Big day for Disney news, y’all. Fresh off the reveal thatGame of ThronesshowrunnersDavid BenioffandD.B. Weissare developing a newStar Warsfilm trilogy, Disney CEOBob Igerspoke with investors on thequarterly earnings calland revealed a handful of new updates about the company and, in particular, what’s brewing at Lucasfilm.
Back in November, we learned thatDisney is developing a live-actionStar Warsseriesto headline their new streaming service alongside TV adaptations of other familiar titlesMonsters Inc.andHigh School Musical, and during today’s call, Iger revealed that they’re developing more than oneStar Warsseries for the new streaming platform (though he did not clarify if those other series were live-action or animated) and that they’re going to be announcing the creative team behind one of those iterations sooner than later.
Iger said,
“We are developing not just one, but a few Star Wars series specifically for the Disney direct to consumer app. We’ve mentioned that and we are close to being able to reveal at least one of the interties that is developing that for us. Because the deal isn’t completely closed, we can’t be specific about that… I think you’ll find the level of talent … on the television front will be rather significant as well.”
Iger also offered some updates on the new Benioff and Weiss project, explaining that Lucasfilm has been in talks with the filmmakers for some time and, despite their credentials as the creators of one of the most successful TV shows of all time, they never had an interest in creating a Star Wars series for the platform. No, they are focused “on a point in time in the Star Wars mythology,” says Iger, something that will be music to the ears of fans hoping for an Old Republic trilogy.
“Their interest was in creating a series of films that areStar Wars-based and we’ve actually been talking to them for a long time. To my knowledge, they didn’t express interest in creating a series. They have an idea for a number of films and at some later date, I’m sure we’ll disclose to all of you just what those are. They are focused on a point in time in theStar Warsmythology and taking it from there.”
The final season ofGame of Thronesis set to air in 2019, and while Benioff and Weiss planned to move on to their alt-history showConfederate, I wouldn’t be surprised if the controversy put that project down for the count and opened the doors for a Star Wars trilogy.
As for the yet-to-be-titled streaming service, Disney is expected to debut the new platform in 2019, and no doubt they intends to break out the big guns to go head-to-head with Netflix. For more onStar Wars, check out the links below:
