The Decline of Star Wars Under Disney’s Stewardship

Ever since Disney took control of the Star Wars franchise, many fans believe it has been declining. While Star Wars is not completely defunct, it seems to be struggling. The franchise once boasted a passionate fanbase; however, this changed when Disney took over.

The new trilogy altered the established canon, and many feel it disrespected the original characters. During her tenure, Kathleen Kennedy, the former President of Lucasfilm, emphasized female empowerment, which some argue came at the expense of storytelling and character development.

Additionally, Disney faced criticism for firing Gina Carano from ‘The Mandalorian’ after its second season. The movie ‘Solo’ was unsuccessful, and ‘The Acolyte’ was canceled after a single season. Despite some successes like ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘The Mandalorian,’ Disney struggles to keep fans engaged.

The box office performance also reflects Star Wars’ challenges. After a seven-year hiatus, the franchise returned with ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ during Memorial Day weekend. This film did not reach the inflation-adjusted earnings of ‘Solo.’ ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ managed $82 million, falling short when compared to ‘Solo’s’ $109-110 million valuation in today’s dollars.

Furthermore, ‘Obsession,’ an independent horror film with a modest budget of $750,000, surpassed ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ in box office rankings. This film triumphed over a Star Wars production with a significantly higher budget, highlighting the franchise’s current struggles.

Reviews for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ were largely negative. Critics from the BBC described the viewing experience as burdensome, while Inverse commented that it barely qualifies as a movie. It was perceived as an extension of a weak Disney+ series, lacking a coherent narrative.

Star Wars no longer commands attention solely from its brand name. Frequent callbacks and character recycling leave audiences disillusioned. For example, the film involves Grogu resembling a younger Yoda and repeats themes from past installments like battles on snow planets.

In today’s Hollywood, established franchises suffer from poor storytelling and reliance on nostalgia. Other franchises like ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Doctor Who’ face similar criticisms. Star Wars seems on the brink of irrelevance, with speculation about a potential reboot of the original trilogy.