AnonMC

Fans have been persistently asking them about if and when The Clone Wars will be brought back for years, with too many letters and petitions: https://www.change.org/p/lucasfilm-bring-star-wars-the-clone-wars-season-7-8 So, no, it doesn't go against that agenda to bring it back subpar, then let it sink. As long as the old show lives on as a wonderful thing in fans' memories, this undermines Lucasfilm's latest efforts -- which I'll expand on below. You can see from Kathleen's responses in that video, as well as Disney's ongoing business plan for Star Wars, even in the links I've provided, that they are constantly aiming to push forward, far past the world that George Lucas has created (which, it seems, they feel to be a dead-end for some reason), and into their own, original Star Wars universe. You don't need to look too far, this is reflected in the themes and content of their movies as well. Old characters and themes die, or are presented unceremoniously, even parodied, while new ones are given the spotlight. There was strong reasoning in Disney's decision to can The Clone Wars in the first place, and to create Rebels in its place. To think that experienced Hollywood executives have suddenly changed their mind halway through a decades-long business plan is (very) naive thinking, especially since Kathleen is still openly at the head of Lucasfilm. Although a very risky strategy, Disney has much to gain from killing off what made Star Wars once popular, starting with the cast of the original movies, as they have, first with the official sequel trilogy films, and now with the spinoff films. From what I can sensibly tell, based on my long research, they are hoping to wipe the slate clean, to lower fan expectations, and to create their own version of Star Wars, independent of, or barely linked to, the world Lucas established. The best way to do that is to build hype and make sales while producing below expected level quality content for a long period of time -- which is something that Disney can actually afford to do. This is why they are not horrified by Solo's lower than expected box-office results, and why Kathleen Kennedy is still leading full-charge at the forefront. Star Wars, to Disney, is a long-term investment. They bought it not for the world Lucas has created, but for value of the IP itself. This is evident in Lucas' backlash at Disney shortly after the sale took place and they excluded his vision from the future of Star Wars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWtbJxzGpQ A decade-long production of lower-quality content that mixes the old with the new ensures that the memories of excellence are wiped, and there is room for "dazzling" with a new Star Wars, a kind that will fit the Marvel-like marketing and production scheme better, with classic superheroes and villains, and little actually deep or meaningful character and story development. This is something that their business side requires to fit things into a well-established mold and to maximally profit on the brand -- I don't think I need to cite sources for that, it's evident in any business review of the company's movie side of business. If you take all this into account, it becomes undoubtedly evident that Disney is not faltering, but making well-calculated choices. No company that invests millions into their products does so without strategy and a well-calculated return, even if that means some financial sacrifice -- especially not a corporation of Disney's size that has been in the movie business for generations. Hence, the decisions to kill off main characters, to shove them into the background, to produce low quality content featuring them, are consciously made. After all, what is stopping Disney from featuring these characters as the heroes they are/were? With the resources at their disposal, a carefully calculated business decision. You will not find any direct mention of this in any source, understandably, as what goes on in a company stays in a company, but the sheer evidence is overwhelming. Disney has been particularly careful not to give away anything in interviews with its directors, to keep everything related to Star Wars hush-hush (arguably in an overly careful way that their Marvel cinematic universe has not been treated). I expect the prequel era may be brought back -- though unlikely, due to its marketing drawbacks (historical bad reception and fan backlash) -- but if it is, it will be purposefully different, with a lot of rewrites, essentially creating a new world. All of this wouldn't be so bad if Disney actually knew what to do with Star Wars creatively, but as it is, their creative directors and storywriters so far have been at a complete loss. This is because Kathleen Kennedy and the current Lucasfilm management are no creative visionaries, but Hollywood businessmen, and there is no-one to unite the picture the way George Lucas had done in the past. A lot of ideas are thrown about, a lot experimentation happening, but no contrete experience in how to tackle the Star Wars universe/fanbase and establish new themes that will last decades. Creatively, this is Disney's biggest problem, and something that they have created themselves by stepping away from the world Lucas has established. Their fears are particularly evident in the story treatment of the new sequel trilogy, and subsequent films like Solo, where their movie directors are kept under shackles by the sheer burden of not knowing what changes they are allowed to make, and what new stories and themes they are allowed to write into the Star Wars universe, everything kept to old templates. Disney, as an investor, is carefully experimenting because it is scared in not knowing what will work with the long-time fans, while trying to build an entirely different universe than that of George's -- all the while trying to continue making money on the franchise. They are experimenting not only with the creative content, but also with marketing it and its impact on the fandom/audience, and in this case that means how to play with and alter long-time expectations. So don't go rushing into thinking that the old Clone Wars has been "saved" or "revived" just yet... (Or do so with great risk...) From Disney's perspective, this "revival" is happening for two reasons: 1. To satisfy director Dave Filoni's creative wish and to sign him on to future (Disney universe Star Wars) TV series on Disney's new direct-to-consumer service. 2. To end The Clone Wars (and the Lucas prequel era legacy) -- for good -- and make remaining fans let it go, let it fade away -- hence the huge hype for an unlikely delivery in the end product. In simpler words, Disney's current creative direction for Star Wars content (including TCW), illustrated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lin3V-dhhNU

