Amidst a fascinating compilation of studies from Stat Significant about the uniqueness of the Star Wars fandom, I want to start a discussion about where Star Wars can go in future projects that could create unity and growth. I’m opening with my personal analysis of the state of the brand, and want to keep track in this OP of various recommended projects to track ideas and see what eventually comes to pass.
The State of Star Wars in a Post-Acolyte World
As I reflect on the state of Star Wars after the last 7 weeks, it has become clear that this fanbase is truly unlike any other in existence. It is an unruly beast with many heads, akin to some Biblical creature in Revelation. How does one tame (or at least direct the aggression of) this wild beast into a well-behaved pet? Disney+ has been hemorrhaging billions of dollars over the last few years. Star Wars hasn’t been in theaters for nearly 5 years, and it has been nearly 8 years since there has been a movie that was not extremely divisive and also financially successful (Rogue One). The High Republic sales are astronomically lower than previous EU, and modern video games have been released at a snail’s pace. We’ve also seen one of the most successful original streaming releases of all time in the Mandalorian, had numerous big money-making films like TFA, received critically acclaimed and successful “Jedi” games, and had some great additions to comics and novels in the canon timeline. This is of course a natural ebb and flow of a multi-billion dollar effort. It isn’t unexpected, and such a large purchase and integration is bound to have times of trial. However, there are clear signs of the uniqueness of these challenges. The present divisiveness has grown into a festering wound that I would like to see addressed before things get worse.
The OT v PT war of the early 2000s was our first glimpse at what was to come (the mini-controversies of RotJ feeling more “childlike” are microscopic bacteria compared to what is visible today), and today’s divisive battle makes that initial trilogy duel look like toy soldiers in a sandbox. If any semblance of unity or shared enjoyment is the goal (and perhaps it’s not, perhaps Disney is simply done with certain sects and wants them to fade away into the abyss) then the path forward must involve a concerted effort to understand and address the diverse expectations and preferences of the fan community. I hope the goal for Star Wars is still to tell timeless stories that deal with issues that cause us to question and come away with positive understandings of spirituality, mortality, peace, love, selfishness, emotion, reason, etc. All of this value is taught through a fantastic sci-fi fantasy setting with depth in lore and vast buckets of technologies and species. I think this worldwide phenomenon of Star Wars is still waiting to be utilized and by acknowledging past missteps and actively working towards a more unified and satisfying narrative approach, the franchise can regain its cultural footing and continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
This preface analysis aims to dissect the current state of the Star Wars fanbase, identify the core groups and their unique perspectives, and propose strategies for fostering a more cohesive and harmonious community. Only by embracing the richness of its diverse fanbase and catering to the various cliques can Star Wars hope to chart a course toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
Core Groups of Star Wars Fans
The Star Wars franchise, spanning nearly five decades, has cultivated a diverse and passionate fanbase. However, this diversity has also led to deep divisions among fans, each group with their own preferences and criticisms. Understanding these core groups is essential for fostering a passionate community. Here, I identify five main categories of Star Wars fans and explore strategies to bridge the gaps between them.
1. Original Trilogy Purists
Characteristics: These fans hold the OT as the pinnacle of Star Wars. They often critique changes made in special editions and may be skeptical of new additions to the saga, such as the PT, and animated projects.
Preferences: Practical effects, 80s nostalgia, original storytelling, and the character arcs of classic heroes like Luke, Leia, and Han.
Challenges: Resistance to new characters, ideas, and storylines that deviate from the original trilogy’s tone and style.
Solutions and Specific Projects -
Restoration Projects: Restore and release the original theatrical versions of the original trilogy on Disney+. This project can be announced in Year 1 of this plan and released in Year 2, providing OT Purists with access to the untouched classics. (GL has said he doesn’t necessarily care for these to be re-released, but somehow, some way there has to be a way to get these made available on D+. You would instantly buy massive favor with this sect if these were readily available for viewing on their home devices)
Spin-off Series and Films: Develop a series focusing on the untold stories of original trilogy concepts. For example, a series exploring a Stormtrooper’s journey in response to the Death Star’s destruction, a Rebel Pilot’s missions in the Galactic Civil War that culminate at RotJ (Rogue Squadron, the “top gun” themed film seemed to be a perfect fit here), or even use an existing character like a young Wedge Antilles. This can be pitched in Year 2 and released in Year 4.
Tribute Documentaries: Produce a documentary series, “The Legacy of the Original Trilogy,” featuring never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew. Film new interviews reflecting back on “the good ol’ days”. This can be announced in Year 1 and released in Year 3.
The reality is that this group already feels disenfranchised, and at ~40 years out from their conception, they are genuinely dying out and cannot carry the brand forward. But they should be absolutely treasured for eternity and be given a respectful send-off.
2. Expanded Universe Enthusiasts (Here I am, Lord. Uh, I am a member of this sect is what I mean)
Characteristics: Devotees of the now non-canonical Expanded Universe, rebranded by Disney to be known as “Legends”. They appreciate the depth and complexity added to the Star Wars lore through books, comics, and games. Open to different storytelling methods and perspectives, but needs to respect big-picture Star Wars themes.
