Star Wars Rogue One Spoiler Thread

[DaneMcCloud]

There's quite a bit of info trickling out so its probably time to start a spoiler thread. I'll update with a trailer when it's available.

Trailer #1. This looks amazing!!! Darth Vader, The Emperor, Jyn (Rey's mother?), Forrest Whitaker, Donnie Yen and Alan Tudyk.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Disney paid $4 Billion. First two movies have made $3 Billion worldwide.

How much have they made off merchandise and licensing so far?

Seems like Lucas undersold the rights. Did people think that at the time of the sale?

I'm guessing that $3 billion is gross, not net income. Also don't forget the shit that was the prequels. My personal belief is that $4 billion was and is high. The fact that Disney has turned it around is a testament to Disney, not the rights they bought. Another movie or two from Lucas and I think you cut that $4 billion in half.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

... Eliminating George from the creative process also helped.

This. In George's hands the IP was a depreciating asset.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by unlurking

I'm guessing that $3 billion is gross, not net income. Also don't forget the shit that was the prequels. My personal belief is that $4 billion was and is high. The fact that Disney has turned it around is a testament to Disney, not the rights they bought. Another movie or two from Lucas and I think you cut that $4 billion in half.

Considering Disney paid $16 billion for Marvel and it took them a good long while to figure out the IP, $4 billion for Lucasfilm was a literal steal.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Considering Disney paid $16 billion for Marvel and it took them a good long while to figure out the IP, $4 billion for Lucasfilm was a literal steal.

Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion. Not 16.

They also bought them AFTER Marvel was on an uptrend. Iron Man was released a year and a half prior. Marvel already had much of their future planned out, with Iron Man 2 opening 5 months after the deal. Thor and Captain America both released within a year and a half of Disney buying Marvel. Disney didn't have to "figure out" the IP, and they didn't take a good long while to do anything.

Since 2008 the MCU has grossed $4,232,743,876 in box office sales. Since 1977 Star Wars has grossed $3,645,062,219 in box office sales.

I know you have a lot of insider information about the industry, but I think you're looking at the Marvel pickup through Star Wars colored glasses.

EDIT:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/...ey-buys-marvel
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchi...d=avengers.htm
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchi...d=starwars.htm

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by unlurking

Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion. Not 16.

I know you have a lot of insider information about the industry, but I think you're looking at the Marvel pickup through Star Wars colored glasses.

Eh, I got my numbers confused with another acquisition. They happen so frequently these days that I can barely keep track.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter to me. At this point I'm time, I have no monetary vested interest in Disney, Marvel, Pixar or any associated company.

[unlurking]

I hear ya. And to be honest, I'd hate to be the financial auditor having to tie down all the different tv, animation, print, toy, etc. licensing deals between the two different franchises. On a pure "per movie/toy/clothing/etc." basis, I'm sure Star Wars is the bigger franchise. But the MCU is like a machine, churning out products (and profits) like crazy.

I'll be curious to see if Star Wars maintains it's margins after they ramp up. Will really have to expand the universe to avoid saturation, but I wonder how many other people will think that's unnecessary story telling. I think the numbers per movie will drop quite a bit once they reach MCU level productions.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Agree to disagree.

This movie isn't approaching $1 billion at the box office because "no one has heard of it".

I guess. I think it's more because it's an awesome movie, tons of good fan service, but it's not because it's from the Journal of whatever.

Agree to disagree.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by unlurking

How do you determine what is "necessary" to a story? As far as I'm concerned, the OT could be R1, ANH, and Empire. Can throw every other Star Wars story away and start over from those three. So for me, this movie is more "necessary" than ROTJ.

Wow. So Vader's redemption is a story that doesn't need to be told, but a story that we already know the end of (everybody dies stealing the plans for the Death Star) is a story that had to be told.

OK.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

I guess. I think it's more because it's an awesome movie, tons of good fan service, but it's not because it's from the Journal of whatever.

Agree to disagree.

