RUMOR The TV series will be about Mandalorians

Unknown to the general audience. Bear in mind my posts here are coming from a marketing standpoint. In my OP I'm not saying "Why am I having to tell yo this?" to the guy from the standpoint of a Star Wars fan, but from a purely marketing standpoint. A live-action Star Wars series is a big step, and no one in the business should have to be told that the most vital incentive in all of Star Wars (i.e. Jedi, lightsbaers and lightsaber duels) is necessarily the focus of this show in order to draw the largest possible audience to ensure the greatest chances of success. This is the queen mother of no-brainers.

The staunch Star Wars fans are the only people who know the name Mandalorian. That audience is going to tune in just because it says "Star Wars" on the title. But this is about growing your fanbase. You want growth. You want to expand that fanbase and your greatest ability to do this is going to be with the thing that everyone knows and wants; not with a group of characters that only staunch Star Wars fans know, and by excluding the very thing that is your greatest draw.

It would be like going fishing and choosing to use a bare hook when you've got a tacklebox full of Catch-A-Lot cheater bait. Anyone wanting to catch as many fish as possible is going for the cheater bait for sure. Maybe the rumor is true, but I don't buy it for a second.

Sure there's nothing crazed about introducing unknowns via the series, as long as they're being introduced via the main characters. But who are the main characters of Clone Wars and Rebels? There's nothing crazed about introducing Borgs via your Star Trek program. But having Borgs be the focus of your Star Trek instead of the Federation and a Federation vessel is, not the best strategy.

I'm willing to wager any excitment about the Clone Wars coming back has little to do with Mandalorians. It's probably something else. Just a hunch.

I know, that's what I said. Not only would the show not be about Jedi, but you're setting it in a time when you can't even really have Jedi guest appearences? If this rumor is actually true then, my suggestion is that the water being pumped into this particular Disney facility should be checked immediately.

 

it's very early days, and both rumors (time period and Mandalore) are still just that.

it's a tantalizing (too early to say delicious? ) time period for me.. Ben Solo has been born, Gallius Rax is either in charge or has just been killed by Sloane, Snoke is either around or soon will be and Luke is trotting about transferring trees n stuff.

there may not be many light sabers being wielded, but even if they do start this show on Mandalore.. the possibilities of what and who we might see over the seasons (assuming there will be many) are endless and very exciting.

whether you want to see light sabers, Mandalorian civil wars and power struggles or something else completely.. i think it's time to take a deep breath and be patient for some official info.

we've heard these kind of rumors before where they 'kind of' end up being true. the show may open with a flashback on Mandalore 3 years after ROTJ where we see something important for the start of the show... then it jumps forward X years. to know that it's 'set' in that place and in that time and not know anything else is a stretch.. so we'll see.

 

I for one would love to see a show based on Luke Skywalker’s school, whether it’s just Luke and Ben or all 13 students. Imagine how cool that would be: a show featuring Luke as a master, Ben as the disruptive student, and 12 other characters that can be developed...

 

But why do we need Jedi to appear in a series like that? Don't we have enough Jedi already? What I disliked about the PT was the huge amount of Jedi running around everywhere. Back as a young kid, I always thought the Jedi would be legendary and mystical warriors who would only appear if help is needed. The ST finally makes them more mystical again. Yeah, I know, that was kinda off topic now.

 

I don't need it to be about Jedi, either (though I would much prefer it because, to me, Jedi and lightsabers are the very heart of Star Wars). Much like you, I'll watch anything thaty says Star Wars in the title. But this is not about me and you. If they're relying on the me's and you's to float their series, they're not understanding business strategy at all. I'm not saying, I don't want to see this. I'm saying this is a stupefying choice by anyone who is wanting to ensure the best possible chances of success for their franchise, and to ensure the best possible growth of their supporting fanbase. There's even someone up above who said they wouldn't pay for a series that wasn't about Jedi, and that is a person on a Star Wars forum. What do you think non-Star wars fans would say? To make this series about anything other than Jedi is like, ditching a straight flush for two pair in a "choose your hand" poker match.

