“Star Wars,” a pillar of my youth and force of childhood nostalgia, transported a kid from Missouri to a galaxy far, far away filled with thrilling adventures, epic storytelling and passionate romance. The multi-genre franchise employs motifs ranging from classic Western mythology, Eastern religious traditions and contemporary socio-political conflicts. The franchise inspired both my future academic pursuits and creative outlets, ranging from constructing Lego Star Wars sets to protesting against unjust, fascist-like systems and institutions in the United States. I believe that “Star Wars” (on the big and small screen) has created generational experiences that individuals of almost any age can enjoy and find solace in the idea that anyone from any background can have the potential to be something extraordinary.
My passion for the beloved franchise was most recently reignited with the release of “Andor” in 2022. The first season of the critically acclaimed show released by Disney+ received over eight Emmy nominations. The show delves into the world of spycraft, heists and sophisticated socio-political themes, providing world-building and exposition leading into the “original trilogy” (Episodes 4-6). As a prequel to both “Rogue One” (2016) and “A New Hope” (1976), viewers are already aware of the fate of Andor (Diego Luna), the Death Star and much of what will follow in the franchise. Theresa Gormley, FCRH ’26, described that, “It’s interesting to see the dots connecting. It’s cool to see the world building in an infinite galaxy filled with equally infinite stories.” Additionally, viewers remain invested in the narratives of the supporting characters, whose destinies remain unknown.
Disney’s other recent additions to the franchise, most notably the the sequel trilogy and “The Acolyte,” have not met the same support from fans and critics. While the movie and the show have received mixed critical reception, the fandom negatively critiqued casting and narrative decisions. Since the inception of the films, the “Star Wars” fandom has become notorious for pushing back against increased diversity in casting in the newer projects like the sequel trilogy and “The Acolyte.” This show embraces what some call “New Star Wars,” an era defined by increased diversity in casting and narrative expansion beyond the Skywalker saga.
Leslye Headland, the creator of “The Acolyte,” is the first woman to create a “Star Wars” series. In an interview with the New York Times, Jocelyn Bioh, a Ghanaian-American writer on the show, stated that, “Leslye wanted the show to be accessible — no homework needed before watching.” Comments on the show’s trailer read, “Why are there so many women, girls and minority characters increasingly dominating the ranks of Jedi?” Amandla Stenberg, one of the show’s leads, said her Disney+ “Star Wars” show was subject to “hyper-conservative bigotry and vitriol, prejudiced hatred and hateful language” before its cancellation.
The same racism and misogyny plagued “The Sequel Trilogy” and its star actors. John Boyega, one of the leads of the sequel trilogy, described “Star Wars” as “always having the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space.” In a 2020 interview with Esquire, Boyega spoke about how he was the “only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race.” He further expressed dissatisfaction regarding how Disney’s marketing for “The Force Awakens,” implied that he’d be the main hero of the movie when the role was ultimately fulfilled by Rey, a white character played by Daisy Ridley.
Actresses Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran were also subject to extreme discrimination by “Star Wars purists.” In an interview, Tran described that she deleted her social media in response to online harassment stating, “Their words seemed to confirm what growing up as a woman and a person of color already taught me: that I belonged in margins and spaces, valid only as a minor character in their lives and stories.” The sequel trilogy aimed to appeal to a wider and more diverse audience. Gormley stated that, “It’s really disheartening to witness this as a female fan of the franchise. It sets the precedent that women and people of color don’t have a role in these kinds of stories, which contradicts the heart of ‘Star Wars.’”
I think that these self-identified “purists” who are okay with the big and small screen being filled with extraterrestrial beings that look like slugs, Bigfoot and fish while criticizing casting choices that include women and people of color are absurd and bigoted. “Star Wars” is a mythology that can be appreciated by anyone regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation. In a galaxy filled with infinite possibilities, there is no good reason why the franchise shouldn’t reflect the representation of current and future generations.
