Disney cancelled their animated series Star Wars Resistance as they released a trailer for season 2 starring Kylo Ren.
According to the press release Disney announced the second season for Star Wars Resistance, which airs on Disney Channel, would be it’s final season. The second season will take place during the events of The Last Jedi and lead into the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker film. (Related: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Rumor Teases Kylo Ren as Darth Vader)
A Disney rep explained to EW why the show was ending after only its second season, “With the movie coming up in December, this was a natural place to end the show with an epic finale.”
However, as Disney Star Wars Is Dumb points out the show’s first season viewership was not very good. The show routinely was only watched by around 300,000 people per episode. That was a sharp decline from the last animated series Star Wars Rebels which routinely had between 500,000 and 700,000 viewers per episode in its fourth and final season.
Here’s the official description for the second season:
“The story picks up after a harrowing escape from the First Order, as the Colossus and all its residents find themselves lost in space, pursued by Agent Tierny and Commander Pyre. Kaz and team also face a myriad of new dangers along the way including bounty hunters, a suspicious Hutt, General Hux, and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, Tam grapples with her future and where her true allegiance lies, with her friends or the First Order. The thrilling final season will showcase how the unlikeliest of heroes can help spark hope across the galaxy.”
The second season does bring in some talent with True Blood and Deathstroke actor Joe Manganiello coming on board as Ax Tagrin. He would be joined by Spartacus and Xena: Warrior Princess actress Lucy Lawless, who will voice Aeosian Queen. Also joining the cast is Daveed Diggs as Norath Kev. Adam Driver will not be reprising his role as Kylo Ren. Matthew Wood will provide Ren’s voice.
The announcement of the show being cancelled comes just a week after Bloomberg reported Disney was struggling to win over the next generation of kids. Bloomberg’s report points to low attendance at the newly opened Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland, the complete and utter financial bomb of Solo: A Star Wars Story, the rapid decline in toy sales following The Force Awakens, and the treatment of iconic Star Wars characters in the new films. (Related: Disney CEO Bob Iger Confirms Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Attendance Lower Than Expected)
Not only did Bloomberg report Disney was struggling with Star Wars, the company itself admitted the brand is suffering as their Star Wars branded merchandise sales are down, and attendance is lower than expected at Disneyland’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Nevertheless, Disney CEO Bob Iger has stated the problems with the box office is “Star Wars fatigue,” a point easily refuted by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which routinely churns out three films a year without fatigue. (Related: Star Wars Fans Choose Han Solo and Chewbacca as Favorite Best Friends Over Disney’s New Sequel Characters)
However, as I’ve speculated, it might have more to do with the actual content Disney is creating with the Star Wars brand. Fans aren’t interested in having their expectations subverted like The Last Jedi. They don’t want to see Luke Skywalker acting like a grumpy curmedgeon. They don’t want to see him attempting to murder his nephew. Disney needs to tap into what made Star Wars great. They need to tap into the mystery, the camaraderie, the struggle between good and evil, the sense of exploration and excitement, the danger, and maybe most importantly the adventure. All of these elements were lacking in The Last Jedi.