News Round Up 2018

[tlmadden73]

I do wish that Star Wars would be allowed to branch out.

Not everything has to be about established characters.

I promise, I will watch a Star Wars movie that doesn't have anything familiar in it, not even lightsabers.

Agree --- The success of shows like Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars and all the books and comic books they produce .. proves that ... not sure why they don't build on the success of things like that rather than trying to reinvent the wheel or recapture the success of the original trilogy.
I love the new characters of Ashoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger and company almost more than the original gang .. because a show lets you see some character development.

But I agree Disney doesn't seem to have a good "overseer" for Star Wars. They just seem to be making "corporate" decisions with checkboxes.

 

[rteetz]

Photo Update

Hollywood Studios

https://wdwnt.com/2018/09/photo-rep...s-being-remodeled-toy-story-land-changes-etc/

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Agree --- The success of shows like Star Wars Rebels and Clone Wars and all the books and comic books they produce .. proves that ... not sure why they don't build on the success of things like that rather than trying to reinvent the wheel or recapture the success of the original trilogy.
I love the new characters of Ashoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger and company almost more than the original gang .. because a show lets you see some character development.

But I agree Disney doesn't seem to have a good "overseer" for Star Wars. They just seem to be making "corporate" decisions with checkboxes.

Ahsoka is the best.

I think lucasfilm needs to try a walt and Roy gig. Dave Filoni in Walt's role as head of creative and someone in the financial/business role.

I've heard lots of rumblings Kennedy is on her way out.

 

[wareagle57]

Photo Update

Hollywood Studios

https://wdwnt.com/2018/09/photo-rep...s-being-remodeled-toy-story-land-changes-etc/

They make a good point about the gift shops. I don't understand why they are moving away from highly themed immersive gift shops. I'm not much of a souvenir shopper anyway, but taking all this stuff out makes me want to spend time there even less.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Iger says there will be a Star Wars Slowdown

As they should. Granted, I came of age during the originals, before the internet, social media and instant gratification of everything NOW (read: I’m old). But even I haven’t seen Solo yet. I personally think they should have finished the original series first before doing the Stories. It was a nightmare trying to explain to my 75 year old mother where Rogue One fell in the sequence

 

[The Pho]

Ahsoka is the best.

I think lucasfilm needs to try a walt and Roy gig. Dave Filoni in Walt's role as head of creative and someone in the financial/business role.

I've heard lots of rumblings Kennedy is on her way out.

That would be great. Filoni has proven himself to understand the property and gained trust with the fan base. He's produced some of the best content for the whole franchise.

Last I heard about Kennedy, was the rumor that she was to step down quietly in September. So not much time left if that timeframe was true. Can't remember what the source of that rumor was though.

 

[jknezek]

As they should. Granted, I came of age during the originals, before the internet, social media and instant gratification of everything NOW (read: I’m old). But even I haven’t seen Solo yet. I personally think they should have finished the original series first before doing the Stories. It was a nightmare trying to explain to my 75 year old mother where Rogue One fell in the sequence

I go the other way. I wish they would take longer breaks in the original series timeline and focus on other parts of the universe and timeline. Do an OT continuation movie or, if you must, trilogy, but then go do some from KOTOR or even go back further to the time of the Jedi Lords. Then do something focused on the Outer Regions and discovery, and then come back to the OT timeline. But stop focusing ONLY on the OT timeline. Star Wars is a huge universe. Not just physically, but through time as well. Get creative and use some of it.

 

[YesterDark]

Outside TSL and SWGE, I think the theming of the whole park is terrible. I'm not a big fan of old Hollywood. I understand the original idea back in the day, but they're moving away from that. I can't help but thing that the whole park needs plans to overhaul itself over time.

I can dream anyway.

 

[Moliphino]

They make a good point about the gift shops. I don't understand why they are moving away from highly themed immersive gift shops. I'm not much of a souvenir shopper anyway, but taking all this stuff out makes me want to spend time there even less.

I agree. I'm way more likely to buy something unique to a location than the same generic stuff that's in every store.

 

[YesterDark]

I go the other way. I wish they would take longer breaks in the original series timeline and focus on other parts of the universe and timeline. Do an OT continuation movie or, if you must, trilogy, but then go do some from KOTOR or even go back further to the time of the Jedi Lords. Then do something focused on the Outer Regions and discovery, and then come back to the OT timeline. But stop focusing ONLY on the OT timeline. Star Wars is a huge universe. Not just physically, but through time as well. Get creative and use some of it.

Well after 9 the Skywalker saga will be over. Then they will probably Marvalize it. They'll plop a story X years in the future or past (it doesn't matter) and create a set of new stories following characters. Then they'll team up for a major plot point like the Avengers. I doubt we'll get sets "trilogies" again. Once 9 is done with, they have the freedom of creating their own story and not mired in old lore.

 

[skier_pete]

Iger says there will be a Star Wars Slowdown

I think this "slowdown" is probably overblown. They had a nice gig with releasing these in December, and decided to push things with Solo, which didn't work out for sure and maybe people just aren't ready for two SW films in such a short window - or TLJ fatigue. Not sure which.

But my guess is there is no way they are going to wait until Episode IX comes out before starting to shoot another one. I suspect at the very latest we'll get the NEXT SW movie announced by D23 next year, and release will either be XMAS 2020 or May 2021.

