That is interesting. Disney is always interested in the future -- its for kids mostly after all, so its always about the future. I suppose you have to think like that.
Problem they are not addressing is that their new "future" formula doesn't seem to be replacing the old fans who are dying off or dropping out with enough new fans of the new movies. Even if you gained one new fan for every lost fan, there's no growth there.
I think Force Awakens was their attempt to immediately set up a future for a new fan base with the new cast of characters, while simultaneously keeping the older fans on board by continuing the Skywalker Saga with Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Threepio, and Artoo. And after the box office performance that movie had, I could easily see them believing that they had succeeded beyond even their own expectations. Then Rogue One was probably more of a "safe bet" as a bone thrown to the older fan base (set right before ANH, and based entirely on what the original film had set up). That too was the most-watched film in the States, and made more than a a billion $ worldwide. Everything probably seemed like their forecasts/plan was on point.
Even TLJ might have been made as a calculated risk that might alienate some of the "old fans" but still be more of what the new/younger fans are interested in. The movie still outsold the other Disney/Universal/Sony/WB franchises that year. Still cleared well over $1 billion worldwide. But it missed their projections, which should have told them that the "old" fans won't keep going to repeat viewings just because it says "Star Wars" on the marquee.
The ticket sales for Solo is what should be sending shockwaves through them. Star Wars isn't the goose that lays golden eggs just by virtue of the name. Solo should be sending a clear sign that the old fan base can't be counted on to keep ringing the cash register no matter what. Having directors and executives insulting that fan base by throwing labels and slander their way is also an incredibly horrible approach. I don't think they have any idea how much that hurts them, and how dumb it is to keep injecting social and political messaging into SW that will automatically upset about half of the people you need to open their wallets for you.
Frankly, I've been stunned at the arrogance shown by LFL/Disney. I've enjoyed the films
much more than I expected to, since I suffered from PTSD (Prequel Trilogy Stress Disorder). But I've had to do so by putting to the side all of the studio nonsense. And that's something they can easily stop. I hope they do, because Solo should tell them clearly that not every film with "Star Wars" in the title will be a guaranteed golden egg no matter how many insults they hurl and what social messaging they promote. If George Lucas stayed consistently smart in one way, it was this: make Star Wars accessible and enjoyable to
everyone, no matter their politics, religion, gender, or personal values.
" x 1,000.
