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Interesting article about SW in Wall Street Journal 8/22

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There was an interesting article in the WSJ today about what the strategy is for Lucas & SW in the next few years. As we all know everything: TV shows, Cartoons, and books will focus between Episode III & IV. I just have the newspaper on me, so I can't link it yet, but I will give an interesting quotes:

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"Mr. Lucas has said he won't do anymore movies, however, a plan to keep the movies merchandising empire rolling - a strategy that is dependent on generating new stories and fresh approaches to the iconic characters in the world. "

"The sales engine is starting to slow. Last month Hasbro said the sales of SW merchandise dropped 84.8 million in its second quarter from the year earlier period, but that was when ROTS was in the theaters."

"SW is still the top seller so far this year of action figures and biggest merchandiser for boys toys, beating its nearest movie merchandise competitor this summer, 'Cars."

"The Future success of Lucasfilms strategy will depend on hooking young fans."
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The bottom line for me guys, I don't think Lucas gives a rats ass about the O-OT generation anymore, as he is going after the PT fans and the young kids. I believe he is targeting the future of home video at the PT fans who will buy his saga sets, and of course the merchandising and toys at the kiddies.

I believe Lucas thinks there is a big enough market where he can let the O-OT fanbase wilt away and still stay profitable, cause he feels SW is an endless money machine and he thinks the new generation will keep funding it.

I still don't think the PT generation is as loyal because I just don't think the PT movies are good enough that they will be here 10-15 years buying all SW stuff like we did. There will be a niche PT fanbase, just like Star Trek, but I think Lucas is miscalculating that we loved the OT movies, and that is why we started a damn site to preserve those movies because we think they are classics. Most PT fans defend the movies saying, "Well, Jar Jar is annoying but......." or "The AOTC romance isn't great, but......." or "What films are perfect?"

We love the OT movies for one reason: They are classics, and we don't need any explaining as to why. Thats the difference.
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We love the OT movies for one reason: They are classics, and we don't need any explaining as to why. Thats the difference.

Amen to that. Well....ROTJ...needs.....ummmmmmm....nevermind.
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Unfortunately, from the point of view of a publication such as the Wall Street Journal ... the liklihood of an everlasting revenue stream seems brightest if the O.T. is changed on an annual basis and re-released perpetually.

Kids don't care for the prequels any more than Star Was fans generally do. It's got nothing to do with what movies played in theaters when tikes were young. Most Star Wars fans I know never saw the O.T in their original theatrical runs; they fell in love with the movies on home video ... and kids today, tomorrow and forever will be free to do the same. With an equal choice of what disc to watch, quality will out - - even in the minds of 9 year olds.

Being able to spawn revenue from the TV show is iffy. From the prequels is modest. And from anything to do with the O.T. is a veritable endless fountain of money.

And if the O.T. sells best, then the real trick is to get people to buy it and its related merchandise again and again and again. Special Edition ver. 17.3 by 2026 is the method the Wall Street Journal would be most pleased with.


Bah.
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Basically, what they are saying is that LFL want a new product with which to make money. How about a remastered OOT? Nah.

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death