- The eagerness to share new stories sometimes leads to premature announcements of upcoming projects for Star Wars and the MCU.
- Some announced Star Wars projects, such as Rangers of the New Republic and the Rogue Squadron movie, have been canceled or delayed.
- Marvel Studios’ announcements have mostly come to fruition due to the interconnected nature of the MCU narrative.
Both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are among the most significant and ambitious franchises under Disney’s umbrella. As a result, it’s only natural that the majority of the studio’s announcements revolve around new titles from these franchises. However, a recent report suggests that the desire to reveal new stories can sometimes lead to the premature announcement of upcoming projects.
It’s been over a decade since George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney, a deal that significantly impacted the entertainment industry. Since then, the Star Wars universe has expanded considerably, with a new trilogy, spinoffs for both big and small screens, and new sagas like the Mandoverse being developed. Lucasfilm’s other properties, such as Indiana Jones and Willow, have also ventured into new territories but with varying degrees of success.
Under Disney’s ownership, Marvel Studios has also drastically increased its output, with the MCU becoming the biggest franchise in the world. In addition to the steady stream of movies released each year, the launch of Disney+ has brought several TV shows like WandaVision, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Loki, further expanding the franchise.
Being part of the largest entertainment company in the world can certainly bring immense pressure for entities like Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios. In the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, authors Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards discuss how both Kathleen Kennedy and Kevin Feige were pressured to announce projects for their respective franchises during Disney’s Investor Day in 2020. According to the authors, some of these projects were nowhere near ready and have since been either canceled or significantly overhauled and delayed.
During the 2020 Investor Day event, Kennedy revealed a slew of Star Wars projects, including Rangers of the New Republic, Ahsoka, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Visions, Lando, The Acolyte, Star Wars: A Droid Story, and Rogue Squadron. While most of these have been released, some have been either canceled or delayed. Successful releases include Ahsoka on Disney+ and the Rogue One prequel, Andor. Obi-Wan Kenobi reunited Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, while Star Wars: Visions surprised fans as an animated production.
Upcoming projects like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew are set to join the lineup on Disney+. However, Rangers of the New Republic appears to be canceled, and the status of the Rogue Squadron movie, initially set to be directed by Patty Jenkins, remains in limbo. Star Wars: A Droid Story and Lando are still in development, alongside other new films slated for the next few years.
Interestingly, Marvel Studios’ announcements made during the same Investor Day event have mostly materialized, largely due to the interconnected nature of the MCU narrative. This structure offers fewer opportunities for projects to be dropped. However, Bob Iger’s return to Disney last year reportedly slowed down Marvel’s momentum, with the release timeline of many projects being dramatically delayed even before the onset of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.