Can We Admit Star Wars Needs The Original Trilogy To Survive?

Disney has a ‘Star Wars’ problem, and it isn’t because of toxic fans.

Lucasfilm under Disney started out strong and then somehow managed to divide a 40-year fandom with “The Last Jedi”. Now, years and several Disney+ shows later, the brand is worse off than ever before.

Maybe letting the past die and killing it if they had to was a bad decision.

Disney seems to know this, as they are slowly adding the original trilogy back into their “Star Wars” offerings.

Star Wars is a shell of what it once was.

If you had told me 10 years ago that the evergreen and beloved “Star Wars” brand was going to fall so hard, I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet, here we are.

While ‘The Force Awakens” grossed over $2 billion worldwide and started off strong, the team had one job, and that was to give fans the reunion of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa that they wanted.  Instead, they killed Han and showed Luke for a few seconds.

In Disney’s quest to make “Star Wars” their own, they destroyed the original trilogy team right at the beginning. This did not go over well.

Then ‘The Last Jedi’ ($1.3 billion) and ‘Rise of Skywalker’ ($1 billion) came and divided the fandom, and started the decline of the franchise.

Disney+ further drove the franchise into the ground.

Which “Star Wars” shows on Disney+ started out strong with the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian”.  Other shows did not fare as well and drove audiences away.

The more Disney put out shows, the lower the numbers seemed to go.

Now, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” performed lower than initial estimates.

Disney rushes to push the original trilogy

After all these years, Disney is pivoting to embrace the original “Star Wars” trilogy. They are finally putting the main characters into Galaxy’s Edge at the Disney Parks.

In the new Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run attraction with the Mandalorian, riders will be transported to Tatooine, Endor, Bespin, or Coruscant.

Disney is pushing the original trilogy merchandise more and more as the toys from their films and shows end up at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. Hasbro has lost money over “Star Wars” in the last several years.

The 50th Anniversary of Star Wars

For at least 2027, we will likely get a lot of original “Star Wars” offerings and merchandise as it marks the 50th anniversary of the franchise and the first film, “Star Wars: A New Hope”, which is actually the fourth film in the series.

Let’s be honest here, “Star Wars” is not in a good place right now. I think they are starting to realize this, but is it too little too late with fans who have spent the last few years turning apathetic to the franchise they once loved?

One can take disappointment and being called “toxic” for only so long.

Disney is at a crossroads. They need to go back to what works and embrace the past to save the future. 

They NEED the original trilogy now more than ever.

What do you think? Comment and let us know.