This is a research spanning many years, and hundreds of sources. Which part are you interested in in particular? Here are a few of the more credible, online articles I've collected (relating to recent events) that provide a general insight into Disney's on-going business strategy as it relates to the Star Wars brand, and its future results -- an appetiser, if you will: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-25/disney-s-star-wars-headaches-include-outcry-from-its-own-fans https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/star-wars-producer-kathleen-kennedy-next-10-years-rey-poe-finn-150456794.html (Watch the Kathleen Kennedy video interview mid-way through the webisode.) https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/06/12/box-office-solo-star-wars-bomb-flop-disney-lucasfilm-incredibles2-jurassic-world/ And an honorary mention (great commentary): https://www.thewrap.com/solo-is-failing-because-disney-had-no-vision-for-the-star-wars-franchise-commentary/ I mean that the ending will be changed (Rebels-like), forced, rushed, and unsatisfying in comparison to the rest of the series. Since Filoni is directing this as well -- mind you, much of his team has changed and been disbanded after the Disney acquisition -- this will look like The Clone Wars has failed to deliver in its final chapters, effectively putting fans off the series and the prequel era. Hence the "flop".

I've done a little digging behind the scenes into Disney's current (and historic) business practices and marketing strategies. The Star Wars line has exhibited some of their worst moves -- both ethically and in terms of sustainability. (And just sheer arrogance and stupidity.) For the intrigued, here's a short summary, made easy for you: The fundamental internal business tagline for KK's management of Star Wars is: "Out with the old, in with the new -- our new." The idea is to make that which was popular of Star Wars unpopular, and to introduce new content in its place for a "new generation" of fans. This is why this revival of The Clone Wars is going to flop -- no question about it. It's carefully planned. Milk it, and put an end to it -- those are the orders. What this radical business strategy (the likes of which only a conglomerate like Disney could afford) doesn't take into account is the artistic merit that made Star Wars what it is today -- which is something that The Clone Wars team (with the assistance of George and Katie Lucas) actually carefully invested in over time, for its fans, and what made the show a fan favourite. You ignore that, you focus on the business aspects of the franchise only, and you lose the quality of the brand, slowly killing it. Which is what's actually happening throughout the franchise and all its creative content if you look around, and stop to think.

They haven't. That's the problem. She is still assigned to handling the latest in the Star Wars line, and even still playing a prominent role in the media in their latest announcements: https://www.starwars.com/news/jon-favreau-to-executive-produce-write-live-action-star-wars-series They still think she's the shiz -- despite the declining sales. This crap will go on for a long time, until they start to run out of money. In the meantime, they'll make sure to damage as much of the Star Wars brand and content as they can (and that includes The Clone Wars as well). I think "saved" is very much the wrong word to use in the title of this thread -- an overhyped marketing catchphrase that they are promoting intentionally. #CloneWarsToBeSlain lies closer to their actual intentions, and to the effect this will ultimately have on the series' popularity. That's the grim future from this announcement that I foresee. But please, prove me wrong, Disney!

Gotta post it here. It's just too good: Can you imagine this with a higher budget and feature length? I don't know what Disney is doing!

We shall see. The fact that they haven't sacked Kathleen Kennedy yet speaks volumes. In any case, I'm not keeping my hopes up for this one. It'd be nice if we get some decent, new CW episodes, but it would also be akin to a miracle. Definitely not supporting Disney by subscribing to their new streaming service. There are other ways... (Once a rebel, always a rebel.)

[sighs] In a perfect world...

Sorry for the necropost. Consider that in the OT, Vader never had the intention to overthrow the Emperor until Luke stepped between them and the Emperor had almost killed his son. That's how much courage/motivation he needed... He said it himself: the Emperor was too powerful in his eyes.

Bingo. If you think the Disney producers won't have a say in the show's direction and appeal, boy are you wrong, kiddo...

Just a thought, Disney really needs to start funding Star Wars fan-film directors, and start leaving the creative decisions up to the fans: We, fans, can't do worse than their producers and directors already have.

Extremely mixed feelings. Way too much Disney-style (and un-old-LucasArts-like) cliche in the trailer. Please don't destroy The Clone Wars, too, Disney, you merciless, heartless, savage, corporate bastard.

THAT WAS EPICTM!!! ...garbage! Shhhh!

In regards to aesthetics? If you discount the tasteless digi-remakes, yes. Story-wise and character development-wise? Far from it. Despite what Walt's optimism says, not with the current Disney management around.

Does everyone forget that neither of these characters has actually wielded a lightsaber for over a decade? Wouldn't you get rusty, too, and be more cautious? After all: Governor Tarkin to Vader: "The Jedi are extinct, their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that's left of their religion."

Holy crap is right! What a great concept and execution! Methinks Disney/Lucasfilm should be paying more attention and budget into fanmade films than their own sorry selection of official movies.

Which also means very rushed production, with very little time spent in pre-production. In other words, the movie is going to be crap.

It'll be funny if this fan-film ends up having a better story, better acting, and being more faithful to the original characters than the official, big-budget movie -- which, by lately evidence, is actually likely to happen.

I expect so, yes. (Provided there will be a third film made in the same fashion.)