TheStar Warsfranchise has seen more expansion in the eyes of mainstream viewers over the last ten years than in any decade preceding it. Following Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012, they have produced five newStar Warsfilms, numerous animated series, and even made the jump into live-action television series on Disney+. Following the success ofThe Mandalorian, there have been newStar Warsshows ranging fromThe Book of Boba FetttoObi-Wan Kenobi, and numerous others likeThe AcolyteandSkeleton Creware already in the works.
In the last year, two of these shows have been the primary drivers for much of the conversation surroundingStar Wars. The first wasAndor, which premiered in September 2022 and then ran two months with twelve episodes. That show served asa prequel to the filmRogue One, and it was praised for its darker and more thought-provoking approach to the franchise.
Now, the latestStar Warsseries to hit Disney+ has been Dave Filoni’sAhsoka, which builds upon several of the franchise’s animated series and feels much more in line with classicStar Wars. Despite existing in the same franchise, these two shows could not be more different. Here’s why that’s a good thing:
Embracing Creative Visions
During the modern era ofStar Wars, Disney and Lucasfilm have had a bit of an issue regarding the degree to which they allow creative minds the freedom to do what they want. This problem has reared its head in a few different ways on numerous projects. With the sequel trilogy of films, they were a bit too hands-off, which resulted in there being essentially no overarching plan for what the story would be.
This resulted in an incredibly uneven trilogy that lacks cohesiveness and bounces between the nostalgia-baiting vision of J.J. Abrams and the immensesubversiveness of Rian Johnson. While, especially in the case ofThe Last Jedi, this laissez-fair approach resulted in some truly incredible filmmaking, it also undermined much of the sequel trilogy’s potential.
However, the opposite has proven to be true in much of the non-Skywalker Saga storytelling. This is the clearest to see in the filmSolo: A Star Wars Story. After hiring the directing duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller to helm the movie, Disney and Lucasfilm were too hands-on with what they wantedSoloto be.
This led to a tense relationship that resulted in Lord and Miller being fired halfway through production and replaced by Ron Howard. These behind-the-scenes issues seep through into the final film, which jumps from one tone to another seemingly at random.
Thankfully, Lucasfilm appears to have found the right balance in the last few years. They’ve demonstrated a firm commitment to the visions of the creatives that they bring on board, while also staying true to the brand and George Lucas’s original vision of it. This is apparent with Jon Favreau inThe Mandalorian, and it has become even more so withAhsokaandAndor. The latter is a pure distillation of Tony Gilroy’s vision ofStar Wars. He embraces the war and politics of the series, and he tells a story of political rebellion and extremism that fits well within the confines of the galaxy far, far away.
Meanwhile, Filoni’s vision ofStar Wars(whichhe learned from Lucas) is clear inAhsoka. He is diving right into the sci-fi fantasy of it all, simultaneously expanding the deep lore of the franchise while also providing the fun, adventurous tone found in many of Lucasfilm’s classic films.
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Keeping Things Fresh
By embracing these different creative visions, Lucasfilm is allowingStar Warsto grow and expand in new ways. This is crucial in order to ensure that the franchise does not grow stale. There is moreStar Warscontent being produced now than ever before, but it does not feel overwhelming because each new series provides something notably different from the last. Yes, it’s allStar Wars, but watching a show likeAhsokais a vastly different experience than watchingAndoror evenObi-Wan Kenobi.
Several other major franchises are struggling because they have failed to keep things fresh. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one big example, as fans and general audiences alike have made it clear that they aretired of the same recycled storyideas over and over again. The approach that Lucasfilm has taken toStar Warsover the last few years has shown that they are actively considering the long-term health of the franchise while producing all of these new stories.
They are allowing for a myriad of different stories to be told, while still maintaining a dedication to the core heart of the series. This means that they also do not feel inclined to produce every idea that comes to them, no matter who the creative behind it is. While they’ve worked with famous filmmakers such as Patty Jenkins and Taika Waititi on developing new projects, they parted ways once it became apparent that those visions did not gel well with their vision of the franchise’s future or provide meaningful new advancement within it. The same can be said of them rejectingZack Snyder’sStar Warspitch, which eventually evolved into his new film,Rebel Moon.
Related:Star Wars: 11 of the Best Recast Characters in the Franchise, Ranked
Broadening the Franchise’s Viewership
With the vastly different approaches taken by shows likeAndorandAhsoka,Star Warsis broadening its horizons and appeal. While there is obviously a core audience that is going to watch every newStar Warsshow or movie that is produced, general viewers areoften more pick-and-choose. They don’t feel the pressure to see every newStar Warsshow, and they will usually need to be convinced to check something out, whether that be through a show’s advertising or the word of mouth surrounding it. That’s a big part of the reason whyAhsokaandAndorbeing so different is such a good thing for the long-term health of the series.
Both shows appeal to vastly different audiences. WhileAhsokamay be more of a playful and family-friendly adventure,Andoris a moremature and adult-oriented story. Together, the two shows cast a wide net that is going to pull in more viewers overall than if both shows were the exact same thing tonally and creatively. WhileAndormay appeal more to viewers who love modern shows likeSuccessionorGame of Thrones,Ahsokais more in line with the classicStar Warsapproach that Lucas established in the ‘70s.
These different approaches allow the franchise to do more than one thing at a time. It keeps the heart of the series alive while also pushing it in exciting new directions. While not every new series or movie will be a hit, at least the franchise is actively trying to stay fresh and keep audiences invested.
