Kevin Smith Thinks The Force Is Strong With Star Wars And Disney
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Star Wars seems to be everywhere these days. When Disney purchased Lucasfilm for $4 billion a few months ago, it re-sparked America’s love affair with the Star Wars universe. But let’s face it; if it weren’t for Disney, Star Wars would be a dwindling movie franchise.
As hot as the Star Wars franchise is right now, could we eventually be in danger of oversaturation? We love the idea of new Star Wars movies now, but what about seven years down the line? According to filmmaker and geek pundit Kevin Smith, who spoke with THR, Star Wars has a good chance to live up to expectations and save the movie industry. Smith says:
Now part of the Disney empire, Star Wars will become as ubiquitous as Starbucks. It’s now as American as baseball and apple pie and as universal as Coca-Cola. In our current business climate of outsourcing, Star Wars may be America’s last remaining dependable export. So it’s a good thing they’re taking the expanded universe approach: giving Yoda, Boba Fett and Han Solo their own movies is creatively and financially ingenious. Grouse though they may that it’s not ‘their Star Wars‘, every old-school fan will line up to see a Yoda origin story…
Let’s remember where the Star Trek franchise was before J.J. Abrams rebooted the series in 2009. After lukewarm audience and critical responses to the last two The Next Generation movies, Insurrection and Nemesis, and slumping TV ratings for Voyager and Enterprise, Star Trek was in trouble. Love it or hate it, Abrams reboot certainly got Trek back in the public eye. Could the same thing happen to this new generation of Star Wars movies? Smith continues:
You can’t call it the commodification of Star Wars because the creator himself first commodified Star Wars a long, long time ago in a decade far, far away with toys and bed sheets and inflatable light sabers. Star Wars has always been big business. It’s a roller-coaster ride in a theme park: thrilling, fun and good for repeat business. And as you leave the ride, you’re compelled to buy a T-shirt and snow globe memento. Disney paid billions for Star Wars, but with the JJ news and now this subsequent info about the spinoff flicks, they’re gonna make double what they paid in the first 10 years alone. After that, the financial Force will be with them. Always.
Is Kevin Smith right? He has a point. The only thing that separates Star Wars from The Matrix, Terminator, or Star Trek movie franchises is Disney. The Walt Disney Corporation will not allow the Star Wars brand to fail. Some will argue Star Wars is even stronger with Disney paying the bills. Mickey Mouse is not in any danger of losing money, losing audience interest, or slumping in any way, and he’s been around since 1928.
May the Force be with you, J.J. Abrams and Disney CEO Bob Iger. May the Force be with you.
