Part 6/10:
Many insiders and fans feel that Star Wars now exists in name only. Rinzler emphasizes that Disney and its employees have effectively marginalized the vision George Lucas built—one that prioritized innovation, storytelling, and a love for the craft. Instead, current management appears focused on maximizing revenue, exemplified by marketing campaigns like the High Republic initiative, which many see as a corporate-driven effort lacking authentic passion.
He points out that Lucasfilm was once open, collaborative, and driven by talent who shared Lucas’s vision. Now, under Disney, the process is bureaucratic, slow, and often disconnected from creative authenticity. The franchise's soul seems lost in a sea of corporate suits and marketing strategies.