Disney’s Star Wars Slow‑Down: The Force is… a Bit Of…tastic
Why the Legend Needs a Breather
After the underwhelming hit of the latest Star Wars installment, Disney decided to step on the gas and, frankly, a bit behind. CEO Bob Iger told The Hollywood Reporter that the company will steam‑slow the release schedule, admitting that a yearly film sprint was too hot to handle.
Iger’s Admittance
“I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made – I take the blame – was a little too much, too fast,” Iger said. “You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to make films.”
The Original Plan? One Fu‑Circle a Year
When Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, they promised a fresh point‑to‑point narrative every year after the blockbuster 2015 “The Force Awakens.” The plan was to alternate the main saga chapters with stand‑alone stories that expanded the universe.
Results Are a Mix of Glory and Gut‑Bump
- “Solo: A Star Wars Story” – $400 million worldwide (a solid sum, but low for a franchise). Many insiders warned of franchise fatigue.
- “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – $1.3 billion worldwide (still a smashing success).
Episode IX, directed by JJ Abrams, is set for December 2019, and it’ll be the final piece of the Skywalker saga.
Prof Time‑Out on the Force
Robert Thompson, a pop‑culture professor at Syracuse University, muses that Star Wars was once a rare treat, “like a blue moon.” He suggests the series may be aging, but the “slowdown” might still allow Disney to launch more projects that “squeeze it for all it’s worth.”
New TV Adventures on the Horizon
Lucasfilm’s February announcement revealed that Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will develop a wholly new Star Wars series – distinct from the main storyline and Rian Johnson’s trilogy.
Iger added that the company will be “careful about volume and timing.” He appears ready to decide what comes after Episode IX.
Ben’s Business Sense
Box‑office analyst Jeff Bock notes that despite the hiccups, the franchise remains far from doomed. “There is so much potential with the Star Wars TV element that the movies can take a back seat for a while if need be,” Bock told AFP.
All said, the galaxy may be slowing its pace, but the excitement and rumours—like a droid out of its power pack—will keep booming.