Preferences: Characters like Grandmaster Luke, Mara Jade, Revan, and Darth Bane, and events such as the Yuuzhan Vong War or Mandalorian Wars. Essentially, prefer the “ruleset” of the 80s-00s and do not like seeing much changed from what they know.
Challenges: Discontent with the Disney acquisition and subsequent rebranding of all the EU as non-canonical, receiving no new production (Except SWTOR, I still see you, sweet prince), and do not enjoy having aspects of beloved stories being mildly adapted into “lesser” versions in Canon. Ie: The Solo movie poaching minor arcs of the EU book trilogy while ignoring the core story and pacing of said trilogy.
Solutions and Specific Projects -
EU Characters Faithfully in Canon: Introduce beloved EU characters into the new canon through series and films. This cannot be done in a way that deeply alters or lessens their previous storylines. Place these characters into situations that don’t alter their previous arcs. Let fans continue to personally headcanon ways for EU and Canon to co-exist. For example, bring Mara Jade into a Disney+ series exploring her life pre-EU introduction in the timeline. Use her in Canon stories around big events in the EU. Announce these projects in Year 1, with a release in Year 3.
Animated Series: Develop an animated series that faithfully adapts popular EU storylines like the OG Tales of the Jedi comics and doesn’t get close enough to Canon to interfere with it. I would additionally look at diversifying the animated art styles. TCW style is great, but not conducive to all storylines. Look at how Visions diversified the studios. I can see something like Arcane for this project. Announce in Year 2 and release in Year 4.
Re-cast and Tell EU Stories Set in the EU: I’d put this 5-10 years down the line… but recast Han, Luke, Leia, and create the EU Thrawn trilogy/NJO. Don’t worry about Canon integration, just openly release some EU stories set in the EU. No reason we have to forget these beloved storylines just because TLJ Luke exists. Let each sect keep their beloved stories. Thrawn Trilogy is the most influential EU project of all time. The Heir to the Empire novel alone sold 15 million copies, which is roughly equivalent to 20% of the tickets sold for Return of the Jedi. This statistic alone highlights the substantial fanbase dedicated to the Expanded Universe, and that is just one single novel. You would print money moving from this trilogy to NJO in live-action.
3. “George Lucas Star Wars” Defenders
Characteristics: Fans who grew up with the prequel trilogy and appreciate its story arcs and character development, particularly of Anakin Skywalker. Deeply appreciate the OT as well, but generally like the movies and maybe a couple of games and shows.
Preferences: Political intrigue, expansive world-building, large-scale battles, and the Jedi Order/Galactic Empire’s rise and fall.
Challenges: Sensitive to criticism of GL Star Wars, not fond of Canon additions that add to/alter the context of the original saga’s events.
Solutions and Specific Projects -
Clone Wars Continuation: Create an additional season of The Clone Wars to explore untold stories and character arcs. Finish Utapau arc, Son of Dathomir, Dark Disciple, untold Boba v Cad story. Move on this immediately, almost every group will love this. Announce in Year 1, and release the new season ASAP.
Continue Saga Novels: Commission a series of novels set during the GL Skywalker saga, focusing on key events and characters like Mace Windu, Sidious, and Boba Fett. Canon seems to be doing this currently to a degree, but it’s disjointed and completely up against a wall with the EU. Notice how they will not retell EU stories and they’re towing an awkward line here. Not sure what the solution is honestly, but there needs to be a new strategy for the book releases as sales are currently abysmal. Announce a new plan rollout in Year 1, with the first novel released in Year 3.
Expanded Universe Film: Produce a live-action film that delves into the complexities of the Clone Wars from different perspectives, such as a war drama. Perhaps a Quinlan Vos movie, might be a good slot for Filoni after his Thrawn movie. Announce in Year 2, release in Year 5.
4. Disney Era Admirers
Characteristics: Fans who enjoy the new direction taken by Disney since acquiring Lucasfilm. This includes the sequel trilogy, standalone films, and new series like The Mandalorian or The Acolyte. Generally pretty open and accepting of any direction, not super picky or protective.
Preferences: New characters like Rey, Kylo Ren, and the integration of modern feeling and diverse storytelling.
Challenges: “Bored” of the GL Skywalker era. Sensitive to backlash from fans of aforementioned sects and those who dislike changes in tone and narrative direction.
Solutions and Specific Projects:
Sequel Trilogy Novels: Publish a series of novels that further develop the characters and storylines introduced in the sequel trilogy. Let’s see a back-and-forth journey of Rey and Kylo in between TLJ and TRoS. Announce in Year 1, release the first novel in Year 2.
New Series and Spin-offs: Create a new series that expands on the sequel trilogy characters, such as a series about Rey’s journey to rebuild the Jedi Order (probably set before the upcoming Rey movie). Announce in Year 3, release in Year 5.
Crossover Events: Develop crossover events in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka that tie into the sequel trilogy, creating a cohesive narrative bridge. This is already being done pretty well, and I think it’s great for this group of fans. Don’t stop doing this just because of backlash from other groups.
5. “Casual” and Newcomer Fans
Characteristics: Individuals who enjoy Star Wars but do not engage deeply with the lore. They appreciate the franchise as entertaining and accessible. Enjoy it when it is culturally relevant, ignore it when it is not.
