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Post #299402

Author
zombie84
Parent topic
"Lucas can't find home for Star Wars spin-off"
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/299402/action/topic#299402
Date created
19-Oct-2007, 5:00 AM
Actually, the Ewok Adventure tv movie was quite successful--in Europe it was even released theatrically, and they eventually made a sequel. Droids was somewhat popular and lasted two or three seasons, and the Ewok cartoon was equally successful. Young Indy had a hard time in the ratings but I think that was due to a changing timelsot--the same thing happened with Futurama and Firefly, explaining why critically-praised shows with a hugely devoted fanbase managed to get cancelled. Like the aforementioned shows, Young Indy still returned in made-for-TV edits and then was released on video in the late 90's, and became a highly-requested DVD title. So while Lucas never had a hit TV show the way he did with his films, I wouldn't say he was unsuccessful, he just always stayed in that sort of average, non-remarkable region that most TV series achieve, but because it is Star Wars people still remember Ewok Adventure and Young Indy even after ten and twenty years.

And of course, as was pointed out, 1985 and 1993 are not 2008 and 2009, when the new series will be out--in a lot of ways Young Indy was ahead of its time, it is the type of big-budget drama that you see all over the tube nowadays and i think if its was re-broadcast it would still find a considerable audience even after fifteen years. Aside from that, the Clone War cartoon from 2003 and 2004 was massively popular and i have to admit very well done, for what it was. In a lot of ways it gave me hope, because it showed that Star Wars spin-offs, even PT-based ones done in 5-10 minute episodes, could be highly entertaining. So I have to say, as always, to wait and see how the live-action series turns out, because as dangerous as it could be to the franchise, theres an equal, if not higher chance of it being pretty decent, and even quite good. Since we know almost nothing about it other than when it will be set, its really too early to say how it will play. And as far as audience and network, all I have to say is "Battlestar Galactica"; Lucas has stated that he is looking at specialty networks like HBO and Sci-Fi Network that would be interested in more ambitious and niche-market TV material such as what he is planning.