I think we would all like to think there is a right way to make a Star Ward movie that will grab the hearts of all fans: old, new, casual or crazy-into-it. Thinking through this question, and starting form the perspective that it IS possible, I am having trouble finding any path that leads to that Utopian concept. It is tempting to just throw blame on the recently angry fans, brushing them off as impossible to please, unrealistic or just plain angry people. That is not fair and, the more I think out it, probably not accurate.
I remember when the prequels came out and so many people were just furious with George Lucas. They called him stupid, said he ruined Star Wars and the new movies were just horrible. Jar Jar was despised, many actors and actresses received the worst vitriolic abuse and the Star Wars phenomenon looked to be nearing an end. Around that time I began working with a woman who was almost completely uninterested in any pop-culture and could care less about Star Wars. She loved the prequels. Over the years this same type of situation would happen with many different people with wildly varying views of the world yet really liked the prequels. Now it is very common to see people who were prequel kids who think the original trilogy is kind of one-dimensional or basic. I am an OT guy, but I get how much bigger, involved and vivid the prequels are. That is not to say there is anything wrong with the OT, just that they are very different times for the Star Wars galaxy and Lucas shows this nicely.
This leads to many currently angry fans who are frustrated with the new movies who speak of episodes I-VI as real Star Wars, while hating on the new stuff. Add to all of this, the many people I have seensay they were not really Star Wars fans until they saw Force Awakens.
How can all of this be from on franchise with essentially the same themes, characters and situation throughout?
I think it all comes down to the fundamental awesomness that lies at the heart of Star Wars magic: There is a perfect blend of the impossible within reach, the grand, the simple all wrapped in the common struggle of our own internal darkness and light. Set this in limitlessness of outer space with enough planet-side earthiness and our imaginations run wild.
This all becomes a personal experience on different levels from person to person with each building on different aspect. For some, this can be childhood defining. It is likely hard for some people to feel like something new is threatening that sort personal connection.I still don’t understand being angry about it, but, to each their own.
So, will any new Star Wars movie or series make all of the fans happy, like those that came before, mainstream SW fans and the general public will probably always be some level of thrilled. Now that there are multiple generations of fans with these personal connections to different aspects that I mentioned before, there may always be small fringe group of always-angry fans that just would prefer to have stuck to IV-VI or I-VI. Some may have real reasons for being angry at the new stuff and some may just have very rigid expectations. Unfortunately for these fans, Lucasfilm and Disney is highly unlikely to try and thread that needle just right for each of them.
Ultimately, each new movie is going to be a wild ride with elements of the past mixed with the new galaxy and characters. Most of the old will see its end and in the wake a new struggle between Light and Dark will be birthed. The masses will cheer and the fringe will complain…but its all good if the anger means they care. Indifference would be worse, in my view.
This post is based on my answer to a Quora question. Check out my answer here:
Is there any way that Star Wars Episode IX will make all Star Wars fans happy? Answered Apr 24
