Disney Won’t Be Making STAR WARS Movies for Streaming Service
Disney is planning a lot of exclusive content for its streaming service, titled Disney+. Among the new projects are two original shows set in the Star Wars universe. One, titled The Mandalorian, follows a lone gunfighter after the events of Return of the Jedi. The other focuses on Cassian Andor, and it takes place before Rogue One. While Disney will be expanding the saga with new shows, there won’t be any exclusive movies.
Disney CEO Bob Iger recently spoke with Barron’s, detailing Disney+ and its approach to original content. He explains that the studio won’t be making exclusive Star Wars movies for this platform; rather, they (and any other films with $100 million+ budgets) will go to theaters. “Almost every movie the studio makes is a $100 million-plus movie, and we’re not looking to make movies at that level for the service. We’re looking to invest significantly in television series on a per-episode business, and we’re looking to make movies that are higher budget, but nothing like that. We wouldn’t make a Star Wars movie for this platform. When everybody goes out on the weekend and you have a movie that opens up to $200 million, there’s a buzz that creates that enhances value. We like that. And eventually the movies we’re making are going to [end up on] the service.”
Iger adds that The Mandalorian could’ve been aired on ABC, but the studio opted to have it spearhead Disney+. This was based on its high budget, among other factors.
Last year, it was rumored that Lucasfilm’s planned Obi-Wan Kenobi movie would be released on Disney+ rather than in theaters. It was never officially addressed, and based on Iger’s comments here, it sounds like that isn’t an option.
For Barron’s full interview with Iger, where he discusses Disney’s 2019 slate and box office, be sure to click the source link below.
Source: Barron’s
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