News Disney’s Boy Trouble: Studio Seeks Original IP to Win Back Gen-Z Men Amid Marvel, Lucasfilm Struggles

[Stripes]

The explicit message of the article is Disney views its own attempts and efforts as unsuccessful. Hence the correction.

The explicit message in the article is that other studios are “staggered” by Disney’s decision to blaze new trails despite the fact that Disney remains the undisputed box office king.

Disney’s analysis seems to suggest that younger audiences are craving original content.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This is another one of your posts where I genuinely can’t figure out what you’re trying to say.

Actively antagonize? What are you even saying? Obviously you’re aware that there are plenty of films and TV shows that have a target demographic in mind. The target demographic for Frozen is young girls, for Cars it’s young boys.

There are a lot of properties where the targeted gender is more neutral. In fact, a lot of properties that lean towards boys are, in fact, quite popular among girls as well. The same is not true in reverse.

My brother’s fiancée absolutely loves Cars far more than he ever did.

Labeling any of your properties..let alone one of your biggest…as “for boys” or “for girls” is so bad from a management perspective it’s laughable.

Even Princess movies are advertised as such…they have always been marketed as “family” or “all ages”…then you let them take their course.

What would you say if They made me the head of Pixar and I went to a geek con with a shirt that said “Toy Story is for dudes”

I’d be the horse rear end…and it would cost tons or PR and monetary damage over time.

 

[Tha Realest]

I’m not sure how much I trust the article is even correct. They say they have sources and I’m not saying variety doesn’t have reliable sources in general but I don’t think young men represent a large part of the reason Disney hasn’t been doing as well when it comes to the box office. There are lots of other possible reasons.

Even @DisneyWarrior27 used to think Variety was a trustworthy source.

The only Star Wars film that’s in active production is one starring Ryan Gosling. Not the one that’s been in development for years by the gender studies documentarian, or the other film series (?) featuring Rey.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Even @DisneyWarrior27 used to think Variety was a trustworthy source.

You mean the king of numbers? Drew’s roomie?

The only Star Wars film that’s in active production is one starring Ryan Gosling. Not the one that’s been in development for years by the gender studies documentarian, or the other film series (?) featuring Rey.

Those others won’t get made

They’re trying to not admit defeat with their “carefully crafted philosophy”…but they’re not stupid and they know they’ve failed…there is no need to do more damage to the commercial receipts buy trying again and again

Maybe Ridley and JJ can do an indie together? They both seem to be retired…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The explicit message in the article is that other studios are “staggered” by Disney’s decision to blaze new trails despite the fact that Disney remains the undisputed box office king.

Disney’s analysis seems to suggest that younger audiences are craving original content.

Yep…they’re kicking it and taking names

 

[easyrowrdw]

The point people are making is that Disney wont capture gen-Z by doing what appeals to gen-X.

Then Star Wars was brought up because they tried the pandering to gen-X boomers in the sequel trilogy and it failed for gen-Z.

Then gen-X boomers started saying only Skywalkers are real Star Wars and younger posters pushed back and some wise elder posters too.

I still never got a pandering feeling from the sequels. There’s definitely a repetition to the beats, but even Return of the Jedi did that. And for whatever one thinks about the quality of them (a mixed bag IMO) they were pretty successful financially.

I think the TV programs have been more pandering than the movies. Many of them are evoking or straight up reusing old characters from movies and shows. I mean, the Mando episode people seem to love the most is the one when Luke shows up - and that followed other returning characters. They’re not all winners, but it seems like they’ve been less successful when they’ve tried to branch out more

 

[Tha Realest]

The explicit message in the article is that other studios are “staggered” by Disney’s decision to blaze new trails despite the fact that Disney remains the undisputed box office king.

Disney’s analysis seems to suggest that younger audiences are craving original content.

Hi. Here’s the headline, which summarizes the thrust of the article:

Disney’s Boy Trouble: Studio Seeks Original IP to Win Back Gen-Z Men Amid Marvel, Lucasfilm Struggles​

Put another way, the Marvel and Star Wars franchises no longer reliably bring in young males. Fourth paragraph:

This is the same Disney whose multibillion-dollar content engines, Marvel and Lucasfilm, have sated men of all ages over almost two decades since the company acquired them. The sources say Disney has been seeking new IP and pitches such as splashy global adventures and treasure hunts, as well as seasonal fare like films for the Halloween corridor. The calls come as the Star Wars machine struggles to produce any film project and the superhero genre sheds audiences by the minute.

The article the documents the recent travails of those respective studios / franchises:

The performance of Marvel’s latest release, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which aimed to launch yet another superhero franchise led by Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, failed to meet expectations. (Ed. Note- The studio must not read the box office thread!) That’s despite good reviews, a promising opening weekend and the full attention of Marvel czar Kevin Feige. “Star Wars” has not produced a film in seven years (a big-screen adaptation of Disney+ hit “The Mandalorian” is coming next year).

