What purpose does announcing Rian's new trilogy and GOT writers' series of films so early serve?

As much as I like the news - it's puzzling indeed. I thought that Rian's trilogy was revealed partly to boost the buzz for TLJ ("The film is so good that they gave him a trilogy!") and generally make a statement that the guy is here to stay, but I have no idea what's the formal benefit of announcing Benioff and Weiss this early. GoT isn't done yet, so it's not like the guys needed to show they're busy with something.

Knowing that the next Celebration is in April 2019, I would think that it's a good opportunity to drop 3 huge bombs: IX teaser, first details of Rian's trilogy and announcement of B&W series. But hey, at least we have empty announcements out of the way and can proceed straight to the details now.

I'm wondering if the chronology of the announcements reflects the order of release dates. If so, that would mean no more spin-offs for now. And honestly I'm cool with it. They teased us with some pretty exciting stuff - a lot of it! - so let's get to it. So maybe this could be the underlying message of these announcements? "Don't expect any standalones in the foreseeable future."

 

It's two or three years.
It would be early as can be for a trailer but too early to announce preproduction of upcoming entries? Not at all. It's fairly typical for blockbusters especially in this level of broad strokes.
Essentially, we've hired some people to make some upcoming films not even the particular movies themselves.

What do you want them to do let the rumor mill control the narrative?

--- Double Post Merged, Feb 18, 2018, Original Post Date: Feb 18, 2018 ---

It's two or three years.
It would be early as can be for a trailer but too early to announce preproduction of upcoming entries? Not at all. It's fairly typical for blockbusters especially in this level of broad strokes.
Essentially, we've hired some people to make some upcoming films not even the particular movies themselves.

What do you want them to do let the rumor mill control the narrative?

--- Double Post Merged, Feb 18, 2018 ---

It's two or three years.
It would be early as can be for a trailer but too early to announce preproduction of upcoming entries? Not at all. It's fairly typical for blockbusters especially in this level of broad strokes.
Essentially, we've hired some people to make some upcoming films not even the particular movies themselves.

What do you want them to do let the rumor mill control the narrative?

--- Double Post Merged, Feb 18, 2018 ---

It's two or three years.
It would be early as can be for a trailer but too early to announce preproduction of upcoming entries? Not at all. It's fairly typical for blockbusters especially in this level of broad strokes.
Essentially, we've hired some people to make some upcoming films not even the particular movies themselves.

What do you want them to do let the rumor mill control the narrative?

 

They want to get their investors excited.

 

Yup. That's that. Sure, fans' excitement is important, but the investors is the main reason why we got these announcements this early in the process.

 

I was coming to post something very similar. These early announcements are more for shareholders. But, at this point with technology and a 24 news cycle they have to be smart and announce it to fans as well, or someone else will. It might be really early, but it keeps Disney in control of their own news rather than it being reported from rumors from a random news site.

 

Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, and immediately announced a new trilogy to be released in 2015. This is nothing new as far as how Disney has handled Star Wars thus far.

 

I think it's just a product of the times we live in. Everything is now now now, too much too soon, etc. Talking about an upcoming movie or theorizing about a fake plot point used to be fun, but the age of the Internet has somewhat ruined that.

 

My guess is it may have been an endorsement of Rian, too.

The announcement was made well before TLJ's release, and I have no doubt that LFL was well aware that the movie had potential to be controversial, to say the least.

With this trilogy, you have LFL announcing their faith in Rian's product, while simultaneously providing an opportunity for Rian to do something more unique (for those who mostly liked TLJ, outside of how Rian treated the old favorite characters).

 

I take this as ... well ?
Just what LucasFilm has told us fans ... they wanted us to know this, as little as as it be, an' that's fine.
Better than knowin' nuthin' ... an' me ? I'm happy to be told Anything.
So now? I/you/we all wait ... patiently, I hope ... alot of us will be, ... others ...well,
they'll go off on some merry way/tangent with their "wants" and 'ways".

Hang In There ... let's Learn Together.

They'll (LFL) tell us what we need to know 'til "Time Of"

 

To show they had faith in RJ's TLJ. Then to give fans who disliked TLJ hope that different creative minds are working on something that hopefully they could get excited about. Disney doesn't want to lose anyone who has money to dish out.