The issue here is that you're a "casual fan" that has enjoyed some of the Star Wars films.

There's nothing wrong with that but it's important to realize that there are tens of millions of people that read all of the book and comics, view every episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels that are deeply invested in a galaxy far, far away.

There are more stand alone movies, more episodes, more books, more animated series and even a live action TV series in the works, which will further enhance and enrich the Star Wars galaxy, that will be released in the coming years.

Hopefully, Star Wars will still appeal to the casual fan.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The issue here is that you're a "casual fan" that has enjoyed some of the Star Wars films.

There's nothing wrong with that but it's important to realize that there are tens of millions of people that read all of the book and comics, view every episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels that are deeply invested in a galaxy far, far away.

There are more stand alone movies, more episodes, more books, more animated series and even a live action TV series in the works, which will further enhance and enrich the Star Wars galaxy, that will be released in the coming years.

Hopefully, Star Wars will still appeal to the casual fan.

If Star Wars loses it's appeal to the casual fan in favor of chasing the super hardcore fans, someone will have ****ed up big time.

You can't make a billion dollar property out of a niche fanbase. That's what put the Star Trek series on death's doorstep before the successful re-boot recaptured mainstream audiences.

I think you have it backwards - hopefully the hardcore fan finds these movies entertaining as they broaden the galaxy for the casual fan. Making $200 million movies designed to appeal to the fans that have already invested thousands of hours into the Star Wars universe is simply not going to work.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Wow. So Vader's redemption is a story that doesn't need to be told, but a story that we already know the end of (everybody dies stealing the plans for the Death Star) is a story that had to be told.

OK.

Pretty much, yes. I like evil Vader. Redeemed Vader is a dead character. By redeeming him, you remove him from the story.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I think you have it backwards - hopefully the hardcore fan finds these movies entertaining as they broaden the galaxy for the casual fan. Making $200 million movies designed to appeal to the fans that have already invested thousands of hours into the Star Wars universe is simply not going to work.

We'll see. It's kind of like Marvel, I suppose. I never read any of the comics and have only seen one of the films in a theater and therefore, I'm not emotionally invested in the films and have only a passing interest.

But the point I was attempting to make is that there a rich lore out there and some of it was briefly discussed in Rogue One. I mean, Journal of the Whills is mentioned on the very first page of the 1977 Star Wars novelization! If Lucasfilm can continue to make films that appeal to hardcore and casual fans, more power to them.

But if that's their true M.O. (which is contrary to what I've been told, but that's neither here nor there), they're going to fail at some point.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by unlurking

I'm guessing that $3 billion is gross, not net income. Also don't forget the shit that was the prequels. My personal belief is that $4 billion was and is high. The fact that Disney has turned it around is a testament to Disney, not the rights they bought. Another movie or two from Lucas and I think you cut that $4 billion in half.

Disney got a bargin, plain and simple. I was shocked that Lucas sold for only $4 billion. That's a pittance for a company like Disney and he soon regretted the decision.

And while $3 billion from the box office is a gross figure, Disney's way ahead of the game at this point because DVD/Blu Ray sales were massive, with Rogue One likely to be the same. And we're not even adding in merchandising, Star Wars Rebels, the comics and novels, let alone, three upcoming movies.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Disney also sold Star Wars to Netflix in emerging markets right after they purchased it creating hundreds of millions of new fans. They've earned their money. Eliminating George from the creative process also helped.

Licensed, not sold.

Disney will always own the rights.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Here's the major criticism I came away from with this film - please please please remember that this universe isn't really for you. Or at least, not the present you.

This can't be the new normal for these movies.

Considering the last three Star Wars films, Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens and Rogue One, were all rated PG-13, there's evidence to the contrary.

Also, Star Wars Rebels is shown on Disney XD, not Disney Channel or Disney, Jr.

Disney Channel and Disney, Jr. get the Lego Star Wars animated series, which are silly and harmless.

Rebels can be pretty hardcore.