Where Disney’s Hollywood Empire Went Wrong

As a lifelong fan of both Marvel and Star Wars, I’ve witnessed their respective universes evolve over decades, filling my childhood with endless hours of joy and imagination. The recent creative and commercial struggles they’ve faced have been a bitter pill to swallow, like when Darth Vader told Luke that he was his father – unexpected, heart-wrenching, and left me questioning the future of these iconic franchises.


In recent times, two vibrant segments of the Magic Kingdom, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm (the blockbuster powerhouse known for films like Marvel movies and Star Wars respectively), have been grappling with challenging periods. These divisions under Disney are responsible for some of the most spectacular sci-fi action in cinema and have also constructed extensive cinematic universes. Each studio has pushed the boundaries when it comes to sequels, outdoing their competitors. Marvel does this through intricate movie and TV storylines that interconnect across franchises, contributing to a larger superhero narrative. Lucasfilm, on the other hand, has been creating Star Wars trilogies set in a galaxy far, far away since 1977, which are unparalleled in terms of their longevity and cultural impact. Their collective successes have resulted in staggering global box office earnings and an enduring hold on the hearts of fans worldwide.

Prior to the launch of “Deadpool & Wolverine”, the 34th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel had been experiencing a creative and commercial slump. Movies such as “Eternals” (2021), “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, and the underperforming “The Marvels” failed to impress at the box office, fueling debates about superhero fatigue among fans. On the other hand, Lucasfilm has been predominantly focusing on Disney+ series in recent years, with only a handful of memorable exceptions like “The Mandalorian”. Notably, it’s been five years since Lucasfilm released a film, with “Star Wars: Episode IV — The Rise of Skywalker” (2019) receiving widespread criticism.

In this week’s installment of “Land of the Giants: The Disney Dilemma“, we explore the strategic blunders that led Disney to put business decisions ahead of creative ones, potentially harming its prized assets in the realm of Hollywood IP. We chat with Shawn Levy, director of both Deadpool & Wolverine, who is currently juggling roles as both Marvel savior and Jedi Jesus, working on a new Star Wars film. We also discuss the challenges faced by Marvel and Lucasfilm in overcoming their current ruts.

1. “Tune into episode four here (or wherever you usually listen to podcasts). If you’ve missed the first three episodes, consider subscribing to stay updated. Future discussions will center around Bob Iger, Disney’s influential CEO, who since 2005 has acquired various studios such as Pixar and Fox, like gathering Infinity Stones. This series will also explore Disney’s future ventures in technology, leveraging its success from theme parks, television, consumer products, streaming services, and movies. For the moment, get ready for a journey through Disney’s cinematic universe.”

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2024-07-31 20:53