High budgets, scrapped projects, fan backlash. It’s been 12 years since Disney bought 'Star Wars' and its galaxy far, far away arguably has too many

Is Disney Bad at Star Wars? An Analysis

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2024-10-07 21:00:06

High budgets, scrapped projects, fan backlash. It’s been 12 years since Disney bought 'Star Wars' and its galaxy far, far away arguably has too many broken toys.

There’s an exchange in Star Wars: The Force Awakens when Rey and Finn are fleeing from stormtroopers and searching for a way to escape. Rey spots the legendary Millennium Falcon, declares it looks like “garbage,” and then quickly reconsiders: “The garbage will do!”

Increasingly, that’s the attitude some fans have about Disney’s Star Wars programming: “Look, we all know this isn’t fantastic anymore, but Star Wars is still Star Wars, and, therefore, it will do.”

To be fair, Disney’s Star Wars shows and movies remain far from space junk. Their titles typically get glowing reviews from critics, and generate box office returns and streaming ratings that other studios would envy (though at a high cost). Related Stories Business Layoffs Hit ABC News as Disney Restructures Business As Disney Plots $60B Parks Investment, Josh D'Amaro Wants to "Get This Right"

So let’s run through Disney’s Star Wars legacy to date, from The Force Awakens to The Acolyte, and see what conclusions might be drawn. Because several aspects of the company’s track record admittedly look shaky: A five-movie franchise that was halted after its box office returns trended the wrong direction. Six live-action TV shows, just one of which has been a multi-season hit. A startling number of projects put into development and then abandoned like starships on Bracca. And one wildly ambitious role-play hotel that closed after little more than a year.