This would leave Disney in ownership of franchises like X-Men, the Fantastic Four and James Cameron’s Avatar, a larger stake in the streaming service Hulu, in addition to much else. The Marvel Cinematic Universe would expand notably almost overnight, and Disney would see its film and television presence grow dramatically while coopting one of its primary competitors. It would also leave the Murdoch family, who own and operate Fox, the second largest shareholders in the Walt Disney Company.
The whole thing still needs to be approved by regulators in a number of countries, but is expected to be allowed due to how the deal was structured. From Pixar to Marvel to LucasFilm and now Fox, Disney and its CEO Bob Iger, are on a bona fide roll. In an age of Netflix and Hulu, Spotify and MoviePass, traditional media companies are scrambling to adapt and consolidate. Disney is a prime example, acting more like a technology company akin to Google or Facebook while scooping up companies with valuable intellectual property. They even announced a plan to launch a streaming video service as a direct competitor to Netflix. As they well know, content is king.
Speaking of content, none is grabbing more public attention at the moment than Star Wars: The Last Jedi. With a current 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and pulling in an estimated $220 million over it’s opening weekend, director Rian Johnson helmed what is already becoming widely regarded as one of the best films in the franchise, and I entirely agree.
Challenging long-held tropes while honoring the best of Star Wars tradition, Johnson upends many of the expected moves for the film in favor of giving fans what may well be the most daring and forward-feeling in the canon since Empire Strikes Back. From the very start its pace is riveting and well handled. Constantly raising the stakes, giving answers many did not expect, and even eliminating characters most presumed would be present until at least the end of this new trilogy, The Last Jedi proves itself to be one of the funniest and most heartfelt films in the franchise, while carrying a weight and dark overtone worthy of the very best the saga has to offer.
From the strong performances by its lead actors to the strikingly new-yet-familiar visual treats, served one after another, this film sets itself apart as a Star Wars movie not only honoring its past, but moving boldly into its future. Disney has made it clear they wish to take the franchise in some new directions, and after the well-done yet formulaic Force Awakens, The Last Jedi is a nearly ideal follow up. Certain fans have been notably displeased by this second act of the trilogy, but this Star Wars is a new beast, rooted in its past yet not tied to the tales of the Old Republic, Empire and Skywalkers. There’s a much larger galaxy out there, waiting to be shown to us, and The Last Jedi revels in displaying just how much fun this wider world can be.
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