The Decline of Star Wars: A Hard Look at Disney's Recent Failures
The Star Wars universe, once a beacon of innovation and storytelling, now appears to be in dire straits. Recent data suggests that "Skeleton Crew," the latest endeavor from Disney+, may end up being the least watched Star Wars series ever. This alarming trend follows in the footsteps of previous failures, including "Andor" and "The Acolyte," which were also criticized for their poor viewership. The state of Star Wars has led some critics, like Paul Tassi, to declare Disney's approach to the franchise a "death spiral."
Tassi's articles reflect a growing desperation among some die-hard fans who are struggling to reconcile their love for the original saga with Disney's recent offerings. While Tassi attempts to maintain his credibility by explaining the show's lack of viewership, many suggest he is simultaneously making excuses for Disney's failures. With “Skeleton Crew” failing to find its audience even after weeks of airing, online speculation suggests that it may not even rank in the top 20 shows on the Luminate charts - a concerning indicator for a franchise that has historically enjoyed a much larger fan base.
One notable aspect of the situation is the apparent split between writers Tassi and Eric Kane, both associated with Forbes. While Tassi is viewed by some as a shill for Disney, Kane has gained credibility by calling out the quality issues in the Star Wars franchise. There’s a palpable competition between the two as they frequently publish articles that indirectly clash with each other, showcasing varied perspectives on the current state of affairs.
Tassi wrote about the challenges facing Disney with regard to Star Wars, echoing what many fans have noted: despite the quality of the content, there’s a prevailing sense of disillusionment among audiences who have been consistently burned by prior missteps. He implies that the failure of shows like "Skeleton Crew" to attract viewers comes down to years of disappointing content that has caused fans to disengage.
One can't help but notice that even when Disney attempts to return to familiar themes and characters, the execution often falls short. Tassi mentions that Disney has “mined the Skywalker era to death,” yet acknowledges that the desire for Skywalker-related content remains. Fans have shown overwhelming enthusiasm, primarily for projects that feature these iconic characters, as evidenced by the massive success of Luke Skywalker’s surprise return in season two of "The Mandalorian."
Despite this insight, the decisions to explore new narratives have resulted in a lack of connection with the established fanbase. Many argue that the emphasis on creating different types of heroes, seemingly for the sake of padding Disney's social messaging, has diluted the essence of what made the franchise special to fans of all ages.
The Financial Implications
The financial toll of these projects cannot be ignored either. Tassi himself points out that each series released by Disney is burdened by exorbitant production costs, often rendering them unviable irrespective of the artistic quality. The hopeful idea that shows like “Skeleton Crew” could recoup production costs and ultimately generate profits seems to be slipping away with each disappointing release.
Moreover, Tassi conjectures that if Disney were to take a break, or “put all of Star Wars on ice,” it might allow audiences to recover their excitement for the franchise. Such a strategy has been proposed by several critics over the years, suggesting that a hiatus could foster a sense of anticipation for future projects.
The Future of Star Wars
In discussing the path forward, Tassi argues that the key to reversing Star Wars' fortunes lies in addressing the glaring miscalculations of the past. The emphasis on niche storytelling over universally appealing content seems to be a dead end, further fractured by the disconnect between what the creators believe audiences want, and what audiences actually desire: compelling stories featuring beloved characters.
As the franchise continues to struggle with viewership and financial metrics, it remains to be seen how Disney will approach the legacy of Star Wars moving forward. The realization that fans are not as engaged as they once were is beginning to hit harder, leading to a critical re-examination of strategy at Disney and Lucasfilm.
In conclusion, as we've watched Disney navigate this landscape with regular missteps since acquiring the Star Wars franchise, the question now becomes: can they recover from this spiral, or are we witnessing the slow unraveling of a once-great cultural phenomenon? Only time will tell whether they will heed the warnings and pivot their approach, or if they will continue along the same path that has led to this growing discontent among fans.
Part 1/8:
The Decline of Star Wars: A Hard Look at Disney's Recent Failures
The Star Wars universe, once a beacon of innovation and storytelling, now appears to be in dire straits. Recent data suggests that "Skeleton Crew," the latest endeavor from Disney+, may end up being the least watched Star Wars series ever. This alarming trend follows in the footsteps of previous failures, including "Andor" and "The Acolyte," which were also criticized for their poor viewership. The state of Star Wars has led some critics, like Paul Tassi, to declare Disney's approach to the franchise a "death spiral."
The Apparent Disconnect
Part 2/8:
Tassi's articles reflect a growing desperation among some die-hard fans who are struggling to reconcile their love for the original saga with Disney's recent offerings. While Tassi attempts to maintain his credibility by explaining the show's lack of viewership, many suggest he is simultaneously making excuses for Disney's failures. With “Skeleton Crew” failing to find its audience even after weeks of airing, online speculation suggests that it may not even rank in the top 20 shows on the Luminate charts - a concerning indicator for a franchise that has historically enjoyed a much larger fan base.
The Critique of Disney's Strategy
Part 3/8:
One notable aspect of the situation is the apparent split between writers Tassi and Eric Kane, both associated with Forbes. While Tassi is viewed by some as a shill for Disney, Kane has gained credibility by calling out the quality issues in the Star Wars franchise. There’s a palpable competition between the two as they frequently publish articles that indirectly clash with each other, showcasing varied perspectives on the current state of affairs.
Part 4/8:
Tassi wrote about the challenges facing Disney with regard to Star Wars, echoing what many fans have noted: despite the quality of the content, there’s a prevailing sense of disillusionment among audiences who have been consistently burned by prior missteps. He implies that the failure of shows like "Skeleton Crew" to attract viewers comes down to years of disappointing content that has caused fans to disengage.
Missed Opportunities and Mismanagement
Part 5/8:
One can't help but notice that even when Disney attempts to return to familiar themes and characters, the execution often falls short. Tassi mentions that Disney has “mined the Skywalker era to death,” yet acknowledges that the desire for Skywalker-related content remains. Fans have shown overwhelming enthusiasm, primarily for projects that feature these iconic characters, as evidenced by the massive success of Luke Skywalker’s surprise return in season two of "The Mandalorian."
Part 6/8:
Despite this insight, the decisions to explore new narratives have resulted in a lack of connection with the established fanbase. Many argue that the emphasis on creating different types of heroes, seemingly for the sake of padding Disney's social messaging, has diluted the essence of what made the franchise special to fans of all ages.
The Financial Implications
The financial toll of these projects cannot be ignored either. Tassi himself points out that each series released by Disney is burdened by exorbitant production costs, often rendering them unviable irrespective of the artistic quality. The hopeful idea that shows like “Skeleton Crew” could recoup production costs and ultimately generate profits seems to be slipping away with each disappointing release.
Part 7/8:
Moreover, Tassi conjectures that if Disney were to take a break, or “put all of Star Wars on ice,” it might allow audiences to recover their excitement for the franchise. Such a strategy has been proposed by several critics over the years, suggesting that a hiatus could foster a sense of anticipation for future projects.
The Future of Star Wars
In discussing the path forward, Tassi argues that the key to reversing Star Wars' fortunes lies in addressing the glaring miscalculations of the past. The emphasis on niche storytelling over universally appealing content seems to be a dead end, further fractured by the disconnect between what the creators believe audiences want, and what audiences actually desire: compelling stories featuring beloved characters.
Part 8/8:
As the franchise continues to struggle with viewership and financial metrics, it remains to be seen how Disney will approach the legacy of Star Wars moving forward. The realization that fans are not as engaged as they once were is beginning to hit harder, leading to a critical re-examination of strategy at Disney and Lucasfilm.
In conclusion, as we've watched Disney navigate this landscape with regular missteps since acquiring the Star Wars franchise, the question now becomes: can they recover from this spiral, or are we witnessing the slow unraveling of a once-great cultural phenomenon? Only time will tell whether they will heed the warnings and pivot their approach, or if they will continue along the same path that has led to this growing discontent among fans.