Why The Star Wars Franchise Is Still Strong
Image Source: IGN Africa
Since George Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney, many fans have wondered about the franchise's implications. When George sold it, many fans wondered what the franchise would look like and if it could prove successful without its original creator overseeing it. More than 10 years on, what is the state of the franchise, and how is it faring under the stewardship of Disney?
Star Wars Galore
Image Source: The Direct
Before the big Disney buyout of 2012, most of the Star Wars installments coming out were a few books and comics set in various parts of the timeline, while the main on-screen offering was Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated series running on Cartoon Network since 2008. When Lucas sold, Disney capitalized on the franchise using its resources to begin an era of more Star Wars installments than ever before, including new films and other animated series.
RELATED:
With the sudden buyout, a new era of Star Wars opened up as new films began to emerge, including the entire Sequel Trilogy, Rogue One, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. New stories and tales featuring fresh faces and characters were being made, and new fans found themselves entering that galaxy far, far away once again. It was an exciting time, and not only did these Star Wars films receive great reception from critics and audiences alike, but they also made Star Wars quite a fortune at the box office for the most part. The value of the Star Wars brand practically soared within five years, and a whole wave of new fans and voices made themselves known in the fanbase.
From 2020 to 2024, an era of streaming began, and we have been in a golden age of Star Wars storytelling, with sometimes up to three Star Wars streaming shows airing each year. These shows have had a large reach, with millions of people tuning in, and have expanded people’s ideas of what a Star Wars story could be. One prime example of this is "Andor," which shows a darker side to the Star Wars Galaxy and depicts what a more gritty rebellion against the Empire would look like. Another example, of course, is "Ahsoka," which expanded upon one of the most beloved characters in the franchise and explored her relationship with Anakin Skywalker. Many of these shows have consistently ranked in the top ten of several streaming service charts, such as "The Mandalorian," which, in some cases, has claimed the number one spot on the list of streaming shows released in a given year.
With such additions to Star Wars on screen, with fresh ideas and concepts, the Star Wars universe is growing in terms of a fertile playground to try out new ideas and more importantly grab fresh audiences. There is a sense these days that there is at least something for everyone to enjoy from those who enjoy a spy thriller like Andor to a full-on mythic fantasy like Ahsoka to even the fun western like The Mandalorian. Though Star Wars has not expanded in the realm of Streaming and Film, there is a whole expanded universe out there for fans to explore as well.
Beyond The Screen
Image Source: CultureSlate
Star Wars at its core is a film franchise, but it has expanded beyond its original media over the years. When the films weren’t coming out books and comics kept the brand alive.
During the new era of Star Wars, dozens of Star Wars comics and books have come to the forefront of fandom. Marvel Comics has done a splendid job of keeping the brand alive, telling all sorts of epic stories of the great heroes of the Galaxy Far Far Away. Del Rey Publishing has, of course, kept the brand strong with the many books they have released over the years, bringing in several amazing authors from Charles Soule to Claudia Gray, and even returning favorites like Timothy Zahn, to continue telling the tales of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Of course, no publishing initiative has been as grand or ambitious as the High Republic, a multi-book and comic series detailing a brand new era of Star Wars that spans three phases and includes several books. It is arguably the most successful book initiative ever undertaken by the Star Wars property, offering the franchise not only a new era to explore but also several intriguing and enjoyable characters to follow along the way.
Star Wars Today
In 2012, it was uncertain where Star Wars would head if George Lucas had retained ownership of the franchise. While the Clone Wars series was ongoing, it appeared that things were winding down, suggesting that Lucasfilm might soon close its doors and the flow of Star Wars material could diminish. However, Disney's acquisition of the franchise marked a turning point. Now, there is more Star Wars content than ever before, expanding the galaxy far and wide, and enriching the universe with beloved characters. Star Wars is cherished by fans of all ages worldwide, with new shows and movies on the horizon, the future of this franchise looks brighter than ever before.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
