"They Are Running Out Of Ways To Create Nostalgia": 12 Years After Disney Bought Star Wars, Lucasfilm Still Hasn't Figured Out Its Biggest Mistake (2025)

Nostalgia has long since been debated within the Star Wars fandom, and now, a new report makes it apparent that this truly is more of an issue for Lucasfilm than they realize. The challenge for Lucasfilm ever since the company was purchased by Disney was to maintain the same feeling George Lucas brought audiences with his Star Wars movies, particularly the original trilogy. This has caused many stories as of late to do whatever they can to attract a sense of nostalgia for the original trilogy, exemplified by Luke Skywalker's appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

In a new report by THR, Star Wars' problem with nostalgia is highlighted by various sources, especially in regard to the original trilogy - which is apparently heralded as the "Old Testament" of the Star Wars mythos. "You're being asked to create the new New Testament," one source shares. "And no one can agree on anything and there's a lot of second guessing about meanings." The reason for this disagreement, another source shares, is that "Star Wars is a nostalgia-based enterprise and they are running out of ways to create nostalgia."

What This Nostalgia Problem Means For Star Wars

Can The Franchise Ever Move Forward?

Seeing as this nostalgia problem has already been identified by Star Wars fans themselves, it looks as if the franchise is going to have to learn to look beyond the past when creating new stories. The magic of the original Star Wars trilogy was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime feat; there's no use in attempting to perfectly recreate what essentially boils down to lightning in a bottle. While that doesn't mean future Star Wars stories can't achieve this same feat, it certainly means that simply trying to recreate the feelings from that first attempt will not lead to the same outcome.

Our Take On How Star Wars Can Possibly Move Forward

It's Time To Look Ahead, Not Behind

There's no problem in taking inspiration from past stories and leaving Easter eggs behind, but it's clearly time for Star Wars to stop relying on its past stories to achieve success in its future endeavors. While audiences love classic characters, they also crave meeting new characters who could, in time, become just as revered - as evidenced by The Mandalorian's Din Djarin and Grogu. There are also so many other storylines and themes to be explored in the galaxy far, far away that are vastly different from what was provided in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Perhaps the biggest lesson Star Wars can learn in terms of nostalgia moving forward is from George Lucas himself. Lucas would not have limited himself to past stories while endeavoring to tell a new one, and the prequel trilogy is evidence of that, given how different it really is from the original trilogy. Star Wars, then, ought to take those same steps now. Rather than attempting to tell Lucas' story, they need to create their own vision, and they need to take the initiative to follow that. If Star Wars can do this, then its future will be much brighter.

Source: THR

Star Wars

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

Created by

George Lucas

First Film

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Cast

Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal

TV Show(s)

The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions

Character(s)

Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Rey Skywalker , Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious , Obi-Wan Kenobi , Ahsoka Tano , Grand Admiral Thrawn , Grand Inquisitor , Reva (The Third Sister) , The Fifth Brother , The Seventh Sister , The Eighth Brother , Yoda , Din Djarin , Grogu , Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader , Leia Organa , Ben Solo/Kylo Ren

Video Game(s)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic , Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords , Star Wars Battlefront (2015) , Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed , Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II , Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order , Star Wars Jedi: Survivor