The “Star Wars” franchise will stay focused on developing new TV series while taking a hiatus from theatrical releases for the time being…
The future of “Star Wars” will be on television — for now anyways.
During a financial earnings call for the Walt Disney Company this week, CEO Bob Iger confirmed that “Star Wars” will be focused on developing new and exciting entries on television — primarily for the Disney+ streaming service — with films going on “hiatus” for the time being.
The only “Star Wars” movie currently on the docket is a prequel feature based on “Rogue One” that will center on Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna), which Iger did reference on the call.
“We are developing both television and features,” Iger said while also adding that the next few years will see “Star Wars” staying entirely focused on television with.
While praising “The Mandalorian,” which was a breakout hit both commercially and critically for the new streaming service, Iger revealed that Disney+ now has 28.6 million subscribers so it’s understandable why the company is staying focused on that particular endeavor rather than theatrical releases for now.
Iger also confirmed that “The Mandalorian” will return for season 2 on Disney+ in October and “including the possibility of infusing it with more characters and taking those characters in their own direction in terms of series.” In other words, “The Mandalorian” could spawn its own spinoffs after season 2 is completed.
Series creator Jon Favreau is already back at work on “The Mandalorian” season 2 with the show now confirmed for a return in the fall.
Another “Star Wars” series based on Obi-Wan Kenobi (starring Ewan McGregor) is still in the works as well despite recent reports that there were problems with the original scripts and production on the series wouldn’t start until next year.
In addition to “Star Wars” news, Iger also confirmed that Marvel Studios has at least seven series in the works for Disney+ including “She-Hulk,” “Ms. Marvel,” and “Moon Knight,” who will eventually crossover into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well.
The first two Marvel series will debut in 2020 with “Falcon and Winter Soldier” arriving on Disney+ in August with “WandaVision” set to debut in December. “Loki” starring Tom Hiddleston will then follow in 2021.
