The Potential Downfall of Big Media Big Media

By Abby Crespin

In 2018, Disney released “The Mandalorian,” a successful Star Wars series featuring a new side-character and set in the timeline before the sequel trilogy. The series was adored by both long-time fans of the franchise and the general public due to its fresh “space western” concept centered around a new character.

Shortly after “The Mandalorian’s” debut, Disney released “Boba Fett,” directly following the same western theme and reusing the characters from its predecessor. The “Boba Fett” series has achieved significantly less success and there are currently no plans for renewal. But why?

Fans crave originality. Fictional media is meant to be a source of entertainment and an outlet for creativity, and while fans may seek familiarity in comfort films or

How major media companies are trending towards

expansions upon their favorite cinematic universes, overused plots and continuous sequels grow to be boring over time.

However, Hollywood studios are trending away from risk due to an economic recession and strenuous transition from streaming service to cut costs,” reporter and media correspondent Anna Nicolaou said.

Large media companies are struggling to prevent increasing debt. So, rather than working towards new innovation and new production, executives trend towards relying on established audiences of previous franchises.

Yet, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost for Hollywood studios. For example, Disney recently released “Andor,” a prequel story to a side-character from “Rogue One.” While the series originated from an already established franchise, it diverged from proven formulas and generated both

COVID restrictions that caused a severe decrease in revenue. Original films or even films that break proven formulas are an inherent risk that media companies are not willing to take.

The business model of media has fueled the production of proven formulas and a lack of original content, and consumers think they have a spectrum of choice that upon further inspection reveals itself to be monochromatic, just multiple shades of gray.

The Financial Times describes 2023 as a ‘year of turmoil’ for Hollywood executives.

“Warner Bros Discovery, the owner of HBO, has laid off hundreds of staff in the past few months as it grapples with nearly $50bn in net debt. The company has also removed dozens of shows from its HBO Max

Large media companies are struggling to prevent increasing debt.

critical and fan acclaim.

Creators like Stan-Lee from Marvel, and George Lucas from Star Wars built fictional worlds to provide the people with a newfound sense of not only understanding, but hope for society. At the same time, the art they create must be profitable. Media companies are tasked with the difficult job of balancing media success in a capitalist economy while also ensuring art is preserved and prospers.

By Kylie Moffatt