AND Star Wars Is fatigue a real thing? The issue is hotly debated in the fandom, and the discussion has become particularly heated following the cancellation of The Acolyte. Lucasfilm appears to be heading back to the big screen, switching to just one live-action TV show per year. Now, however, Third-party analytics reveal what's really going on.
Parrot Analytics measures online demand for TV shows, and its Q2 2024 Global Demand Report for the US reveals what's really happening with Star Wars – comparing it to the MCU.
Parrot notice that both franchises are seeing diminishing returnswith demand for Ahsoka and The Acolyte unable to match previous success with The Mandalorian. Still, it is quite clear that the search for Star Wars has remained relatively stable, unlike Marvel – where demand has fallen 6.6% in Parrot's measure over the past two years. Both still outperform Disney+ when compared to catalog share; in the second quarter of 2024, 22.1% of Disney+ demand went to Marvel or Star Warsalthough they represent only 12% of the platform's programs.
What the Parrot analysis means for Star Wars – and Disney+
Disney faces a difficult balance
The picture here is complicated. Recent shows haven't attracted the kind of audience Disney was hoping for; That's fundamentally why The Acolyte was cancelled. After all, that is the case, Star Wars remains in a relatively healthy position. 2025 should be good for Lucasfilm, because Andor Season 2 promises to be released with the same level of quality as Season 1 – if not better. The problem Disney faces, however, is that there is a need to rebalance Lucasfilm's production for the big screen. This is certain to have an impact on the future performance of Disney+.
The key, however, will be to reverse diminishing returns. Filming in Ahsoka season two is expected to begin next year, and the latest reports suggest that showrunner Dave Filoni is changing his approach. Season 1 relied entirely on ILM's Stagecraft Volume technology, but Season 2 is expected to deploy a variety of production techniques. These are optimistic signs and we expect them to result in stronger performance.
Our Take on Star Wars Fatigue
The future is bright for Star Wars
Parrot data helps you understand what's really happening Star Wars. It's encouraging news to see this demand for the franchise remains strongdespite all the problems Lucasfilm has faced over the past year. The challenge will be to sustain this, at a time when production is reduced. The return to the big screen in 2026, with The Mandalorian and GroguIt should then give things a big boost. It is reasonable to assume Ahsoka the second season will build on this, as they are both set around the same time and are likely part of Grand Admiral Thrawn's ongoing story.
It's important to note that Disney's approach to the streaming platform is changing. Both Lucasfilm and Marvel are scaling back production on TV shows now; the MCU is switching to just two shows a year at once Star Wars is reducing it to just one. With Marvel, this appears to be an attempt to avoid the downward trajectory and improve quality, while with Marvel Star Wars it's a matter of ensuring the studio manages its bandwidth. Both approaches make sense, but will undoubtedly leave Disney+ a little more vulnerable given the importance of these franchises.
Source: Parrot Analysis