Preferences: Broad appeal content, straightforward narratives, and prominent pop culture moments.
Challenges: Lack of deep knowledge can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or oversimplifications of the saga’s complexities. Certain projects will inevitably be inaccessible to this group.
Solutions and Specific Projects:
Star Wars Introduction Series: Develop a Disney+/social media series that re-introduces the Star Wars universe to newcomers, explaining key concepts, characters, and events in an engaging way. Bring in celebrities if you need, make Star Wars feel “cool” and break whatever remaining stigmas exist. Announce in Year 1, release in Year 2.
Multi-media Experiences: Bring in new apps, games, and in-person experiences for people to engage with. Contract themed events whether at bars, theaters, restaurants, etc. Don’t let Star Wars fade into the background for this group. Let the average person have a reason to say they’re a fan by keeping it an occasional and enjoyable part of their life.
Cultural Phenomenon Moments: Sometimes you just have to get lucky here, but Grogu was the epitome of this. Produce family-friendly stories that provide standalone, easy-to-follow characters set in the Star Wars universe. To keep Star Wars in the cultural forefront, this needs to keep happening.
Many of these groups will feel they belong in primarily 1 or 2 and secondarily in another. That’s wonderful, crossover is very healthy. And of course, there will be the rare deviation of a big-time 1 & 4 that hates 2 & 3 and deviates from all norms. I have certainly missed some things here and perhaps am too broad already, but for the sake of being able to generally keep track of things, let’s move on. Let’s look at some big-picture proposals on how to bridge some gaps between our groups.
Strategies for Unifying the Fanbase
1. Equal Respect for All Groups
Strategy: This needs to be first and foremost, but any and all projects need to be respectful of all the groups. If you’re going to massively rewrite an EU character to tell a new Disney Canon story with them, you need to first celebrate their EU arc and clearly identify this as a new timeline and not just a slap in the face. We have seen complete EU erasure to the point where it’s not even acknowledged outside of republished books that they bank on to boost their presently terrible print sales. And on the flip side, if an EU story is going to be told, don’t do it in a way that makes it try to come off as “superior” to a Disney canon story. Acknowledge the value of each era of Star Wars content. Official channels and influential Star Wars voices should celebrate the contributions of the original, prequel, and Disney eras without pitting them against each other. Ie, do NOT open the new trilogy following the PT with the line, “THIS will begin to make things right.”
Specific Projects:
Documentaries and Retrospectives: Create a docuseries that covers the making and cultural impact of each era, including interviews with key creators and actors. For example, a series like “Star Wars: The Legacy Continues” could delve into the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, and the Disney era, showcasing behind-the-scenes footage and fan reactions over the decades.
Multigenerational Panel Discussions: Host panel discussions at major conventions featuring creators and actors from all three eras together. Don’t separate things so much. These panels could actors from different trilogies discussing their experiences and the evolution of the franchise. Give a “Sith Apprentice” panel with Sam Witwer and Manny Jacinto for example. Have fun with it!
Themed Marathons on Disney+: Organize viewing marathons on Disney+ that mix content from all eras. For instance, a marathon could include the opening movie from each trilogy followed by the premiere of The Mandalorian or The Clone Wars. Run themed character marathons like an Ahsoka-organized viewing list. Emphasize the continuity and shared universe of Star Wars.
2. Expanded Canon Integration
Strategy: Integrate elements of the Expanded Universe into the new canon. This acknowledges EU enthusiasts while enriching current narratives.
Specific Projects:
Thrawn Trilogy Adaptation: As mentioned above, I think this is the #1 project to get moving. Create a high-quality live-action or maybe an animated adaptation of Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy. This could be a limited series on Disney+, introducing some of the most beloved EU characters into the modern era while staying true to the original storylines.
Knights of the Old Republic: You have to take advantage of this era. Fix whatever is happening with the game remake and develop a new film or series set in the Old Republic era, incorporating popular elements from the games and comics. Remaking the games will serve to tell those specific stories, but build around them. Run a young Revan/Malak Mandalorian War show. This project could explore the ancient Jedi and Sith history, appealing to fans of the EU and those interested in new, untold stories.
Meaningful Cameos and References: Introduce EU characters in existing series without doing so in a “cheap” way. Respect and enhance the EU arcs, don’t just toss them in for name recognition and brief pops of attention on social media.
3. Open Dialogue and Feedback Channels
Strategy: Create official channels for fan feedback and discussion, promoting a sense of ownership and involvement among fans. Maybe this is unrealistic in today’s corporate-driven world that generally doesn’t mind eating the little man for breakfast, but throwing any sort of bone to their fanbase looking for feedback, or at least any sort of acknowledgment about the state of things is desperately needed. Marvel X-Men has done it in times of division, Dragonball Z certainly did it… This is possible and healthy.
Specific Projects:
Star Wars Town Halls: Host virtual town halls where fans can ask questions and provide feedback directly to creators and executives. These sessions could be live-streamed on platforms like YouTube and Disney+. Do NOT PR sugarcoat it with BS. I know that’s a big corpo nightmare, but find creators/figureheads who can openly engage with the fans. It is truly not difficult to have discussions with respectful disagreement. It’s a lost art. Bring it back.