The series are about Jedi. Even the stand-alone movies have a lightsaber being ignited for a reason. Rogue One had a "Jedi" as much as you could have one, and even then had the Vader sequence. Solo is the only movie not to really have a Jedi in it, and it could do that because it has Han Solo, Chewie and the Falcon. These are also iconic to Star Wars. But then, it's the only movie to flop. I'm not saying that is the reason, but maybe it had some contribution to it, you never know.

Oh is it factually set during that time period? I didn't know that. Well, there were no Jedi between RotS and ANH until there were, you know? But, all I can say, if this rumor is true, time for Disney to check their water supply for excessive levels of flouride or something.

 

If you want to expand the fan base, why wouldn't they focus on something that hasn't been covered that much? We have tons of content about Jedi that it would be refreshing to have something that shifts focus away from them and start building out other aspects of the Star Wars universe in content outside of just the books. From a marketing standpoint, there are endless possibilities with what they could run with for this story and how they decide to market it to people. Also, the big announcement that came out with The Clone Wars is literally the Siege of Mandalore arc lol so clearly there is some draw to the planet that gets people excited. Also two other story arcs that have been floated around are the Bad Batch arc and the Boba Fett arc so clearly people aren't pinning all their hopes and dreams on just Jedi content. My point about including the excitement over the announcement is that these shows (Clone Wars and Rebels) gave us a look at characters who aren't Jedi (Rex, Hondo, Sabine, etc...) and people connected with them. You may think that the Jedi are what make Star Wars what it is, but it's characters like the ones I mentioned that make Star Wars so much more to me.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy Jedi as much as any other fan, but there is so much more to Star Wars than just Jedi and lightsabers and some of the best lore I have read/experienced doesn't involve the Jedi. If Disney makes a compelling and interesting show, people will watch it no matter who is in it and I honestly believe that they will do that with this show.

You can take both Vader out of Rogue One and Maul out of Solo and you still have very strong movies on their own. Maul's lightsaber was also only used so the audience could see that it was actually Maul and not just another Zabrak.

I was mistaken and it takes place 7 years after the battle of Endor and not 3 according to Collider, but still this really only gives them 6 years of time between Jakku and when this show takes place and some of that time has already been covered in other media.

--- Double Post Merged, Aug 9, 2018, Original Post Date: Aug 9, 2018 ---

This would definitely be super cool, but I'd be curious to see if they could get Mark and Adam on board. Going to bet that it would be a hard sell for both actors.

 

Ah missed the correction. Appreciate that. Well if it is indeed 3 years than that really leaves even less time that doesn't already have content going on between this show and the battle of Endor.

 

Because of recognition and investment. It's why New Line didn't go after rights to the Silmarillion but went for rights to the Lord of the Rings. Because far more people would be invested and turn out for your movie. It's why the upcoming live-action LotR spinoff will be about Aragorn. Because the general audience knows Aragorn. If you're trying to attract people, you do it with something they're invested in. That's not to say staunch LotR fans wouldn't turn out to see a Silmarillion movie, or to say, no one who wasn't a staunch LotR fan would - but to say, it greatly enhances your odds. Just like you can indeed win the pot with two pair, but if you've the option for a straight flush you take that because now your odds are greatly enhanced.

If Disney goes with two pair, okay. But I'm just the type of person that would be amazed at their choice and feel the need to ask them why on earth they would possibly take the two pair if they could've taken the straight flush.

We being Star Wars fans. You have to take into account the general audience only knows the movies. They don't play the video games or watch cartoons or read the books. That content isn't there for them. What people generally want to see, what draws them to Star Wars, is Jedi and lightsabers and those fantastic duels. Ask anyone what their favorite parts of any of the movies are, and you'll inevitably get a landslide opinion "The lightsaber duel". Ask the most rabid PT hater and they'll still confess their love for the Maul-Kenobi-Jinn duel. Jedi, lightsabers, the force - this is what everyone identifies as the quintessential identity of Star Wars. Take those out of Star Wars and it's not really Star Wars anymore. It's like taking the martial arts out of Bruce Lee.

