Why Forbes Thinks Filoni’s Movie List ‘Does Not Sound Great’ — And Where They Might Be Wrong

Hook: Sick of the noise? Here’s a clear take on the Filoni era that actually helps you understand what matters

Fans and casual viewers alike are drowning in takes every time the Star Wars machine hiccups. You want a quick, verified read that cuts through hot takes and tells you what’s realistic, what’s risky — and how to turn risk into payoff. After Forbes published its blunt headline that the new Dave Filoni-era film list “does not sound great,” it’s easy to join the chorus of concern. But blanket pessimism ignores both the real strengths Filoni brings and practical strategies Lucasfilm can use to convert projects that seem middling on paper into blockbuster cultural events. This piece agrees where Forbes is right, defends where they’re wrong, and lays out a tactical playbook for making the next era of Star Wars win in theaters and beyond.

Topline: What happened and why people reacted

In January 2026 Lucasfilm announced leadership changes: Kathleen Kennedy stepped down and Dave Filoni — already the creative architect behind multiple Star Wars TV hits — was elevated to co-president alongside Lynwen Brennan. That shift came with a slate of in-development films that, as Forbes put it bluntly, “does not sound great.”

Forbes flagged concerns that the announced projects lacked blockbuster energy, leaned heavily on TV characters, and didn’t clearly promise the kind of big-screen spectacle audiences expect.

Those critiques tap into valid industry anxieties: theatrical tentpoles require scale, marketing clarity, and a sense of novelty. But they also underestimate how the modern cinematic ecosystem works — and what Filoni has already proven he can do when given the right resources.

Where Forbes is right: real risks you can’t ignore

Let’s meet the critique head-on. Several of the Forbes concerns are shared by long-time observers and make strategic sense.

• It’s risky to assume Serialized TV storytelling translates to box office guarantees. Serialized TV storytelling and streaming viewership metrics don’t automatically equate to mass theatrical draw. Theaters need event hooks.
• Over-reliance on nostalgia or franchise-adjacent characters can feel safe but stifle growth. Audiences want both new mythmaking and the familiar—leaning too hard one way can alienate parts of the market.
• Confused identity kills campaigns. If you can’t succinctly explain why a movie matters beyond “it’s Star Wars,” discovery and marketing ROI suffer in 2026’s fragmented attention economy.
• Production scale is non-negotiable for theatrical competition. Rising VFX costs, advanced virtual production, and audience expectations for spectacle mean Lucasfilm must invest at a different level for the cinema than for a streaming series.

Where Forbes misses the mark: why Filoni’s strengths matter more than critics give him credit for

Critics paint Filoni as merely a TV director elevated beyond his remit. That’s reductive. Here’s what he actually brings to the table — and why those qualities can convert an apparently modest slate into a thriving cinematic universe.

1. He’s a proven lore steward with deep franchise fluency

Filoni didn’t arrive from outside the franchise: he built and curated essential parts of the modern Star Wars canon across The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Mandalorian. That institutional knowledge reduces costly missteps that derailed previous eras. His involvement signals continuity, not stagnation — a major asset when fans demand coherence across shows, games, and films.

2. Character and serialized storytelling drive modern fandom

Streaming-era success is not evidence of irrelevance; it’s evidence of attachment. Filoni’s strengths lie in creating characters who build communities. When The Mandalorian turned Grogu into a cultural phenomenon, it proved that character-first storytelling can ignite global fandom — a vital precursor to theatrical event status if handled properly.

3. He’s fluent in cross-platform mythology

2026 is all about interconnected experiences: shows feed films; games feed shows; theme parks feed narrative beats. Filoni understands serialized arcs across platforms, which can be an advantage if Lucasfilm formalizes a roadmap that aligns release windows, marketing, and storytelling beats.

4. He’s not a solo auteur — he collaborates

Filoni’s best work has been collaborative, paired with other writers, directors, and showrunners. This suggests the simplest fix for critics: pair Filoni with directors who excel at theatrical spectacle.

Reality check: the industry context in early 2026

Any strategy has to sit inside current market forces. Late 2025 and early 2026 saw mixed tentpole performance across studios, faster integration between theatrical and streaming release windows, and an acceleration of AI-driven previsualization tools in previsualization and post-production. Fans also expect transparent creative roadmaps; social media punishes reactive pivots and rewards clearly articulated long-term plans.

In short: the environment rewards brands that combine narrative clarity, production scale, and smart distribution — exactly the gaps critics worry Filoni might not fill if Lucasfilm doesn’t pivot organizationally.

Actionable playbook: How Filoni and Lucasfilm can turn the slate into wins

Below are practical, prioritized steps Lucasfilm should take to convert a lukewarm-sounding slate into a vibrant, profitable cinematic universe.

1. Match creative teams to format (TV vs theatrical)

• For theatrical projects, pair Filoni with directors who have demonstrable experience staging spectacle and managing global marketing campaigns — think tradecraft from proven blockbuster filmmakers.
• For streaming-adjacent films, lean into character-driven creators and maintain serialized tie-ins that create appointment viewing.

2. Create a clear, public narrative roadmap

• Publish (and stick to) a high-level five-year plan that clarifies which projects are tentpole, which are character spin-offs, and how each ties to streaming content.
• Use the roadmap to synchronize marketing — fans and press reward clarity; it reduces speculative noise and increases pre-release engagement.