Interactive Online Forums: Develop an official Star Wars community platform where fans can discuss theories, share fan art, and interact with creators. Moderators and Star Wars creators can participate in discussions, providing insights and fostering a sense of community. Pay some Star Wars celebs to drop in and discuss every once in a while. Star Wars feels unreachable currently. We have lost a sense of community and the beauty of old forum discussions (actually, much like this one 😃 ) social media interactions aren’t cutting it.
Surveys and Polls: Conduct regular surveys and polls on social media and the official Star Wars website to gather fan input on potential projects, characters, and storylines. Results should be shared transparently, showing fans that their voices are heard and valued.
4. Modern Storytelling
Strategy: This is simply a reality of the world, but we can’t live in the 80s or 00s forever. New content should be both innovative and respectful of the franchise’s heritage. Balancing nostalgia with incredible new improvements can appeal to both long-time fans and newcomers.
Specific Projects:
High Republic Series: This era was a good idea, but the launch was flubbed. Marketing and projects were a mess. Worst book sales in Star Wars history. Expand the High Republic publishing initiative into a live-action series or animated show, focusing on a group of Jedi and their adventures (I don’t think the Acolyte did anything to help this era whatsoever. Being set 80-100 years before the PT and primarily trying to tie into TPM storylines did nothing to this era which dates back 500+ years.) This era is ripe for fresh stories, but outside of a couple novels, we have nothing to care about. Look at how KOTOR brought the Old Republic onto the map. We need something influential like this to kickstart this era’s popularity.
Children’s Programming: Continue to make new series aimed at younger audiences that teach timeless lessons. Young Jedi Adventures isn’t bad, but it is extremely shallow and relies on bright colors and fast-paced cuts more than good storytelling. I have a 4-year-old daughter that I’d love to introduce to the beauty of Star Wars. We started watching this show together and made it through a season. She thought it was ok, got her into things enough to want a lightsaber… But then I showed her The Clone Wars. Specifically, the TotJ Ahsoka prequel followed by more Ahsoka episodes and she is absolutely obsessed now. Children do not need things so dumbed down. YJA feels like it’s directed at the attention span of a 1-2-year-old but is actually aimed at the 4-7 range. Don’t underestimate the mind of a child, truly wonderful it is! I watched A New Hope at 6 years old and was beyond engrossed with Star Wars. Bring back the timeless childhood magic by trusting the young mind.
5. Community Building Events
Strategy: Organize events that bring together fans from different groups, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
Specific Projects:
Star Wars Celebration: Expand the annual Star Wars Celebration to include more interactive experiences, such as live-action role-playing games, fan film screenings, and cosplay/lightsaber dueling competitions that celebrate all eras of Star Wars. Celebration is a great idea, but ultimately still feels so corporate, sterile, and “safe” rather than open and genuine.
Global Fan Meetups: Coordinate global fan meetups on Star Wars Day (May 4th) where fans can gather in local theaters, libraries, and community centers to watch films, participate in trivia contests, and share their love for Star Wars.
Charity Events: Organize charity events like “Lightsaber Runs” or “Jedi vs. Sith” sports tournaments where fans can participate and raise funds for good causes. These events can be live-streamed and promoted on social media to encourage widespread participation.
Collaborative Fan Projects: SUPPORT collaborative fan projects such as fan films, fan fiction anthologies, and art exhibitions. Disney can provide resources, platforms, and even official recognition for outstanding contributions, fostering a sense of community and creativity. Highlighting random fan art of current projects is okay, but again, it’s extremely basic and doesn’t feel authentic. Embrace the fanbase rather than fearing it. Core theme of Star Wars here.
Conclusion
This is my personal opinion and speculation, but I truly hope Disney can celebrate the rich history of Star Wars, honor the diverse preferences of its fanbase, and create a more inclusive and unified community. Acknowledging the value of each era, integrating beloved EU elements, fostering open dialogue, ensuring inclusive storytelling, and organizing community-building events are key strategies that I think would help bridge the gaps between different fan groups. This approach not only respects the legacy of Star Wars but also ensures its continued growth and relevance for future generations.
I want to catalog some of your ideas for projects and track if any come to light. Did I miss any Core Groups of fans? What’s your idea to change course? Or is Disney doing great as is and doesn’t need any alterations?
(The Force Awakens) Heirs of the Force | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Last Jedi) Fate of the Jedi | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Rise of Skywalker) Legacy of the Force | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Bad Batch) Cinematic Version | A More Mature Edit
(The Mandalorian+Boba) The Way of Mandalore | A Compilation Edit
They should stop making weird garbage. Any time period, any genre, just stop with the bad scripts and low quality productions. Ideally in a movie format. But they couldn’t even get Obi-wan and Boba Fett right, and those were basically impossible targets to miss. Maybe their current infrastructure will collapse and it can be started over, but it’s hard to imagine.
I’m of the opinion that quality trumps quantity. The Mandalorian was a landmark moment, it had the whole world invested in Star Wars again. When it came out the attention to detail, quality and presentation was clear. As they’ve tried to latch onto that success and spin-up more and more concurrent projects they’ve all suffered in some way on the quality front, with Andor’s first season being the standout exception.
