I agree. Just like the PT was Star Wars for a previous generation, the ST is Star Wars for the current generation. And that's likely why Disney has embraced the ST so wholeheartedly with things like Galaxy's Edge and the Starcruiser. They know that these kids are the future of the franchise, they're going to be the ones that will buy up all of the figures, model kits, misc. collectibles, etc. They did the same with the PT, there was a heavy merchandising push and focus on it when they came out. Most of the merchandise coming out was themed with the PT despite all of the grumblings of us old timers here on the RPF. And eventually, Disney, or whoever winds up owning the IP down the line, will create another ST or a complete reboot and that will become Star Wars to another generation of kids and the PT and ST fans of today will become the grumpy old OT fans of tomorrow.
Whatever the flaws of the various ST
films, Star Wars as a
setting remains undeniably popular and a great arena in which to play and tell stories. The ST environment is no exception. And one thing that everyone -- even here -- agreed with was that the
cast of the ST was terrific, and the characters were generally enjoyable, even if the writing surrounding them was not universally loved. Nobody's slagged off any of the
performances, and as a result, I can see how kids would absolutely resonate with the newer characters.
Look, the bottom line is...time marches on. This year, on an impromptu basis, I threw on my old Indy outfit to stand around and hand out candy. Now, admittedly, I've got a beard these days, so it kinda throws the look, but only a handful of folks recognized me. One kid said "Your movie is coming out!" (to which I responded, "It already did!" and left it at that). Other folks kinda recognized it, but hardly any remarked on it. Why? Simple:
The stuff
we loved as kids, and that
we think is universally appreciated...is not. It's stuff that is "of its time," that being
our time, and that time is...giving way to what younger folks are into. This is at least partially why, I suspect, Dial of Destiny didn't do $1B in box office worldwide. A lot of the moviegoing public
doesn't have a strong connection to Indiana Jones.
In that sense, from a
purely business perspective, I think the ST was a smart move and basically presented a "Star Wars" for a younger audience that could be "theirs" the same way the PT was for the younger Millennials.