Recent news that Disney and Lucasfilm would not have a Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker panel at SDCC (they’ll showcase Episode IX at D23 Expo 2019 in August) got me thinking. Disney has made a lot of decisions regarding Star Wars since it took over the franchise. Some have been good, some… not so much. Today we’re going to grade some of the bigger happenings of the Disney Star Wars era. While this list likely won’t be all-inclusive, we’ll try to hit the major events as we see them.
Grading the Disney Star Wars Era: Cancelling The Clone Wars
This was one of Kathleen Kennedy’s first official acts as Lucasfilm CEO, and fans did not appreciate it all. The Clone Wars was and remains highly regarded as having some of the best storytelling in all of Star Wars. (Thank you very much, Dave Filoni). Cancelling the show in favor of a new animated series in Star Wars Rebels upset a sizeable chunk of the fan base. In then end, the gamble seemed to have paid off. Filoni remained in charge of Rebels, and the show earned its own corner of the fan base. Plus, Disney recognized the mistake in cancelling The Clone Wars and is bringing the show back. Season 7 debuts November 12 on Disney+.
Initial Grade: C (based on original cancellation)
Final Grade: B+ (with success of Rebels and Clone Wars being renewed)
Declaring the Expanded Universe “Legends” instead of canon
Yes, the film was a commercial success, but at what cost? From its director Rian Johnson to the direction in which he took the franchise, The Last Jedi drove a wedge down the middle of the fan base. Regardless of its success, when a film’s director has to “explain” or “address” things with the film as much, as often, and as emphatically as Johnson did, there’s a problem with the film. Like it or hate it (there doesn’t seem to be much in between), The Last Jedi damaged the franchise.
Grade: C-
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Starting off with a story no one particularly asked for was only the first of a series of missteps with the second, stand-alone film of the Disney Star Wars era. The Lord & Miller director debacle, marketing mismanagement, and incomprehensible timing of release (against Avengers: Infinity War!) all doomed Solo. That’s too bad; the film was enjoyable and gave a good set-up for sequels. Plus, of course… Maul. Disney’s mishandling, however, basically killed any momentum the film could have had.
Grade: D+
Incomplete Grades for the Disney Star Wars Era
J.J. Abrams is back to tie together the entirety of the Skywalker saga with Star Wars: Episode IX. Can he do it, especially in the wake of The Last Jedi? So far all we’ve gotten is one teaser trailer and a lot of speculation. I for one am confident in Abrams and his ability to right the proverbial ship. Notwithstanding, grading The Rise of Skywalker is obviously premature. Likewise for The Mandalorian, which won’t premier until November. (However The Mandalorian, based on what we know, does earn a hard “A for effort” thus far.)
Final Grade: C+
Based on the average, Disney has only earned a C+ at best thus far during the Disney Star Wars Era. But…. there’s more on the horizon, including:
- The aforementioned Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian;
- A Cassian Andor, Rogue One spy thriller spin-off series;
- Books Two and Three of the Alphabet Squadron series;
- The remainder of the TIE Fighter comic book series (and other titles) from Marvel; and
- Beinoff & Weiss producing a new Star Wars Trilogy, to name a few things. (We’ve also not included Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. We’ll provide a first-hand account of the theme park in another story.)
Thus, Disney has plenty of time and opportunity to improve its grades. What about you? How would you grade Disney’s Star Wars performance thus far?
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