3. Invest in theatrical-grade production pipelines

• Boost VFX and virtual production budgets on films intended for cinemas. The TV-caliber look that succeeded on streaming doesn’t always meet box office expectations.
• Leverage 2026 AI-driven previsualization tools to cut time and maintain quality; use those savings to redirect investment into practical effects and in-camera spectacle where it resonates most.

4. Make every film an entry point

• Design films so that casual fans can enjoy them independently, while superfans find deeper connective tissue across series and games.
• Use mid-size ensemble films or anthology approaches to lower the barrier for new viewers while testing new IP directions.

5. Optimize release strategy for 2026 viewer behavior

• Consider premium theatrical windows for tentpoles followed by a staggered streaming rollout to maximize both box office and streaming subscriptions.
• Pair theatrical releases with curated streaming “primer” events (documentaries, short-form series) released 4–8 weeks prior to build broader context and social conversation.

6. Use data to guide creative and marketing choices — without letting it suffocate risk

• Leverage streaming engagement metrics to identify breakout characters and plot beats that could serve as theatrical hooks.
• But preserve room for counterintuitive creative bets; some of the franchise’s biggest wins came from surprising choices that data alone wouldn’t have greenlit.

Concrete creative strategies Filoni should lean into

Here are specific narrative and production moves to help a Filoni-era slate break through.

• Serialized arcs that culminate in cinematic payoffs: Build multi-season TV arcs that funnel into a single film finale — but design the film so crossover viewing is optional.
• Event films with authentic stakes: Avoid films that feel like optional side quests. Make the stakes personal and universe-shifting to justify theatrical attendance.
• Diverse, global directors and writers: Expand the directorial bench with international voices who can bring fresh visual languages and global box office appeal.
• Anthology interstitials: Use smaller-scale anthology films to test new tones, settings, and directors before committing to large budgets.
• Transparent creator partnerships: Publicly attach marquee collaborators early — high-profile directors, composers, and cinematographers signal quality and build PR momentum.

Marketing & fan engagement: win the attention economy

Even the best movie needs a smart campaign. Here are tactical marketing moves tuned to 2026 trends.

• Early experiential marketing: Host global pop-up experiences and AR activations that tie to narrative beats and are easily shareable on social platforms.
• Creator partnerships: Build long-term collaboration with top creators and podcasters to seed narratives and deepen discourse weeks before release.
• Data-driven community seeding: Use regional streaming data to prioritize markets for early fan screenings and targeted influencer outreach.
• Transparent community timelines: Publish milestone content (behind-the-scenes, story bibles) to reassure fans about continuity and creative intent.
• Reward fandom participation: Offer fan-driven unlocks (early poster reveals, bonus short films) for verified engagement metrics to harness organic advocacy.

Measuring success: metrics that matter

Stop optimizing solely for opening weekend dollars. In 2026, success for a transmedia franchise looks like a mix of theatrical, streaming, and ecosystem health.

• Box office revenue + per-screen longevity: How long the film sustains box office matter more than the opening hump.
• Streaming lift and subscriber retention: Does the film drive traffic to platform content and keep viewers engaged post-release?
• Franchise engagement index: Social sentiment, merchandise sales, and attendance at experiential events.
• Creative ROI: Audience and critic reception weighed against budget — are stories landing in a way that builds goodwill for future projects?

Final verdict: Filoni’s slate can be more than the sum of its headlines

Forbes is correct to flag the risks in the announced slate: identity confusion, TV-to-film translation risks, and the need for theatrical scale are real. But dismissing the slate outright ignores Filoni’s track record, his understanding of franchise mechanics, and the huge strategic advantage of having a steward who understands canon and fan culture.

Win conditions are clear and actionable. Pair Filoni with theatrical filmmakers, invest in a public roadmap, upgrade production pipelines for films, and use 2026’s AI-driven tools and data to streamline — not replace — creative risk-taking. If Lucasfilm executes against these priorities, the Filoni era could be the responsible, creative renaissance the franchise needs: serialized depth plus cinematic spectacle, delivered in a way that respects fans and invites new audiences.

Quick checklist: 9 things Filoni & Lucasfilm can do this quarter

1. Publicly release a five-year content roadmap.
2. Pair each theatrical project with a director experienced in tentpole filmmaking.
3. Allocate differentiated budgets: theatrical > streaming films.
4. Start cross-platform marketing 8–12 weeks before release.
5. Use AI previsualization to reduce costs and redirect savings to practical effects.
6. Run targeted fan screenings to build word-of-mouth in key markets.
7. Greenlight at least one anthology film to test new tones.
8. Publish creator partner commitments early.
9. Measure success holistically: box office, streaming lift, and franchise engagement.

Call to action

If you want reliable, actionable coverage of the Filoni era as it unfolds — with breakdowns of creative decisions, marketing strategy, and what they mean for fans and the box office — follow our ongoing coverage. Share this piece with a friend who’s tired of hot takes and wants a plan. And if you’re working in film or TV and want to pitch strategic collaborations or insights, we want to hear from you — smart ideas will shape the next chapter of Star Wars.

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