I’d like to see a return of a focused approach; tell a story, move on to the next one. The limited series idea has merit vs. films, but it has to be a script written for the format. If the story requires a film format, have the guts to stick to it, even if it’s a Disney+ only release. I’d much rather one quality project a year than three or four mediocre or compromised ones.
Great write-up Acbagel!
Unfortunately I don’t think simply making “a little something for everyone” (i.e. different things for different people) is enough to unite the fandom, as each group generally seems to think Star Wars should only be made for their tastes specifically (even if not everyone admits it). Doesn’t help also that a ton of YouTubers nowadays make an entire living from hating Star Wars, no matter what it does.
Of all the groups you mentioned, I’m in the one that you described as “not very protective, fine with whatever direction Disney takes.” I honestly think at this point they should just keep doing whatever they’re doing, cause people will get mad no matter what. There was a time when even ESB was divisive, ffs!
They should stop making weird garbage. Any time period, any genre, just stop with the bad scripts and low quality productions. Ideally in a movie format. But they couldn’t even get Obi-wan and Boba Fett right, and those were basically impossible targets to miss. Maybe their current infrastructure will collapse and it can be started over, but it’s hard to imagine.
I understand the dislike for some recent productions, but what is “weird garbage” to you is someone else’s introduction to Star Wars and their absolute favorite storyline. I am hoping this thread can be somewhere that folks can analyze the Star Wars fandom itself and speculate specific ways to ensure better financial and critical success. Any particular storyline you’d like to see represented in theaters? What would you do if you were in charge of selecting the next movie to produce?
I’m of the opinion that quality trumps quantity. The Mandalorian was a landmark moment, it had the whole world invested in Star Wars again. When it came out the attention to detail, quality and presentation was clear. As they’ve tried to latch onto that success and spin-up more and more concurrent projects they’ve all suffered in some way on the quality front, with Andor’s first season being the standout exception.
I’d like to see a return of a focused approach; tell a story, move on to the next one. The limited series idea has merit vs. films, but it has to be a script written for the format. If the story requires a film format, have the guts to stick to it, even if it’s a Disney+ only release. I’d much rather one quality project a year than three or four mediocre or compromised ones.
I agree with this to an extent! Back in GL era, it was quite focused on EU material surrounding what George was working on at that time/had worked on before. The KOTOR project was the biggest deviation we had ever seen, and amidst the PT, it was a wildly successful choice. I think 1 show, 1 film, and 1 game/year is a very achievable goal. Rotate these toward the preferences of the various core fan groups and I think we’d start to see a better trend in quality/viewership/reviews. Thanks for your thoughts. What do you think would be the best “one story” to focus on next? (Let’s be realistic and think past 2026 projects that are already slated)
Great write-up Acbagel!
Unfortunately I don’t think simply making “a little something for everyone” (i.e. different things for different people) is enough to unite the fandom, as each group generally seems to think Star Wars should only be made for their tastes specifically (even if not everyone admits it). Doesn’t help also that a ton of YouTubers nowadays make an entire living from hating Star Wars, no matter what it does.
Of all the groups you mentioned, I’m in the one that you described as “not very protective, fine with whatever direction Disney takes.” I honestly think at this point they should just keep doing whatever they’re doing, cause people will get mad no matter what. There was a time when even ESB was divisive, ffs!
It won’t necessarily unite the fandom, but it will at least satiate them to a degree. Right now I’d estimate you probably have 30%-60% of Star Wars fans saying they’re not pleased with the direction of the franchise (I know this is a wide range, but it’s pure speculation so I have to guess and be generous on either side. Either way, it’s a significant portion of dissatisfaction. If you read the study linked in OP, Star Wars consumer demand has decreased by 54% since 2020). OT purists have been mad for 2 decades, EU enthusiasts have been mad for a decade, GL Star Wars fans are up and down on the recent stuff, Disney-supportive folks are generally happy with recent years and glad for new stories, and casuals have been consistently tuning out post-2019. I think by throwing bones to various groups and hopefully crossing over here and there to satisfy multiple groups at a time, you’d foster a less angsty environment. They may never love one another, but if you give each group any semblance of real hope for something they want to see, then they’ll stay distracted enough to stop clawing each other’s eyes out.
Indeed, each group selfishly wants what they want and there’s nothing wrong with that. I would like nothing more personally than for Disney to announce that their Canon timeline is disbanded and they’re going back to the EU, similar to how they first did it with “Legends”. But do I think that would be “best” for the Star Wars brand? Not at all, and I think I have the self-awareness to say even though I selfishly want that for myself, I think that doing that would create even more rifts and fracture support for the stories I want to see. I want Disney to make a lot of money telling good stories so they can keep investing in quality production. There has to be a balance in strategies to accomplish this.
