Star Wars offers something for everyone

This is Star Wars Celebration weekend and it all kicked off yesterday in England. The annual gathering of Star Wars fanatics is met head on with the cast of shows and movies and the head of Lucasfilm and many others. There are fractions of Star Wars fans who complain loudly things are a mess, I am here to clap back at that a bit. Not saying some complaints are not without merit but all is not.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: (L-R) Ali Plumb, Kathleen Kennedy, James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy onstage durng the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

Three new feature films have been announced James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy  will be directing the films. One film will see the return of Rey and is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Another film will focus on the dawn of the Jedi/Force and the third film will be centered around the New Republic.

Ahsoka is by far the most hyped, most anticipated show of the year. It was met with a teaser trailer first thing in the morning:

Some said it is Rebels 2.0. Fair enough, but Star Wars Rebels offers some of the very best content of the franchise. Actor Lars Mikkelsen will appear as a live action Grand Admiral Thrawn after voicing him on Rebels.

While Season 3 of The Mandalorian has felt a bit off fans were told it is all about to come together with the last two chapters of the season and will answer and fill in the gap of unanswered questions to date.

No matter if you did not/ do not like shows like The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi or any other shows, it is fine. There are fans who do like/love them.

With upcoming shows such as Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew and others remember they have a place in the Star Wars universe. One thing that is interesting of note if Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni said that they were told to take things from all over Star Wars, cannon or non-cannon and bring them into the fold. This is to give the overall arc more body.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Daisy Ridley onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

Never forget that Star Wars is about self discovery. If fans can do that then perhaps all Star Wars content can find a path to calming people down with the bigger picture in mind.

 

With Star Wars celebration 2020 not taking place in person, merchandise is still available

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 16: Atmosphere on Day One of Disney’s 2015 Star Wars Celebration held at the Anaheim Convention Center on April 16, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

The annual mass gathering of rabid Star Wars fans known as Star Wars celebration, will not be taking place in it’s usual format due to COVID-19. Autographs will not be signed, no meet and greets with actors and actresses, nothing that has taken place for years will be enjoyed in person. However, Star Wars celebration merchandise will be available.

While it is a good marketing ploy by Disney, Star Wars fans are loyal and many will run right out and buy new Star Wars books, shirts, DVD’s, graphic novels and the list goes on and on.

While the current list of Star Wars celebration 2020 merchandise is limited to a few selects items, the list of things to buy is going to grow. Disney sent out news that more merchandise from that “Galaxy Far, Far Away” will be added in the coming weeks and months.

As I said it is a good marketing ploy, it is also a way to sooth over an upset fan base steaming from a by and large failed sequel trilogy. Star Wars fans are quick to forgive however they do not like to see the same mistake made over and over.

By offering fans an olive branch of sorts through merchandise, Disney is both trying to please fans as they wait for what is next in the way of Star Wars films and celebrating arguably the best Star Wars film still to this day, The Empire Strikes Back which turns 40 years old this year.

The limited (for now) Star Wars merchandise can be purchased now. Disney opened up the store early for those who want to get a head start.

There is hope that the convention will be able to take place next year if a vaccine for the virus is produced and shipped out. Until then, enjoy the content that can be purchased now and will be added to.