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Disney CEO Bob Iger has admitted Lucasfilm has been taking a very cautious approach with Star Wars movies after the controversial sequel trilogy and the box office failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story. The last few years have seen Lucasfilm focus on a series of successful Disney+ TV shows, including the likes of The Mandalorian, Andor, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Despite reports the studio plan to “ramp up” production of Star Wars movies, there have been several recent cancelations – including Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron and Kevin Feige’s Star Wars project.
Speaking at a Morgan Stanley conference (via The Hollywood Reporter), Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed Disney will be shifting its strategies with a stronger focus on quality over quantity, offering more robust content at a slower pace. He pointed to the box office success of the sequel trilogy, before alluding to Solo‘s box office failure. “Solo was a little disappointing to us,” he concede. “It gave us pause just to think maybe the cadence was a little too aggressive. And so we decided to pull back a bit.” Iger reassured viewers Lucasfilm is still developing Star Wars films, but noted the importance of the next movie landing well. “We’re going to make sure that when we make one, that it’s the right one, so we are being very careful there.“
Disney’s Star Wars Caution Is Smart (But Now There’s Pressure)
Lucasfilm’s caution is fully understandable after the divisive reception to the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the failure of Solo – and, in fact, this caution is probably wise. With the nine-film Skywalker saga now concluded, whatever comes next will likely set the tone for the future of Star Wars. This likely means the next Star Wars film will be a standalone feature, not the beginning of a new trilogy or saga, simply to reduce pressure.
In contrast, Lucasfilm’s streaming content is in a very good place with the recent success of Andor starring Diego Luna and a new season of The Mandalorian currently streaming on Disney+, continuing the adventures of Din Djarin and the powerful child known as Grogu. Additionally, shows such as Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew are set to release in 2023 with both expected to crossover with The Mandalorian, providing an overarching narrative for the New Republic-era set before the sequel trilogy. However, Disney and Lucasfilm seem to be well aware that Star Wars absolutely needs to continue on the big screen as a major potential revenue stream.
There have been recent reports Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron and a feature headed by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige are no longer in development. Although disappointing, this news likely indicates Lucasfilm has settled on a strategic direction for the franchise, and all eyes will be on April’s Star Wars Celebration in London, where future plans will likely be revealed. Hopefully it won’t be long before viewers learn what the next Star Wars movie will be.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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