 

[erasure fan1]

This whole anti-female characters schtick is quite sad.

The problem is you are completely missing the point. For most, myself included, there isn't an anti female schtick. Call it like it is, a bad content issue.

As a member of Gen Z, I never gave a rip about Star Wars until I saw Rogue One.

You do realize that rogue one is a direct extension of the original trilogy. It's the Disney star wars film that resonates most with most of Gen x I'd say. The fact that so many rank it as their favorite Disney star wars stomps your anti female assertions.

What would you say if They made me the head of Pixar and I went to a geek con with a shirt that said “Toy Story is for dudes”

Exactly

"The toys are boys" shirts would go over fantastically I'm sure.

 

[flynnibus]

Maybe it’s because Disney has finally learned the lessons from their missteps and seems to be obviously pivoting away from those mistaken movements, the same movements which many of these posters claimed weren’t mistakes or misguided attempts.

Well one thing for sure... both 'what is disney focusing on' and 'disney prices' are both common fodder in the pages of publishing these days.. so the topics are more than just fan-angst

 

[flynnibus]

I still never got a pandering feeling from the sequels. There’s definitely a repetition to the beats, but even Return of the Jedi did that. And for whatever one thinks about the quality of them (a mixed bag IMO) they were pretty successful financially.

I think the TV programs have been more pandering than the movies. Many of them are evoking or straight up reusing old characters from movies and shows. I mean, the Mando episode people seem to love the most is the one when Luke shows up - and that followed other returning characters. They’re not all winners, but it seems like they’ve been less successful when they’ve tried to branch out more

I'm not sure why you mash up cross-over or cameos... with.. straight up plot duplication.

 

[Stripes]

Yep…they’re kicking it and taking names

If you believe the Ne Zha 2 figure, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you.

Here’s some facts from the article for you!

Disney was the un-refuted king of the box office last year. It will win again this year, with two films potentially crossing the $1 billion mark (“Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Zootopia 2”). Four movies from four Disney labels have grossed more than $1 billion in the past 16 months (no other studio has had one in that time frame).

The problem is you are completely missing the point. For most, myself included, there isn't an anti female schtick. Call it like it is, a bad content issue.

I’m not missing the point. I agree with you. There were poorly written male and female characters in the sequel trilogy but TP2000 seems to focus his criticism on the inclusion of female characters for some reason. I think I know why, but I won’t say…

You do realize that rogue one is a direct extension of the original trilogy. It's the Disney star wars film that resonates most with most of Gen x I'd say. The fact that so many rank it as their favorite Disney star wars stomps your anti female assertions.

And yet, I have very little appreciation for the original trilogy and still enjoyed it immensely.

Andor + Rogue One for me is what the OT is to Gen X.

Again, I’m not saying the broader Star Wars fan base is anti-female characters. The post was in direct response to TP2000.

Hi. Here’s the headline, which summarizes the thrust of the article:

Disney’s Boy Trouble: Studio Seeks Original IP to Win Back Gen-Z Men Amid Marvel, Lucasfilm Struggles​

Put another way, the Marvel and Star Wars franchises no longer reliably bring in young males. Fourth paragraph:


The article the documents the recent travails of those respective studios / franchises:

The MCU is Gen Z’s Star Wars.

Deadpool and Wolverine just raked in over $1.3 billion. Avengers: Doomsday is sure to bring in even more. This is not some kind of crisis. All of my peers are positively delighted by Marvel’s recent resurgence! Nonetheless, we still have a strong appetite for original content.

Some more quotes from the article:

One top film executive at a Disney rival says every studio should be looking for originals, as sequels and reboots continue to exhaust the culture — even if they’re packing in moviegoers in the short term.

Every film studio is looking for better ways to convert young audiences into habitual moviegoers. Numerous studies show that Gen Z men in particular are a lonely, gaming-obsessed group who were hampered in their formative years by COVID-19 lockdowns — not the easiest segment to grasp. But what’s surprising producers, writers and other partners in the larger industry is that Disney has been calling for original concepts to lure the demo back to the movies.

A Disney source says that movies for Gen Z men are part of an overall strategy across all labels, but no more urgent than any other quadrant.

In order words, a Disney source indicates the company doesn’t view Gen Z men as uniquely troubled. Rather, the company’s strategy is to produce original content for various primary target audiences, one of which is young men.

Labeling any of your properties..let alone one of your biggest…as “for boys” or “for girls” is so bad from a management perspective it’s laughable.

Even Princess movies are advertised as such…they have always been marketed as “family” or “all ages”…then you let them take their course.

What would you say if They made me the head of Pixar and I went to a geek con with a shirt that said “Toy Story is for dudes”

I’d be the horse rear end…and it would cost tons or PR and monetary damage over time.

