When the deal was struck for Walt Disney Studios to acquire Lucasfilm Limited at a staggering $4 billion, expectations skyrocketed for the Star Wars franchise. A resurgence in box office dominance appeared imminent, with a string of success following suit. The Force Awakens, in 2015, achieved an impressive $2 billion global box office score, and the trend continued with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016 and Star Wars: The Last Jedi in 2017. But the streak was interrupted by the unexpectedly lukewarm reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018 and an even more surprising backlash against Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
Since the last Star Wars film debuted in theatres in 2019, Lucasfilm has turned its creative focus towards developing a constellation of streaming shows for Disney+. The Mandalorian, once a promising newcomer showing a unique angle of the Star Wars universe, morphed into a commanding narrative force. Yet, the interconnected spin-offs have become overwhelming, inviting critiques of oversaturation and, more specifically, ‘Mando-verse’ fatigue.
The Mandalorian’s Overshadowing Influence
The Mandalorian’s dominance over the Star Wars universe mirrors issues facing its contemporary, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s complexity, rooted in numerous interconnected narrative arcs across its films and Disney+ shows, is making standalone enjoyment increasingly difficult. The Star Wars franchise now finds itself in a similar position, as The Mandalorian’s narratives often hinge on plots adopted from other shows.
The Book of Boba Fett, a much-anticipated spinoff, ended up being an extended exposition bridging the gap between The Mandalorian’s seasons, leaving fans disillusioned. The expectation of a thrilling tale of the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter was dashed when the series drifted into a stretched melodrama, sidelining the titular character. Moreover, The Mandalorian’s second season seemed more invested in setting up the stage for the spin-off series and new characters rather than focusing on its core storyline.
The Appeal of Non-Mandalorian Storylines
Despite the overemphasis on the Mandalorian narratives, Lucasfilm’s greatest triumphs were realized in the projects detached from the New Republic era and the struggle for Mandalore. The Disney-era Star Wars pinnacle is arguably Star Wars: The Last Jedi, a daring exploration of canonical preconceptions and brave character development. Comparatively, the Mandalorian-related narratives appear constrained due to their intertwined nature.
Another Disney+ success was the 2022’s Andor, a grit-laden series focusing on a young Rebel hero from Rogue One. With an espionage theme, the series reached beyond Star Wars fans, thanks to its independence from the larger universe’s ongoing storylines. It was a socio-political commentary on rising fascism and the necessity of rebellion that resonated with broader themes.
Interconnectivity isn’t inherently a problem, as shown by the Star Wars franchise’s current creative peak: The High Republic multimedia project, set centuries before Episode I- The Phantom Menace. Even with a vast array of related content, fans can enjoy individual projects without needing to keep up with all the intricacies.
The Stakes for Disney
In the coming years, Disney’s reliance on Star Wars will likely intensify due to several underperforming projects. Even as the MCU backlash mounts, and despite Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 providing some relief, the disappointment from Phase 4 lingers. With the writers’ strike muddying the waters, the timeline for the next Avengers films remains uncertain.
Other ‘sure-shot’ Disney properties are also on shaky ground. Pixar’s decision to debut new films directly on Disney+ during the pandemic seems to have impacted their brand negatively. Subsequent theatrical releases like Lightyear and Elemental significantly underperformed. Furthermore, the expanding budgets for Disney’s live-action remakes of their older animated films is a cause for concern. The Little Mermaid may have seen domestic success, but international performances varied widely.
Concluding Remarks
Disney’s Star Wars predicament is a complex weave of over-saturation, franchise fatigue, and the struggle to balance interconnected narratives while maintaining standalone appeal. As the studio grapples with underperforming projects across other properties, the stakes for getting Star Wars right are even higher. It remains to be seen how Disney will navigate this evolving landscape, reinvigorating the Star Wars franchise while ensuring that its broad universe does not collapse under the weight of its own narrative ambition.
