The hits keep coming for Disney’s Star Wars under the leadership of Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, and not in a good way. Two recent developments highlight a growing apathy among fans toward the once-beloved franchise: the heavily discounted Rey Legacy Lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the continued failure of Skeleton Crew to make a mark on streaming charts.
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
A recent report from Blog Mickey revealed that the Rey Legacy Lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been slashed to nearly half its price—a $160 collectible now available for $99. To offer what should be a major product at such a steep discount suggests poor sales and waning interest in merchandise tied to the character of Rey, portrayed by Daisy Ridley. Once positioned as a cornerstone of Disney’s sequel trilogy, Rey’s appeal has seemingly dimmed among audiences.
Disney’s decision to steeply discount the item may signal a quiet (and very late) acknowledgment that Rey’s character doesn’t resonate with fans in the way classic Star Wars heroes have. It’s an ominous sign for the future of Star Wars merchandise, given that Galaxy’s Edge itself is a $1 billion investment wholly rooted in the sequel trilogy era.
The crew of kids and SM-33 on Star Wars Skeleton Crew – YouTube, Star Wars
Meanwhile, Skeleton Crew, a Disney+ series set in the Star Wars universe, continues to flounder in the streaming space. Despite Disney’s significant promotional efforts and the inclusion of big-name talent like Jude Law, the show has failed to crack any significant streaming charts, even several weeks into its run.
This lack of traction comes despite the cultural juggernaut status that Star Wars once enjoyed.
An earlier report from That Park Place highlighted the show’s failure to resonate with audiences, and the trend has persisted as Skeleton Crew remains absent from the Nielsen Top 10 streaming rankings.
The ship goes to lightspeed on Star Wars Skeleton Crew – YouTube, Star Wars
The series appears to suffer from the same malaise that has plagued recent Star Wars projects—uninspired storytelling, lackluster characters, and a disconnect with the fan base. It also carries the hallmarks of all modern Star Wars projects that many find questionable: same-sex couples, girl bosses, villainous white males, etc.
Both the declining relevance of Rey merchandise and the lukewarm reception to Skeleton Crew show the broader challenges facing Star Wars under Kathleen Kennedy’s stewardship. Critics argue that the franchise has become more focused on pushing narratives that prioritize diversity over delivering compelling, timeless stories that appeal to its core audience.
Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
Rey, as the face of the sequel trilogy, has become emblematic of this shift. For many fans, her character never achieved the emotional depth or heroic arc of other protagonists like Luke Skywalker or even Din Djarin from The Mandalorian. Coupled with the tepid reception to series like Skeleton Crew, the message from audiences seems clear: Star Wars needs a new direction—one that reconnects with its roots and the fans who built the franchise into a cultural phenomenon.
But for many, it’s already too late.
Are you surprised that the Rey lightsaber is deeply discounted at Walt Disney World? Have you watched any of Skeleton Crew? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon VR Game Coming From Sandbox Despite Netflix Film Failures
That’s rich; naming it the Rey “Legacy” Lightsaber. What ‘legacy’ does she have or will ever have, exactly? I see little things like this and can’t help but wonder how the inevitable transfer of the Star Wars IP will go and what its new owners will do. Nothing short of ceremonially burning copies of Disney Star Wars movies, shows, and merchandise in a raging bonfire to signify the changing tides will satisfy me. It’s all 99% off at your local Ollie’s, so it’d be cheap to pull off.
They will probably still make the Mando film, the Ashoka film and possibly the Mangold film. If that doesn’t pay off, they’ll go after KOTOR. I’m afraid they won’t sell it before.
The Mando film actually has completed filming. I’m sure reshoots will happen at some point though. If it does well I think Filoni will get the go ahead to make his Mandoverse movie. They will never sell Lucasfilm. It’s too valuable as a brand (even if they don’t understand it.)
At this point Disney would be money ahead to dismantle them and sell the components to recyclers. But they’ll more likely dump them in a landfill like they did all those Funko Pops that wouldn’t sell. For a company who claims to embrace ESG, they’re one of the most eco-unfriendly around.
Delete this crap trashy characters wasn’t a good sequel trilogy. Heir to the empire trilogy instead please just get Rid of Kennedy and her ilk.