The Disney era of Star Wars has been, to put it mildly, deeply divisive. The sequel trilogy—The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker—sparked the debate and has remained at the heart of it ever since. Yet one performer from the films believes audiences will eventually come around, even going so far as to claim the sequels could become as beloved as the prequel trilogy of the early 2000s.
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu in in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Lucasfilm
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It’s a hopeful prediction that has surfaced since The Force Awakens premiered over a decade ago. Still, for many fans, opinions remain firmly unchanged.
A Puppeteer Speaks Out
Brian Herring was one of the puppeteers behind BB-8 and the porgs in the sequel trilogy. These characters were widely seen as attempts to create a new R2-D2 or Ewoks for a younger generation. Yet their appeal remains debated, much like the sequels themselves. Still, Herring is confident this will change.
His optimism draws on the evolving reception of the prequels. In a recent interview with Gamereactor, Herring explained: “I think the sequels are no more polarizing than the prequels were when they came out.”
He added that the internet has amplified criticism. If online fan communities had existed during George Lucas’s prequels, he believes the backlash would have been similar.
Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), Lucasfilm
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“I think in 10 years’ time, you’re going to see what you’re seeing with the sequels, because the sequels have a huge fan base and I meet them all the time, but they’re all much younger than the people complaining on the internet about how much they didn’t like,” Herring explained. “It’s perfectly fine, if you don’t like them, you don’t like them. Everything’s not for everyone.”
It’s a bold prediction, and one that may not hold up to scrutiny. Herring points to the prequels’ eventual appreciation—but that comparison overlooks a key difference: Lucas’s singular vision.
The Authority of George Lucas
While fan reaction to the prequels was harsh at the time, some prominent voices offered praise. Film critic Roger Ebert gave Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace three-and-a-half stars out of four. Much of his praise focused on the groundbreaking visual effects. He also noted that “within the rules he has established, Lucas tells a good story.”
George Lucas via AMC+ YouTube
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The singular vision of George Lucas—for better or worse—gives the prequels an authority other Star Wars projects cannot match. Some online commentators also suggest that kids at the time genuinely enjoyed the prequels. That affection has carried forward, passed down to new generations. In contrast, younger audiences today show little interest in Disney’s sequels.
Disney Distancing Itself
Disney also seems to be distancing itself from the sequels. At Disneyland, Galaxy’s Edge is scaling back and focus is moving toward the original trilogy. Although new projects featuring sequel characters like Rey have been announced, they have not been spoken of since. Another project, The Hunt for Ben Solo, was rejected by Disney executives despite Lucasfilm’s support.
Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens (2015), Lucasfilm
Ultimately, it has been ten years since The Force Awakens premiered, and it has yet to inspire any real nostalgia.
Many fans doubt another decade will change that. Whether Herring is right—that the sequels will become as beloved as the prequels—seems increasingly improbable, given the sequels’ faltering cultural impact.
Do you think the sequels will improve with time? Let us know in the comments!
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