Back when Lucasfilm announced Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans were understandably concerned. Disney had just purchased the franchise and there was fear of “Disney-fication.” But as concept art, trailers, and interviews came out the fear was replaced with the kind of hype I”ve never personally seen before.
Whether you loved, hated, or were just okay with the final product, everyone knew about The Force Awakens and had an opinion before they even stepped into the theater on opening night.
But with the initial blush off of the rose, something weird is happening. Outside of the geek sphere bubble, people don”t seem overly excited about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I”ve heard anecdotes from colleagues in the industry and seen the confusion of the mass market first hand. People questioning where Rogue One sits in the timeline, thinking it”s Episode VIII, or (most bogglingly) not realizing a new Star Wars film releases this Christmas. Why is this happening?
In the video above (and below) Donna Dickens and Jill Pantozzi discuss this weird phenomenon and if its an early warning sign of Star Wars marketing future.