Disney's Reboot of Star Wars: A Good Idea or Missed Opportunity?

In recent years, Disney has taken the Star Wars franchise and rebooted it in a way that has divided opinions. While the profits speak for themselves, with billions in revenue and countless fans flocking to experience the new canon, the decision to rebrand and reboot has been both praised and criticized. Was Disney's reboot of Star Wars a good idea? Let's explore this from multiple perspectives.

Financial Success vs. Narrative Consistency

Did you see the profit they made? Undeniably, Disney's efforts in this direction have been lucrative. The rebranding and reboot of Star Wars have generated substantial income through box office success, merchandise, and international tours. However, the financial success alone does not necessarily equate to a good idea. For whom was it a good idea? The investors, Industrial Light Magic (ILM), Skywalker Sound, the parks, and for the 500,000,000 people who flocked to experience something new. But for who else?

While the new films introduced a fresh take on familiar characters and stories, some fans and critics argued that the overhaul squandered valuable content from the Expanded Universe (EU), a vast array of vibrant stories and memorable characters that were previously untapped. The EU was not perfect, but it did offer rich storytelling that could have complemented the new canon.

The Potential of a More Strategic Rebranding

In my opinion, the reboot could have gone better. Instead of lumping nearly everything into Legends and declaring it non-canon, a more strategic approach could have integrated some of the best elements of the EU into the new films. The idea was to bring the fans’ most cherished characters and elements to life on the big screen, much like what Disney did with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Disney was handed a treasure trove of stories ripe for exploration. A blockbuster series with a dedicated fanbase, hundreds of compelling narratives, and a versatile universe that was rich with possibilities. Instead, they slapped 'Not Canon' on nearly everything and started over from scratch. Now, they face a unique challenge of competing not just with other franchises but with their own.

A Unique Conundrum

Their decision to reinvent so much of the existing universe has created a no-win situation. They now have to produce characters and stories that rival established works from the EU, reinventing much of the wheel. It’s a battle with a universe that everyone already loves, which is inherently difficult.

A more insightful approach would be to merge the changes in the new canon with the best elements of the EU. This would provide fans with the best of both worlds, allowing them to experience the new canon while not entirely losing the rich legacy of the EU.

The Canonical Journey in Detail

Disney rebooted nothing. Technically, the new management of LucasFilm made no direct reboots either. They did, however, establish a new canon that centered around:

The first six Star Wars films, as the definitive source for whatever happened next. The Clone Wars series (not the Cartoon Network co-production) and any licensed material or programming at that point, including Rebels and the post-2015 Marvel comic series. The Expanded Universe and all other material before Disney bought LucasFilm were declared apocryphal. The original six movies were considered the official center for future storytelling unless explicitly stated otherwise by LucasFilm.

In essence, even George Lucas himself only recognized the original six films as canonic unless he was explicitly stating otherwise. This decision was motivated by financial and creative reasons, and Disney’s role is primarily to fund and produce under the autonomous subsidiary, LucasFilm.

Conclusion

While the financial success of Disney’s Star Wars reboot is undeniable, it is a mixed success when it comes to narrative consistency and fan satisfaction. A more balanced approach, integrating the best elements of the EU with the new canon, could have resulted in a more satisfying and cohesive storytelling experience. The future of the franchise likely lies in finding that balance and pleasing both long-time fans and newcomers.