Disney's CEO has confirmed a decrease in Star Wars content, signaling a slowdown for the franchise. Over the past four years, Disney+ has been the main platform for Star Wars, with five live-action TV seasons and several animated projects. While Ahsoka is set to be released in August, plans for streaming beyond 2024 are uncertain. In terms of movies, Lucasfilm has announced three new Star Wars films scheduled to be released in 2026 and 2027.
During an interview with CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger discussed the upcoming slowdown in Star Wars projects. This decision comes as Disney faces financial challenges, including high costs for Disney+ and underperforming theatrical releases such as Lucasfilm's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Moving forward, the company aims to produce fewer content at a lower budget.
Does Star Wars Need Less Content… Or More?
While Marvel Studios has been flooding the market with content, some argue that Disney and Lucasfilm are not producing enough Star Wars material. Until 2022, there was only one live-action release per year on Disney+. Notably, both Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi have received Emmy nominations. The franchise experienced a significant dry spell until the release of the new Ahsoka trailer, which revitalized fan engagement and anticipation. Despite multiple projects being released each year, Star Wars can still feel absent from the public eye for extended periods.
Conversely, there is something special about preserving the magic of Star Wars. New releases fail to generate the same level of excitement as films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi once did. The quality of the sequel trilogy films may play a role, but the infrequency of releases made Star Wars more of an event than it is currently. Scaling back on releases may ultimately benefit the long-term success of the franchise. Disney will have the opportunity to test this approach in the upcoming years before Star Wars makes its return to the big screen.
Source: CNBC