Yes, the YT/media “grift” must be entirely ignored by Disney. I won’t say the biggest YTers will hate “everything”, small sects will, but the algorithm does not support small sects of grifts. I run millions of $ in YT ad campaigns/year at my job and watch tons of channel trends, I am quite in tune with how view bumps work. The Acolyte is making people a LOT of money and they are milking it for all it’s worth, but the algorithm will soon move on to other content and the rage bait will move to another topic. Probably another franchise. These types of viewership spikes in “grift” channels did not occur during The Bad Batch, TCW S7, or Andor. I’ve done in-depth studies of a particular channel that during the ST era was capitalizing on the hype leading up to 8. They were making extremely positive and supportive videos pre-TLJ, and it was a nonsense “leak bait” channel that was pure made-up speculation, but they framed it as if they had “sources” feeding them info. The views were going WILD. I spoke directly with this channel and they sent me their earnings numbers. They were working 1-2 hours/day and making ~$150k/year. Post-TLJ, this channel rode the algorithm to capitalize on the controversy of the film, and then again after TRoS, and now the channel focuses solely on the “woke culture” in Hollywood. They have grown 5x and I’m sure their earnings are scaling quite well. This is obviously a channel to 100% ignore. The individual told me they genuinely don’t care/believe what they’re pushing and they just do it as a job to make a lot of money. I think these channels are very easy to identify, ignore, and not even take into consideration when looking at strategies for successful Star Wars.
(The Force Awakens) Heirs of the Force | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Last Jedi) Fate of the Jedi | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Rise of Skywalker) Legacy of the Force | A Star Wars Legends Re-edit
(The Bad Batch) Cinematic Version | A More Mature Edit
(The Mandalorian+Boba) The Way of Mandalore | A Compilation Edit
I understand the dislike for some recent productions, but what is “weird garbage” to you is someone else’s introduction to Star Wars and their absolute favorite storyline. I am hoping this thread can be somewhere that folks can analyze the Star Wars fandom itself and speculate specific ways to ensure better financial and critical success. Any particular storyline you’d like to see represented in theaters? What would you do if you were in charge of selecting the next movie to produce?
Well I can’t be held accountable for people that like the Disney products that represent how low quality standards have become. The nadir being things like Lizzo’s Mandalorian episode or that one about how Dr Pershing and the New Republic are total idiots. It feels like it’s written by idiots too, so the audience will get no quarter from me. I can only hope they are children and develop one day.
As for what I want, I already said anything goes. A fully fledged Western about outlaws or a TIE Fighter Academy movie would be my top picks. They could do a clever heist movie (instead of the version in Solo or Rogue One) or they could do a samurai epic set in medieval times. People must be tired of magic blood and destiny and whatever by now so I would start by losing that stuff. Get people that know how to write, slash budgets by half or more, do some real movies. If TV has to be a thing then look at Mando S1 and stop screwing around with a dozen references and cameos.
That’s a really complicated question. How much of it is stuff that I want, how much of it is what I think other people want, how much of it is what I think would make money, and how much of it is something that the company would actually do? Some of that overlaps but not very much, especially the last part.
Great write-up Acbagel!
Unfortunately I don’t think simply making “a little something for everyone” (i.e. different things for different people) is enough to unite the fandom, as each group generally seems to think Star Wars should only be made for their tastes specifically (even if not everyone admits it). Doesn’t help also that a ton of YouTubers nowadays make an entire living from hating Star Wars, no matter what it does.
Of all the groups you mentioned, I’m in the one that you described as “not very protective, fine with whatever direction Disney takes.” I honestly think at this point they should just keep doing whatever they’re doing, cause people will get mad no matter what. There was a time when even ESB was divisive, ffs!
Keep it crap because of some youtubers? Toxic youtubers are that undefeatable? That we have to just keep the quality bar low or random because Nerdrotic exists on youtube? They absolutely do not matter compared to the legacy of a 50 year old and going franchise.
When Andor came out most of them were praising the quality of the writing, acting and directing. I can only remember SW Theory didn’t like it because there were no Jedi and he thought bricks were not appropriate for the universe. Quality speaks for itself. If they “keep doing what they’re doing” then ratings will keep dropping and there will, honestly, be something worth critiquing for course correction needs.
This entire site exists because of complaining and hating on the Lucas special editions and the prequels and trying to fix them. If you put up all the same stuff everyone here said like 10 or 15 years ago and added some clickbait headlines and thumbnails you people would call them Hateful Toxic YouTube Grifters.
This entire site exists because of complaining and hating on the Lucas special editions and the prequels and trying to fix them. If you put up all the same stuff everyone here said like 10 or 15 years ago and added some clickbait headlines and thumbnails you people would call them Hateful Toxic YouTube Grifters.
I’ve been here since the start. It was created to preserve the OT beyond DVD rips and to highlight fan edits.
Just stopping, and ending Star Wars forever
not a Jedi apologist or a Jedi hater but a secret third thing
I definitely fall into the category that’s not that precious about the universe and pretty open to whatever they’d like to make but the biggest thing for me is that I think they need to start treating TV shows as TV shows and not padded movies split into 6-8 parts. When their shows have played to the medium’s strengths and had well constructed individual episodes and arcs like Andor, early Mandalorian, and the animated shows, it has worked for me.
it has been nearly 8 years since there has been a movie that was not extremely divisive and also financially successful (Rogue One).
Solo was half-heartedly divisive at best.
