While Disney’s upcoming streaming platform, Disney+, will be home to at least two new Star Wars original series, there are no plans to premiere any new Star Wars films anywhere but the multiplex. Speaking with Barron’s, Disney CEO Bob Iger explained the strategy behind the franchise going forward, and how Disney+ will factor into the equation.
“We wouldn’t make a Star Wars movie for this platform. When everybody goes out on the weekend and you have a movie that opens up to $200 million, there’s a buzz that creates that enhances value. We like that,” said Iger. “And eventually, the movies we’re making are going to [end up on] the service.”
Along with the two original series, which includes Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and the Rogue One prequel starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, Disney+ will be home to all new Star Wars movies… but not until after their theatrical runs.
“Almost every movie the studio makes is a $100 million-plus movie, and we’re not looking to make movies at that level for the service,” Iger said. “We’re looking to invest significantly in television series on a per-episode business, and we’re looking to make movies that are higher-budget, but nothing like that.”
Disney is still planning on launching Disney+ sometime in late 2019.
