Fair Warning: This story includes spoilers about the series finale of Star Wars Rebels. If you have not seen it yet, it is available via the DisneyNOW app.
This article is somewhat unique and calls for a somewhat different introduction. We are going to talk Star Wars Rebels, not from a Star Wars fans perspective, but from my perspective as a Disney fan.
Star Wars and Disney has always had crossover. As Disney fans, our passion is around quality storytelling that brings us joy and inspiration. Star Wars does that as well. That’s why having Star Tours at the Disney Parks made sense. Despite the fact it was not a Disney franchise, it just felt right. So while my passion was around Disney, I enjoyed watching Star Wars movies and went every opening night of the Star Wars prequels. I also tried to get into Star Wars Clone Wars, but the way the series told the story left me a bit confused and disengaged.
This is the timeline of how I became a Star Wars fan and how Star Wars Rebels was the key.
May 20, 2011
This was the opening day of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We were finally getting to experience the long-rumored refresh of the classic attraction. We were gathered at the Sorcerer’s Hat (remeber that), baking in the sun, as the countdown to the opening ceremonies began. When the show began, it was revealed that Bob Iger and George Lucas were a part of the celebration. This struck me as odd. Bob Iger doesn’t typically make the trip for every attraction opening, and this was more of a refresh than a major addition. I only could conjecture that he wanted to spend time with Mr. Lucas, perhaps he was going to have The Clone Wars move from Cartoon Network to Disney XD. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I took it as a sign that Bob wanted more Star Wars at Disney.
June 1, 2012
Kathleen Kennedy is named the new head of Lucasfilm as George Lucas signals that he intends to move away from day-to-day management. Many in the industry find the move odd as Lucasfilm was not really making movies which was Kennedy strong suit. At the time, Deadline called the move bizarre as Kennedy was a film producer and Lucasfilm was mostly a licensing business at the time. Personally, I knew there was more to the story. You don’t hire Kennedy and not make content. I wondered if Bob would be able to get something for their Disney XD channel.
October 30, 2012
The shoe drops. Disney acquires Lucasfilm for $4 billion. We also learn that there will be a new Star Wars trilogy. At the time Disney discusses how they are going to aggressively increase the release of Star Wars films with the plan to release one every two to three years. Iger also said “We really like Star Wars‘ potential on TV as well and we think Disney XD will be a great home for that.”
I start researching to get product knowledge on Star Wars. I read Star Wars fansites and listen to podcasts. I learn a lot. I discover that without Star Wars movies, The Clone Wars has become an important part of the Star Wars fan experience. I try to get back into it and fail.
March 11, 2013
Disney cancels The Clone Wars. You get the sense that the Star Wars faithful are losing faith in Disney’s leadership of the saga. It is a bit understandable as fans had little to sense what Disney planned on doing in the future. But as a Disney fan who had seen their acquisition of Marvel, I knew Disney didn’t want to make less content, they wanted to make more. But they also wanted it to fit where they were taking the franchise. Something that Disney XD could call its own, that moved the franchise away from the prequel era.
May 20, 2013
YouTube User: Enforcedstorm4
Star Wars Rebels is officially announced. Despite the series being over a year away, I was excited. This was going to be the first major piece of new Star Wars since the Disney acquisition. What would it tell us about where Disney was going to take the franchise? The tease did give us something to be excited about as we were given crumbs of information for nearly a year-and-a-half. Star Wars Weekends had new life as we met the cast of the series. Star Wars was coming back!
October 3, 2014
The show debuts on Disney XD with a special feature length debut. We met Kanan, Ezra, Sabine, Hera, and Chopper and got a brand new story that takes place right as the Original Trilogy was about to take place. As a Disney fan, I was proud. The Lucasfilm Animation team was able to deliver a series that pleased fans and new viewers. Disney was winning back Star Wars fans as the excitement for The Force Awakens was just about to begin.
March 5, 2018
Has it really been three-and-a-half years? Time flies when you are having fun. We now know what happened to the crew of The Ghost right before Princess Leia gets the Death Star plans. We know who survived and who didn’t make it. We also know that Captain Rex was at the Battle of Endor and the Hera and Kanan had a kid. The family we met had faced a lot, but in the end, they accomplished their mission.
I was able to attend a screening of the finale with the cast and crew on the Disney lot. The theme of family was strong. With a family that has cosplayed as characters from the series to the sense of family that has united the cast, “family” was the word of the day.
Producer and director Dave Feloni talked about the family of fans: Fandom really makes the experience of having a story like Star Wars bigger than it’s ever been and in a way that we couldn’t imagine in 1977 as we were a bunch of kids spread out — only knowing other kids in classrooms, or older kids — it’s such a global thing and you’re all part of that global phenomenon. You drive us to do better and tell better stories. So thank you, guys. The Force is so strong with you.
I got a bit emotional. The first piece of Star Wars that I had been invested in since the day it was announced was coming to an end. I will always hold Rebels in a special place in my heart as it was the first Star Wars under the Disney flag. It helped me learn so much about the Star Wars experience and introduced me to so many Star Wars fans that have become friends.
Much like when the end of The Clone Wars was announced, I know this isn’t the end of Star Wars animation. In fact, there will be more Star Wars on my TV than ever before thanks to the upcoming Disney streaming service. But Rebels turned me into a Star Wars fan who now reads the books, comics, and can hold his own in a Star Wars trivia contest. Disney will always be my first love, but Star Wars is the kid that I have grown so proud of.
As Feloni promised, he has more stories to tell and he hopes to tell them, Partially due to having a mortgage. But we all want to know if Ahsoka and Sabine find Ezra right? The Rebels may be evolving into the Resistance following the Battle of Endor, but I hope we do get to see that family again.
Thank you to the cast and crew of Star Wars Rebels. You have brought more Star Wars into my life. As the first piece of Star Wars under Disney, you had a lot riding on your shoulders, but you delivered. You set up the next generation of Star Wars storytelling and fans. I am excited to see what’s next, and that is a credit to your work. Good luck, and may the force be with you.