I've been trying to get the time to watch the new crop of SW movies again. I haven't watched any of them outside of the one viewing during the theatrical release, and would really like to rewatch with the overall perspective. I really enjoyed ALL of the new movies so far to varying degrees.

 

[rteetz]

Outside TSL and SWGE, I think the theming of the whole park is terrible. I'm not a big fan of old Hollywood. I understand the original idea back in the day, but they're moving away from that. I can't help but thing that the whole park needs plans to overhaul itself over time.

I can dream anyway.

Well they aren’t going away from that. Sunset and Hollywood are staying old Hollywood. The Chinese theater remains as the facade for Mickey. The new parking lot entrance is also old Hollywood themed. Even the entrance to SWGE is themed to an old tunnel in Los Angeles.

 

[Helvetica]

C-3PO needs to step-up in IX or the next trilogy. People seem to forget that he's Vader's eldest son.

It will be interesting to see what they do after IX. I think they need to take more risks.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Outside TSL and SWGE, I think the theming of the whole park is terrible. I'm not a big fan of old Hollywood. I understand the original idea back in the day, but they're moving away from that. I can't help but thing that the whole park needs plans to overhaul itself over time.

I can dream anyway.

I'm the other way - I love that part and am fearful they will get away from it ... for example, watching the Citizens of Hollywood is one of my "must dos" every trip - and I love all the details and hidden things in all the facades around that area

The fact they have let go some of the Citizens of Hollywood has me even more worried

 

[tlmadden73]

They make a good point about the gift shops. I don't understand why they are moving away from highly themed immersive gift shops. I'm not much of a souvenir shopper anyway, but taking all this stuff out makes me want to spend time there even less.

I guess it is just a phase Disney is going through .. a clean, crisp look for the stores. *shrug*. Will have to judge it when I get there.
No theming saves money I guess. *sigh*

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think this "slowdown" is probably overblown. They had a nice gig with releasing these in December, and decided to push things with Solo, which didn't work out for sure and maybe people just aren't ready for two SW films in such a short window - or TLJ fatigue. Not sure which.

But my guess is there is no way they are going to wait until Episode IX comes out before starting to shoot another one. I suspect at the very latest we'll get the NEXT SW movie announced by D23 next year, and release will either be XMAS 2020 or May 2021.

I've been trying to get the time to watch the new crop of SW movies again. I haven't watched any of them outside of the one viewing during the theatrical release, and would really like to rewatch with the overall perspective. I really enjoyed ALL of the new movies so far to varying degrees.

And it isn't just the movies - they have the new series coming to the streaming network and they are doing another season of Clone Wars and just wrapped up Rebels, you have the video games (which for good or bad had a lot of marketing and just int he conscience of everyone), and the toys, and of course all the promotion and focus on the two Galaxy Edge lands coming (well, more with Paris as well) .... so I think that is part of it. If it was literally just the movies I don't think it would feel like there is too much Star Wars, it's the movies on top of everything else

 

[TheMaxRebo]

C-3PO needs to step-up in IX or the next trilogy. People seem to forget that he's Vader's eldest son.

It will be interesting to see what they do after IX. I think they need to take more risks.

It's a tough call though as they obviously took a bit of a risk with The Last Jedi and I don't think that paid off - now, one could argue that it wasn't taking the risk that was the issue it was the specific things they chose to do .... but in the end I am sure they were much happier about the reception to the Force Awakens than to The Last Jedi

 

[Phicinfan]

I'm the other way - I love that part and am fearful they will get away from it ... for example, watching the Citizens of Hollywood is one of my "must dos" every trip - and I love all the details and hidden things in all the facades around that area

The fact they have let go some of the Citizens of Hollywood has me even more worried

I too love the old Hollywood theme. My hope was once all the changes were made that the park would sort of transition from old Hollywood to New Hollywood in format - so going from old films to ending with current with SW:GE - the new area outside SW:GE is mostly like current CA area I believe.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I too love the old Hollywood theme. My hope was once all the changes were made that the park would sort of transition from old Hollywood to New Hollywood in format - so going from old films to ending with current with SW:GE - the new area outside SW:GE is mostly like current CA area I believe.

hmm, interesting take - definitely a feel from going from old (Hollywood Hotel, Tower of Terror, Fantasmic (Steamboat Willie, etc.), then tomore current in the middle with Disney Jr and then Toy Story, and then the real new / future looking, with Star Wars (also sort of order of when they became a part of the the Disney corporation)

If you extend just a bit further you can go from a very old Hollywood Hotel to the latest, greatest, futuristic hotel with the Star Wars Hotel on the complete opposite end

One thing that then feels a bit out of place is Rock N Roller Coaster, but is what it is I suppose

 

[HuskieJohn]

I enjoyed Future World as a child of the 80s -- but the park was way more about science and "discovery" then. Now you can get better interactive science exhibits and shows at a local museum than Epcot. (Which is why I really don't mind the removing of the "edutainment" theme in favor of IP-COT).

I didn't like World Showcase because it was just -- boring. No rides .. a few movies (that weren't bad) but mostly shopping and restaurants (two things a middle school boy just hates).

As an adult .. I enjoy it to be able to sample some food and such .. but to me .. you can't really appreciate World Showcase by meandering through it (like, say a local can) during a huge Disney vacation when every minute is precious (and expensive)

I can 100% agree with the above POV. My families WDW trips are once every 5 years and each park gets 1 day (other than MK last time and maybe HS next time).

Maybe with our second trip to EPCOT in 2020 I will appreciate the little things more.