I’m an Expanded Universe fan as well, and I’m always in contact with the Expanded Universe community. I can tell you, from personal experience, that most EU fans don’t like the idea of EU characters being adapted into the current Canon timeline, regardless of whether they are adapted faithfully or not. The majority of EU fans love characters like Mara Jade, Thrawn and Revan precisely for the environment that surrounds them, because it’s the universe they exist within that makes them what they are. Which means that it makes no sense to adapt them to another universe, because they are actually not the same characters that EU fans use to love. The majority of EU fans don’t want Canon stories with EU characters arbitrarily inserted in them, they want the actual EU timeline to be continued through the publication of new stories, new books, comics and video games that are set specifically in the EU timeline itself. Having two separate but equally valid timelines is not confusing, and the material that belongs to the EU timeline can still have the Legends banner on it in order to avoid confusion. Disney is perfectly capable of managing two different timelines, and yet they decide to keep the EU as dead. If they really want to do something for the EU fanbase, then they should authorize the publication of new stories set during the Dawn of the Jedi era, the New Sith Wars era and the Legacy era. Furthermore, they should make a public statement announcing that TCW is not part of the EU timeline, because the show is technically part of both timelines, even though the majority of EU fans completely disregard it in the context of the EU, since it totally contradicts the Clone Wars Multimedia Project and the timeline of the Clone Wars that was already fully established before 2008, with all the books, comics and video games that used to be part of it.
I’m also a Prequel Trilogy fan, and I can tell you that not all Prequel Trilogy fans use to love TCW. Yes, the majority of Prequel fans love the show, but those who love the show don’t necessarily constitute the entirety of the Prequel fandom. Your propositions for Prequel fans are pretty valid and I don’t want to criticize them, I just want to make it clear that not all Prequel fans actually care about a Clone Wars continuation. Something that all Prequel fans (regardless of their opinions on TCW) might appreciate, though, is a Special Edition of the Prequel Trilogy that tries to improve the way the CGI looks and inserts some of the deleted scenes.
«No one is guilty of being born a slave. But the slave to whom not only aspirations for freedom are alien, but who justifies and paints his slavery in rosy colors, such a slave is a lackey and a brute who arouses a legitimate sense of indignation, disgust and repugnance.»
— Vladimir Lenin
I think what they need to do is very simple, but also kind of difficult to do. Focus on creating high quality films and series and not just producing a glut of content to drive subscribers to Disney+ like they’ve been doing since Mandalorian Season 2. Of all of the Star Wars streaming shows the only ones to have actually been produced and paced like actual TV shows have been Andor, The Mandalorian, and The Bad Batch. Literally everything else has felt like a movie idea that got suddenly stretched out into a 6-8 episode streaming series for no reason other than to get people to stay on Disney+ longer. If they’re going to make a TV miniseries or show, then make a miniseries or show, and not an extended 6 hour movie padded with filler to extend the runtime.
First Thing: Recognize That You Messed Up
There is no way for you to get out of a bad situation that you caused without acknowledging that you made some mistakes and that you SHOULD HAVE A PLAN
Second Thing: Understand Why You Made Such Mistakes
Was it for money? To keep the brand alive? To compete with Marvel? To appeal to everyone? To detach from George Lucas? And Were did go so wrong ?
Third Thing: Understand What You Did Well
Rogue One, Clone Wars Season 7, Jedi: Fallen Order, The Mandalorian Seasons 1 and 2, Andor, Tales of the Jedi, Jedi: Survivor… Why are these so well accepted and appreciated? What makes them great?
Fourth Thing: Focus Less on Quantity and More on Quality
Five movies, six TV shows, seven animated series, but how many of them are good? If you actually think of the ideas that comes to your door, put projects in the hands of a trustworthy filmmakers who actually has something to tell, and let them take the time needed and format needed and then u can actually deliver something truly awesome.
Fifth Thing: Respect the Canon and What Came Before, Including What Others Inside and Outside of Disney Have Done
idk
Release the original theatrical Star Wars 1977 on the 50th anniversary, that is all I’m interested in now.
Other than sitting down and fully digesting Andor.
Maybe one of the movies in production might be decent for a couple hours of fun? it would be unfair to just say no without seeing a trailer at least, but I’m pretty checked out on Disney Star Wars. I have no attachment to the Disney timeline or canon or expanded universe.
The Old EU won’t be continued, I might be intrigued if they made new comics or novels in the old canon. Do I trust Disney, doubtful.
I want to give the High Republic books a chance but it’s pretty hard to ignore the Acolyte. Kind of like how the world of the sequel trilogy didn’t interest me enough to want to read a bunch of comics and books for a world I didn’t understand and characters I felt no attachment to. Luke Skywalker I did understand Pre-Disney, he was my window or Avatar into the Star Wars world.
What I’d like to see:
End of line.
“The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order and in the assertion that, without Authority there could not be worse violence than that of Authority under existing conditions. They are mistaken only in thinking that anarchy can be instituted by a violent revolution… There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one: the regeneration of the inner man. How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.”
