May 4th, known as “May the Fourth Be With You Day,” sees fans of Star Wars voicing their discontent with Kathleen Kennedy’s interpretation of the franchise. Many have found the recent sequel films to be lacking, to put it mildly.
If you’re a dedicated Star Wars enthusiast, subscribing to Disney+ feels almost obligatory since Disney has control over everything Star Wars since acquiring Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in 2012. Yet, even those who pay for Disney+ aren’t showing much enthusiasm for the sequels.
Take a look at the chart provided by Nielsen, though the data is from last year, it’s still revealing.
For nearly ten years, Disney has reacted defensively to critics of its Star Wars films, often labeling dissenters as bigots or racists. The underlying message seems to be: if the film didn’t resonate, it’s the audience’s fault, not the movie’s.
So, what are the defenders of this approach saying now that even their subscribers are tuning out?
Andor tops the charts, but, well, there’s a catch. As mentioned, those numbers come from last year, just weeks after the show’s initial release. And it’s important to consider that a show with 18 hours of content has a natural advantage over a two-hour film that’s now nearly half a century old.
It’s true, the original Star Wars movie is approaching 50 years and still outperforms the new releases.
Looking at the stats: The Phantom Menace, despite being 27 years old, ranks third. The six films originally made by George Lucas, including Revenge of the Sith, which is now 21 years old, dominate the rankings.
Then there’s Rogue One, the only Disney-era Star Wars film that has struck a chord with fans, consistently demonstrating that the fanbase isn’t simply toxic or narrow-minded. Interestingly, it features a diverse cast of characters.
The last two positions are taken by a six-part animated series, Clone Wars, which boasts a whopping 133 episodes.
No sign of The Force Awakens.
No The Last Jedi.
No Return of the Jedi.
None, Ray.
This all reflects poorly on the recent films.
Kathleen Kennedy has now stepped down from her role at Lucasfilm. The new installment, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is anticipated to have the weakest opening since 2001. Amidst various rumors, there’s talk of going back on the sequels, possibly placing them in an alternate timeline so future projects can embrace the themes and characters beloved in the original trilogy.
Reports suggest that Disney parks have already shifted away from the Kennedy sequels to focus on characters that didn’t resonate, affecting attendance negatively.
There’s plenty of evidence indicating an internal shift at Disney regarding this franchise. Merchandise for “May 4th” showcases primarily the original trilogy. A recent Fortnite event largely celebrates the original films, with hardly any nods to the sequels. In fact, the revamped Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland now features characters from the original timeline.
But let’s keep in mind, these rumors swirl constantly on the internet. Can you imagine a company like Disney outright discarding the sequel trilogy? Furthermore, what is there left for the original cast? Harrison Ford is in his 80s, Mark Hamill is in his mid-70s, and Carrie Fisher is no longer with us.
Despite that, it seems there’s a very real rejection of the sequels happening, which might be oddly satisfying for many.