Publicly labeling a property as being targeted at a particular gender is obviously not a wise idea. However, internally, every studio considers the “quadrant appeal” when they produce a film. In the past, a four-quadrant film was the holy grail. Something that would appeal to young men, old men, young women, and old women. However, cultural moods shift and perhaps Disney’s market research indicates four-quadrant movies are becoming less palatable to audiences.

This is marketing 101 and hardly unique to Disney.

 

[CoastalElite64]

I still never got a pandering feeling from the sequels. There’s definitely a repetition to the beats, but even Return of the Jedi did that. And for whatever one thinks about the quality of them (a mixed bag IMO) they were pretty successful financially.

I think the TV programs have been more pandering than the movies. Many of them are evoking or straight up reusing old characters from movies and shows. I mean, the Mando episode people seem to love the most is the one when Luke shows up - and that followed other returning characters. They’re not all winners, but it seems like they’ve been less successful when they’ve tried to branch out more

They didn't need to be a part of the story in such a big way. It was to the detriment of the movies.

Mando was already established when they used fan service for a call back.

 

[TP2000]

I mean, George Lucas himself wanted to pivot to a female focused story for episodes 7-9. Disney, and more specifically Kathy K, seemed to want to honor his wishes.

According to a recent article in Variety, an article that's about 8 years late, that strategy didn't work.

 

[Stripes]

According to a recent article in Variety, an article that's about 8 years late, that strategy didn't work.

Was it a strategy or simply the story that George wanted to tell?

Apparently, George envisioned episodes 1-3 as the father’s trilogy (Anakin), episodes 4-6 as the son’s trilogy, and episodes 7-9 as the daughter’s trilogy (Leia) and her role training a new female character in the ways of the force.

In terms of box office, it seemed to work pretty well.

According to data collected by Box Office Mojo, the audience breakdown for opening night for The Last Jedi was 58 percent male and 43 percent female. That's a 10 percent jump in how many women attended opening night for The Force Awakens in 2015. That opening-night audience was 67 percent male, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (More women showed up to the box office in the weeks that followed.) Viewers are also getting younger—37 percent of those who turned out for opening night of The Last Jediwas 25 years old or younger. That's a big showing for young women for a franchise that has historically attracted boys and older men.

But, more importantly, Rogue One demonstrated you can have female lead in a Star Wars film, have it make over $1 billion at the box office, and the film be praised and celebrated by a majority of Star Wars fans, including Gen Z men like me!

 

[networkpro]

As Disney Irish stated before, the Box office is no longer the determining factor of success, I'll agree with that assessment and add onto it that the traditional theatrical press outlets (such as Variety) are rapidly becoming less influential as sources other than print flourish in the democratization of available information.

 

[Tha Realest]

You do realize that rogue one is a direct extension of the original trilogy. It's the Disney star wars film that resonates most with most of Gen x I'd say. The fact that so many rank it as their favorite Disney star wars stomps your anti female assertions.

It’s a direct lead in - by like minutes - into SW:ANH. The entire context of the film is meaningless absent the original trilogy. It features Vader and Tarkin in significant roles. The score evokes the John Williams compositions. The entire kicker (probably the most iconic part of the film) is Vader unloading on the Rebels, and ends with Princess Leia.

As Disney Irish stated before, the Box office is no longer the determining factor of success, I'll agree with that assessment and add onto it that the traditional theatrical press outlets (such as Variety) are rapidly becoming less influential as sources other than print flourish in the democratization of available information.

The barometer for true success for Star Wars is toy sales. Go peep what’s being sold by licensees like Lego and Hasbro: it is largely original trilogy and prequel trilogy now, with the occasional Baby Yoda or Mando stuff thrown in.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The barometer for true success for Star Wars is toy sales. Go peep what’s being sold by licensees like Lego and Hasbro: it is largely original trilogy and prequel trilogy now, with the occasional Baby Yoda or Mando stuff thrown in.

This right here.

The best place to gauge the health and appeal of Star Wars?
It’s the Lego store.

Try it…go take a look at what is on the shelf

What sets they’re making

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

As Disney Irish stated before, the Box office is no longer the determining factor of success, I'll agree with that assessment and add onto it that the traditional theatrical press outlets (such as Variety) are rapidly becoming less influential as sources other than print flourish in the democratization of available information.

The Industry is certainly changing…

But the problem is all of that stuff that’s repeated ad nauseum is being done as an excuse for Disneys big studios faltering.

It turned on a dime and became “the thing” when they started pumping out crap.

I’m afraid our friend is suffering from untreated PMCDS…

Post marvel collapse derangement syndrome.

 

[Mike S]

How to get boys ^

 

[Tha Realest]

As a member of Gen Z, I never gave a rip about Star Wars until I saw Rogue One.

If this is all true that means Star Wars: The Force Awakens - the most successful and broadly liked of the new sequels - did nothing for you. Nor did Star Wars Rebels.