Bob Iger Takes Blame For ‘Star Wars’ Missteps, Addresses Franchise Future

Solo A Star Wars Story Han Solo Chewbacca

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently addressed recent missteps taken in releasing some of the latest Star Wars franchise entries and discusses what fans can expect from it in the future.

Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the subject of controversy upon its release last December. Although some fans loved the new direction that Johnson took with the franchise, others were angered by liberties he took with the characters and mythology. This was seen as one of many reasons that Solo: A Star Wars Story performed below expectations at the box office this summer.

Another reason seen for the disappointing box office was that Disney took the approach that Marvel has been taking recently and released Solo only five months after The Last Jedi polarized fans of the Star Wars franchise. Whatever the specific reasons are, Disney CEO Bob Iger recently stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he takes responsibility of the franchise’s recent missteps.

“I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made — I take the blame — was a little too much, too fast. you can expect some slowdown, but that doesn’t mean we’re not gonna make films. J.J. [Abrams] is busy making [Episode] IX. We have creative entities, including [Game of Thrones creators David] Benioff and [D.B.] Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven’t been specific about. And we are just at the point where we’re gonna start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.’s. But I think we’re gonna be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that.”

Star Wars: Episode IX is slated to hit theaters in December 2019. If you were one of the fans who had Star Wars fatigue by the time Solo hit theaters, then you still you have more than a year  before the next one hits theaters. Though Benioff and Weiss, as well as Rian Johnson, have their own series’ announced in the Star Wars universe, story details remain a mystery.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all news regarding Star Wars: Episode IX when more information becomes available. Until then, you can catch up with Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is now available on Digital HD. Which upcoming Star Wars project are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below!

Directed by J.J. Abrams from a script he co-wrote with Chris Terrio, Episode IX stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher. The film hit theaters on December 20, 2019.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter