Disney CEO Bob Iger: Star Wars Movies Will Go On “Hiatus” After Episode IX
John F. Trent
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Disney CEO Bob Iger stated Star Wars movies will go on a “hiatus” following the J.J. Abrams directed Episode IX.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Iger was asked about Star Wars fatigue and if he was worried about it. He responded, “No, not at all. First of all, the movie that is coming out in December, the ninth movie, it doesn’t have a name yet, soon. We think it’s going to be great.”
Iger then notes they plan to take a break on Star Wars films:
“We have not announced any specific plans for movies thereafter. There are movies in development, but we have not announced them. I think we are going to hit pause, and take some time to reset. Because the Skywalker saga comes to an end with this ninth movie. There will be other Star Wars movies, but again I think we’re going to end up in a period where there will be a bit of hiatus.”
While Iger notes the movies might go on a hiatus, he does indicate the recently announced Star Wars television series for Disney+ will fill in that gap, “That’s what great about what Lucasfilm people are doing for this service. We are going to fill that time with some Star Wars live-action series which have never really been done before and at a quality level of a movie. So, I’m not concerned at all.”
Those Star Wars shows on Disney+ will be The Mandalorian starring Pedro Pascal from the mind of Jon Favreau, and a Cassian Andor series starring Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk as K2-SO. As for the films in development, Star Wars announced the Game of Thrones creators are working on their own series of Star Wars films and The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is also expected to work on his own trilogy.
Iger’s recent statement contradicts comments he made last September following the failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story at the box office.
“I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made — I take the blame — was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to make films. J.J. [Abrams] is busy making [Episode] IX. We have creative entities, including [Game of Thronescreators David] Benioff and [D.B.] Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven’t been specific about. And we are just at the point where we’re going to start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.’s. But I think we’re going to be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that.”
While Iger might not be worried about Star Wars fatigue, Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill certainly is. Hamill noted he believes Star Wars fatigue exists during an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast.
Hamill noted, “I’m not gonna tell them how to run their business, but is there a possibility of ‘Star Wars fatigue’? Yeah, I think there is. I’ve experienced it, to a certain degree. But they never listen to my ideas anyway, so who needs ’em?”
What do you make of Iger’s comments about the Star Wars movies going on hiatus? Do you think Disney needs to be worried about Star Wars fatigue?
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