REPORT: All Star Wars Spin-offs On Hold After the Financial Failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story
Far, Far Away
Whether or not you were a fan, Solo: A Star Wars Story is performing well under expectations at the box office. The lackluster numbers could be due to franchise fatigue, the director shift, the polarizing reception of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and other reasons. Unfortunately, it’s an unprecedented failure for Lucasfilm and Disney, in what could be their best year ever. It looks like the studio is going to put a hold on taking any more chances from the time being. According to Collider, all Star Wars spin-offs are on hold to focus on the next trilogy.
It makes sense that Kathleen Kennedy and the studio would make a change. The worldwide Box Office for the film stands at just $343 million dollars. The film is unlikely to gross more than another 100 million more throughout its run. It’s unfair to compare Solo: A Star Wars Story to the trilogy episodes, but Rogue One: A Star Wars Story managed to gross over $1 billion. Solo probably won’t make half of that.
This immediately affects projects like Stephen Daldry’s rumored Obi-Wan Kenobi film and most likely affects James Mangold’s Boba Fett film. This also explains why there isn’t currently a Yoda film in the works. According to Collider’s sources, “those who were working on” the Obi-Wan film have already left. Would Lucasfilm be that quick to cut the film from their line-up? You better believe it.
Profits and Sense
Lucasfilm is owned by Disney, and Bob Iger has to listen to shareholders. The recent rumor about Kathleen Kennedy’s exit is probably not true, but that doesn’t mean the Lucasfilm President doesn’t have to change a few things. Clearly, not enough fans thought Solo: A Star Wars Story was worth their time. Perhaps the limitations of basing a Universe-based franchise on a single character took the “event” out of this event film. Now, it’s time to focus on the films that matter.
Rian Johnson’s new trilogy isn’t considered a spin-off, and is thus unaffected. The same is being said for the project by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Those will continue as planned. It would seem that the “A Star Wars Story” titles are probably coming to a close. It’s time to move on and make new Star Wars. The “Skywalker” legacy in the main trilogies should continue, but let’s get new stories going! Rogue One was about setting up A New Hope and Solo: A Star Wars Story was essentially setting Han up for A New Hope.
It’s time to create new stories with new characters that don’t set up anything else. Apprehension of Rian Johnson’s new trilogy is understandable, but a Star Wars film from the “D&D” behind Game of Thrones is like a dream come true.
Obi-Wan Kenobi still deserves his own Star Wars story, and will probably get one someday. Star Wars: Episode IX needs the studio’s attention and is their chief focus. As the only director other than George Lucas to direct two Star Wars films, J.J. Abrams has a rough road ahead. Let’s hope he and the team behind Star Wars: Episode IX can deliver.
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