There's no denying that some great films have come out of Disney for a very long time. But one franchise that fans didn't expect to see as part of Mickey's kingdom was 'Star Wars.'
Ultimately, though, Disney bought out Lucasfilm (back in 2012) and started changing things. Surprisingly, that decision wasn't one of George Lucas' worst, according to fans.
But it was pretty bad nonetheless, because of the way 'Star Wars' would live on after.
Did Disney's Cash Influx Help Star Wars?
Disney has made some expensive films, including the most expensive ever. Clearly, those piles of cash were a benefit to Star Wars as Disney began reformulating its approach to the franchise. Or at least, they would have been, had Disney put some effort in, say fans.
True, some fans suggest that because Disney has "far more money" than Lucasfilm, it was marketed more heavily. Which might have helped prolong its profitability. But over time, the stories themselves went downhill, argue fans, and no amount of money could fix it.
So How Did Disney Ruin Star Wars?
Fans have many various complaints about the ways in which Disney "wrecked" Star Wars. But the overarching theme is that Disney changed the story too much from the first few films. That, say fans, was a huge mistake for a number of reasons.
While most commenters acknowledge that with new (woman) creators at the helm, it made sense that Disney wanted to make sure fans knew that "the Force is female." Or at least, that it's also female, right?
The problem was, 'Star Wars' was already mid-series. Changing up the plot, the characters, and the overall themes wrecked the film's vibe. Any change that massive -- one that alters the storyline -- is bound to have a negative impact on any series.
Basically, fans were unhappy that Disney essentially ruined the legacy that was 'Star Wars,' and made it something new.
But Did 'Star Wars' Really Suffer?
Loyal fans say that yes, subsequent 'Star Wars' films have suffered in the sense that truer supporters have since backed away from the franchise (and its merch). But in another sense, the one that Disney probably cares far more about, 'Star Wars' has probably never been so successful.
Given the existence of the Disney channel, and a ready and waiting audience (kids and even grandkids of the throwback films' original fans), there was no way the 'Star Wars' projects could tank.
There are now animated shows that pick up the 'Star Wars' story at various points, and even a LEGO 'Star Wars' show, too. Not to mention, the market for merch has also expanded beyond classic LEGO sets; kids can get their hands on all kinds of 'Star Wars' toys and characters that didn't exist with Lucasfilm.
Diehard fans might not like the "improvements" Disney has made, but it's tough to argue that they didn't execute the takeover pretty flawlessly in terms of profits.
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