By [ad_1]
As Star Wars lingers in the Disney+ TV galaxy, the creators must remember lessons learned from the sequel trilogy films in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Star Wars is comfort food for the entertainment-hungry soul: It feels as if it has always been around, and it stirs passions like almost nothing else in Hollywood. When something is so popular and beloved, it’s an almost-impossible task to please everyone. After the criticisms of the sequel trilogy for trying, and failing, to do just that, Disney+ might be the hero to unite Star Wars‘ many fan factions — by dividing them.
In the nearly half-century since Star Wars debuted in 1977, the franchise, like its many fans, has evolved. As new supporters jumped on board with each successive decade, the brand continued to add new and diverse content. When Disney released the most recent film trilogy, the people flooding into theaters arrived with distinct personal experiences and perspectives about Star Wars, and what the universe means to them.
Most discover Star Wars at an early age, so childhood nostalgia might color, and sometimes cloud, their connection to the content. Trying to make new films for an audience that spans generations, from rotary telephones to Apple Watches, is a tall order. Many critics of the latest trilogy point to the bungled endings, particularly in The Rise of Skywalker, claiming the conclusions force in too many bits for too many people and not enough substance to hold it all together. In the case of Star Wars, trying to please everyone had the precise opposite effect.
The best new hope Star Wars has to please as many fans as possible lies in the Disney+ approach. By providing a rich tapestry of adventures — from the new gold standard of The Mandalorian to the hotly anticipated Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka — the segmentation of its content gives the stories and characters the breathing space they need. That allows ideas and arcs to remain detailed, rather than being crammed into an already-overstuffed space. Well-written stories need room to develop.
The universe George Lucas created is large enough for bold visions of that faraway galaxy. As new Star Wars content is primarily being produced for streaming, rather than cinema, there is an opportunity for the spinoffs to grow, without an overwhelming number of competing narratives clogging up a single production.
There are few franchises as rich and diverse as Star Wars. The endless possibilities for characters and storylines is the kind of bounty thoughtful storytellers dream about. By spreading ideas across multiple shows, fans are able to gravitate towards the kinds of adventures they’re looking for. This makes it easier on creators to please a variety of people.
With the amazing critical and audience success of The Mandalorian and popularity of new Star Wars projects, like its recent animated anthology series, Disney+ is proving it can go to extreme places, and fans will follow. There is a big market for new and interesting adventures that uphold the iconic brand and its legacy. And that’s why Disney+ is rapidly working to produce new content, which will, hopefully, realign fans and the future of Star Wars in collective harmony.
About The Author
[ad_2]
