For many of us, the pandemic has started to feel like a distant memory. During that time, movie studios were forced to get creative, often hosting virtual events - remember DC FanDome? - in the hope of building buzz for upcoming titles in a world where its biggest stars were confined to Zoom screens.
In Disney's case, 2020 ended with a splashy Investor Day which saw us treated to a Comic-Con-level of surprise announcements from the House of Mouse, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. However, in the latter's case, quite a few projects have never actually materialised.
A new book, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, was recently released and, as we first explained on SFFGazette.com, it reveals that both Kennedy and MCU boss Kevin Feige were pressured by Disney into announcing projects before they were ready. We have to believe that was ousted CEO Bob Chapek's doing as both franchises suffered under his brief tenure as the company's leader.
So, in the case of Star Wars, what happened?
Well, the majority of projects did become a reality but since being unveiled way back in December 2020, The Acolyte, for example, still doesn't have a premiere date even though production has wrapped. That's a perfect example of a project announced too soon, resulting in excitement petering out.
However, the four which failed to become a reality are Rangers of the New Republic, Lando, A Droid Story, and Rogue Squadron.
The latter was meant to be a movie helmed by Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins. The filmmaker even donned a pilot's uniform and posed alongside an X-Wing, hyping up an adventure we were clearly meant to believe would be a big deal. Not only has it since been put on the back burner, but Jenkins is believed to have left over creative differences.
Lando was a Disney+ series set to be spearheaded by Justin Simien; now, Stephen and Donald Glover are producing it as a movie and The Haunted Mansion director learned of his firing on social media.
Rangers of the New Republic probably would have become a reality, but Gina Carano's controversial comments on social media saw her fired as Cara Dune and essentially blacklisted in Hollywood. These days, she makes low-budget fare for conservative websites and ideas from the series have been folded into The Mandalorian.
Finally, we have A Droid Story, an animated film using realistic CG we'd heard would revolve around R2-D2 and C-3PO embarking on an adventure together. The last time an update was shared was back in 2021.
More Star Wars movies and TV shows have happened than those that haven't, but it's hard not to wonder exactly how much damage this presentation did to Lucasfilm's reputation among already disgruntled fans disappointed by the sequel trilogy.