Well sure, and in poker there are endless hand possiblities. But some greatly increase your chances of success. Bear in mind I'm not saying, this is doomed to fail, nobody wants to see this, or any such thing. I'm saying it is as equally a stupefying decision as taking two pair over a straight flush. If you're showing me your trailer for your Star Wars live-action series and I don't hear the sound of a lightsaber igniting, then I'm asking, where is the identity? Why is this Star Wars? Why is this not simply "Space Wars"? Do you know what I mean by that? The very identity is missing. Like when it's said that it could be "Game of Thrones", well, then why is it Star Wars?

Sure, I'm not saying that other things can be appealing when introduced via the main. Having Khan in your Star Trek movie is exciting. Having Khan be your movie, not so much. And again, these are cartoons. Live-action is a much larger step intended to draw a much wider audience. Key word being, draw.

And I'm sure there's much more to Bruce Lee than martial arts. But that's his identity. When people think Bruce Lee they think martial arts. When people think Star Wars they think, Jedi, lightsabers and the force. That is the identity of Star Wars to most of the potential audience.

I've no doubt you can achieve success in poker with two pair. But to actively take two pair over a striaght flush is a really bad strategy. I'm sure Bruce Lee could've starred in a movie that had nothing to do with martial arts. But I'd say the chances of successfully pulling that off would be far lower than successfully pulling off a martial arts movie starring bruce Lee.

I don't disagree. It can work. The name Star Wars is itself a draw. But it's not about, can it work, but, what provides the best chances. Bear in mind as well, those were one-off movies that required an investment of a couple of hours. A live-action tv series requires a much greater investment of time. It's not the same.

Well, if they choose two pair, good luck to them. I would've taken the straight flush and am baffled with their choice.

 

Really love Mandalorians. Fett's character and his armour is one of the coolest things I've seen in my entire life, but at this time I don't think is the best option (although I really can't wait of course) to show something explored in many Rebels episodes (although, again, could be cool to know where Mandalorians are).
But, why not make different seasons, exploring different conflicts and eras, like Fargo? Center the action in different characters in every season, and expand the universe.
I love the tv shows when every season "are different" (per se) and every season centers the story in different storylines with new interesting characters, and you have the sensation that the show is not repetitive.

 

An anthology show, you mean? Sort of like Fargo, with a new location and different characters each season, but with a central theme/world? That could be quite interesting, but I bet we'll get a more traditional multi-season story like we're used to in Star Wars.

 

Exactly. Like Fargo would be like anthology series, yes.
On the other hand, there are tv shows like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, True blood, Boardwalk empire, The Killing... that every season looks different in the same context (if you know what i mean, sorry for my english). They introduce different wellwritten characters and situations to keep the interest of it, not being repetitive.
But i agree with you, probably we will get a traditional story, which i can't wait too

 

this makes me irrationally cranky. XD

that said, i'm enjoying this discussion. i don't feel like i have much of an investment in this yet ~ it's all still too vague and amorphous for me.
i hope they don't withhold the details until it airs. i am so tired of all this secrecy.
maybe secrets "sell" to other people, but i need more overthetop flashy marketing to get excited these days.
there's too much media out there competing and they need to get in the game and stop relying on the brand alone to make bank.

 

I'm a big fan of the idea that the Mandalorians could be antagonists in the new series. Like, a more militant group takes power--maybe a reborn version of Death Watch becomes their military--and they decide to challenge the New Republic for control.

I used to play Age of Empires II, and they had this great slogan, "Rome has fallen. The world is up for grabs." I'd love for something like that to drive the conflict of this series. "The empire has fallen. The galaxy is up for grabs."

 

Can somebody remind me again which Mando worlds we saw in Rebels.
From my recollection, Mandalore is a shimmering crystalline planet (ruled by that Dutchess Obi Wan was in love with,) but viewers were never brought back to this world in Rebels.
Or were we?
Is Concord Dawn another planet ruled by the Mandalores?

 

Yeah I'm not really into the Mando's unfortunately. Oh well. I know a lot of people are.

 

Seems like there was just a bunch of guys, who were all wiped out in Rebels (except for Fenn Rau). So, the planet's just empty at this point.

 

OK, so please skip the planned timeline and give me the Mandalorian/Jedi wars in the Old Republic. And the cliff hanger of season 1 will be the Sith army arriving near dusk at the battlefield, swarming down the darkening hills with hundreds of red light sabers upon the entangled and already winded armies of both the Jedi and Mandalorians.