Star Wars: The Market Research That Almost Killed "A New Hope"

Disneyland Resort Reopening and Event Impact

• 🎢 The Disneyland Resort is implementing a phased reopening starting with Downtown Disney on July 9th, followed by Disneyland Park and California Adventure on July 17th (the park's 65th anniversary).
• ⚠️ Certain attractions, experiences, and services may have limited capacity or remain closed, with park admission and offerings not guaranteed, potentially impacting events like Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite.
• 🗓️ Star Wars Celebration, scheduled for August 27th-30th, is also uncertain due to rising COVID-19 cases and potential new stay-at-home orders, mirroring cancellations of other large events like Coachella.

John Boyega's Powerful Speech and Industry Support

• ✊ John Boyega delivered a passionate speech in Hyde Park addressing racial injustice, expressing his fears about career repercussions but emphasizing the importance of speaking out.
• ❤️ Lucasfilm, J.J. Abrams, and Jordan Peele publicly supported Boyega, with Lucasfilm stating they consider him a hero and reaffirming their commitment to being part of the change against racism.

Indiana Jones Voted Greatest Movie Hero & Hollywood History

• 🏆 Indiana Jones was voted the greatest movie hero by Empire magazine readers, with other notable characters like Rick Blaine, Iron Man, Moana, Marty McFly, and Alex Foley also making the list.
• 📜 Early scripts for Raiders of the Lost Ark contained scenes later used in Temple of Doom, illustrating Lucasfilm's practice of preserving and repurposing ideas.
• 🎬 The development of The Mandalorian drew inspiration from films that influenced George Lucas, such as Kurosawa's works and spaghetti westerns, to create a distinct television feel.
• 🤫 Bryce Dallas Howard's children helped keep the secret of "The Child" (Baby Yoda) during the filming of The Mandalorian, with her daughter's constant questioning about "baby" influencing scenes to ensure the character's safety was always apparent.

The Near Demise of "Star Wars" Due to Market Research

• 📊 Market research conducted by 20th Century Fox in 1973 for a potential film titled "Star Wars" yielded overwhelmingly negative results.
• 📉 Survey respondents ranked "Star Wars" low among genres and titles, associating it with the Vietnam War and Hollywood flops like the 1968 film "Star."
• 🤔 The research suggested the studio should not make the movie and, if they proceeded, should find a new title, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Hollywood and the importance of trusting creative vision.
• 💡 Despite the negative market research, then-president Alan Ladd Jr. greenlit Star Wars based on his trust in George Lucas, demonstrating the adage that "nobody knows anything" in the film industry.

Books, Podcasts, and Fan Events

• 📚 Several Star Wars books were discussed, including "Star Wars: The Book of Lists" and "Star Wars Memories: My Time in the Death Star Trenches," highlighting cut scenes, trivia, and behind-the-scenes stories.
• 🎙️ The podcast network features various shows like "Coffee with Kenobi," "Disney with Gla," and "Fine-Tuning with Drew Taylor."
• 💖 A virtual fan event, "Virtual Dayton Disney," is being held to raise funds for Pirate Packs, featuring interviews with notable figures from Disney and Lucasfilm history.