― Leo Tolstoy
I’d be down for the 1997 cuts and Phantom Menace in their theatrical presentations. But only after the original trilogy was released. Which will never happen because Mr Lucas hates them. He wouldn’t have gone off on a tangent at Cannes if he had any intention on relenting.
Edit: it’s not crazy that Lucasfilm making new tv and films made the EU non canon, it’s crazy Lucasfilm pretended that was canon to begin with just to make money off of fans. If George made his sequels they would have been thrown out, and they basically destroyed the EU by overwriting it with Filoni Clone Wars anyway and not following the lore. George didn’t think he was beholden to it and according to Dave told him none of it was canon.
If I could do what I wanted:
*Star Wars is Lucasfilm again and severed completely from Disney, and I have total control of Lucasfilm.
*Cancel everything except Andor season 2 and any Timothy Zahn books still in the works.
*Rerelease original trilogy with no special edition changes.
*Make a hard pause on all Star Wars media for 10+ years except for video games, provided the games are given to non-EA studios and the model is closer to how Games Workshop is licensing Warhammer.
*Bring back the specific developers who worked at Obsidian at the time of KOTOR 2 (not modern Obsidian) to make the actual KOTOR 3.
*Abandon the canon concept and encourage everyone to pick and choose whatever they want to be true. If and when the pause ends, Disney/Filoni canon will be reimagined as its own crazy world where any bonkers thing can happen. Basically the tone and pace of Rise of Skywalker but with everything. Time travel, everyone is a clone, the world is a board game, the republic is evil, whatever. Borderline self-parody, who cares.
If I wanted to make people happy and make money and had to work within the constraints of the existing company:
*Give the movies and TV shows a pause of at least a few years to let people catch their breath.
*Invest in some animated series that aren’t Filoni projects, including at least one with the original trilogy cast and not a buzzing swarm of Filoni OCs surrounding them.
*Stick with the feel of the Mandalorian before season 3, where it was unclear whether the sequels were going to be acknowledged or not. Don’t acknowledge or tie them in anymore. If you choose to believe they happened after Mandalorian and similar shows, that’s up to you. Leave it open.
*Make an alternate universe movie with Ewan, Hayden, and the rest of the prequel cast where Anakin makes the right decisions and Palpatine is defeated (maybe not killed) and they go on one last adventure together. Develop the alternate universe as its own canon that can go in new directions.
*Allow writers and creators to work within the Legends timeline, the Disney timeline, or the new alternate universe if they so choose.
*Focus a lot more on producing video games of all kinds. Maybe some free to play piles to rake in the money, then also a lot of single player and multiplayer games of various sizes, prices, and genres.
Just stopping, and ending Star Wars forever
Please.
“It is only through interaction, through decision and choice, through confrontation, physical or mental, that the Force can grow within you.”
-Kreia, Jedi Master and Sith Lord
This entire site exists because of complaining and hating on the Lucas special editions and the prequels and trying to fix them. If you put up all the same stuff everyone here said like 10 or 15 years ago and added some clickbait headlines and thumbnails you people would call them Hateful Toxic YouTube Grifters.
You’re probably right.
The Prequel/Special-Edition debates of the late 90s through early 2010s were way more heated than most people seem to remember. But one major difference between those debates and debates about modern Star Wars was that with the Prequel debates there was no real political dimension. The debates really were almost entirely about quality, or how well the Prequels lived up to the potential dramatic greatness implied in the OT. Whereas nowadays, before we even get to discussions about the actual quality of a new Star Wars movie/show, we often have to first wade through layers of political discourse, usually with all nuance thrown out the window. Also, anything with a political dimension invariably induces people to take sides based on political allegiances first and other considerations second.
As for what I’d like to see: basically just Andor Season 2. After that I don’t care what happens.
Channel72 said:
As for what I’d like to see: basically just Andor Season 2. After that I don’t care what happens.
Yeah basically this unless by some miracle the trajectory of their over-arching plan changes dramatically.
In general, Disney’s content lacks vision and it lacks conviction. Slow down, stop announcing projects cause it’s 50/50 they get made, and spend more money on writers.
If that Rey movie has something to it, go all out and make it Episode X. Don’t churn out another side project, make something with ambition.
Stop beating around the bush and make a wonderful Luke Skywalker series too. He is THE Star Wars protagonist and there are decades of adventures to mine.
If the Disney+ shows must continue at this volume, perhaps retool the old ‘Star Wars Story’ format and have people direct 90 minute TV-movies that function as pilots first. That way Disney can still keep the conveyor belt running, potentially take a few more creative risks on projects but also not commit 6-8 hours to a bad pitch.
If fans can re-work these flabby eight part shows into a movie then they could too. It’s not the money for writers it’s the lack of direction, the lack of discipline. Bizarre choices and crappy film making in the Obi-wan show for example was edited down and corrected by fans for no pay. So if anything they need to spend less and make good storytellers work with that restriction.
Unfortunately they seem to have a myopic view and can’t see the real problems they’ve got or why these projects are so bad lately. Or they refuse to admit it’s bad. Or they don’t care. They certainly don’t seem to realise when something is working (Mando S1 and Andor) and when something isn’t. How can you fix such a lack of clearly defined quality control or even a lack of common sense? It seems pretty deeply ingrained now.