It looks like we can expect to see fewer Star Wars shows being made moving forward as insider reports are saying that Disney may be scaling back on Lucasfilm’s annual output of Star Wars live-action TV series over the next couple of years.
Since The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters in 2019, Star Wars has focused heavily on the small screen, with Disney+ becoming the new home for the franchise’s storytelling.
From the gritty underworld of The Mandalorian to the galactic political intrigue of Andor, the strategy has been to deliver multiple live-action series per year. Other projects include Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the most recent series The Acolyte. That may be changing, though.
According to insider Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm is planning to slow down the pace. The days of two or more Star Wars live-action series a year may soon be over, with the company possibly shifting to a one-show-per-year schedule starting in 2025.
This doesn’t mean the end of Star Wars TV content. Several series are reportedly still in development; it’s just that Disney might be putting a cap on how many hit the streaming service annually.
While Richtman’s scoop isn’t official, it does line up with the company’s recent corporate strategy. Back in July 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted at plans to reduce content spending, explaining that the company would be producing less overall content as part of cost-cutting initiatives. Iger’s message was clear: less is more when it comes to Disney’s production slate.
Streaming has become an expensive business, especially when you’re dealing with a franchise as big as Star Wars. The cost of creating Star Wars content that feels authentic doesn’t come cheap.
To give you an idea, shows like The Acolyte reportedly cost Disney upwards of $180 million to produce, a figure that rivals big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. And despite all those impressive numbers, Disney hasn’t seen the kind of return it hoped for from its streaming investments.
So, trimming down the Star Wars live-action TV lineup makes sense. By focusing on fewer series with higher impact, Lucasfilm can ensure that each project receives the attention, resources, and marketing push it needs to succeed.
This news also comes as the Star Wars cinematic universe is gearing up for a comeback on the big screen with The Manadlaorin & Grogu being the first film to be released since The Rise of Skywalker.
If we start to see more movies get made, as there are several in development, it’s another reason why Disney would want to scale back on the TV projects.
It’s actually smart to slow things down as it allows Disney to give each new project the time, care, and budget it needs to be great, rather than rushing out multiple projects a year that might not live up to expectations.
What do you think about the possible new direction of the Star Wars franchise?
