizing that industry analysts (not YouTube commentators) are suggesting that franchise fatigue plays a part in this. Not one movie in particular, but a slew of too much, too fast. I think that's fair. But I don't think its suggesting by any stretch of the imagination that the backlash for The Last Jedi was the only reason Solo failed. There's been a slew of reasons that have led to it including: bad word of mouth, too many blockbusters in the cinema and the aforementioned franchise fatigue. Plus was Solo a film anyone really asked for? Did it break any kind of new ground? Were people maybe burned by the last Star Wars Story with Rogue One? Sure, a lot of fans loved that one, but what about the average movie goer? It was different tonally than anything from Star Wars before.
Ultimately, and I have been very forward with my feelings in this matter, I believe there has been too much too quick with Star Wars. I think that having Johnson work on The Last Jedi while The Force Awakens maybe caused some issues that could have been better resolved with another year. And I think the Anthology films would have all been better suited on a streaming service from the get-go. I think moving Obi-Wan from the big screen to Disney+ is the smartest thing they could do. The Mandalorian looks very different (in a good way) and even though I wasn't overly fond of Rogue One, I liked Cassian and K-2SO and am interested in seeing what they can do with the series. Waiting three years between The Rise of Skywalker and whatever is next is actually a good thing in my opinion. It allows some creative space to be able to develop the future of this franchise and take it in the direction it needs to go and hopefully make it special again.
For me, yeah, in some form or fashion, I've enjoyed every Star Wars film I've seen. But none of them have been perfect. But I had fun! And that is the most important thing I've taken from this saga.
So, I am cautiously optimistic for the future of Star Wars. And for the last time, no, that does not make me naive.
