I think if Disney created the character just to sell product the would have had the product out in time for Christmas. I’d guess someone lost their job for not anticipating that. They are missing out on copious revenues because they missed the Christmas window.
I’m not saying that’s not a thing the do (create/refine characters based on how much product the character will sell), just saying they had no idea about this one.
I mean, you say that, but the original trilogy (IV-VI) was more about what the movie did for the film industry and it's advancements in VFX.
I don't recall the series existing much before the release of ep.IV. During 1977 (IV release date) the licensing rights for toys was given to 'Kerner', which produced toys based on the movies, and because no one anticipated the reception of the movies, or it's demand for toys, no where near enough was created.
If you mean more literally yes, Star Wars was created to sell more Star Wars, but then again, what isn't?
I think it's unfair to brand the first trilogy, or at least the first movie, as nothing more than 'a kids movie to sell toys'.
However what Lucasfilm turned the series into (EP I - III), and then Disney further capitalised on, I completely agree, it did turn into nothing more than a profit driven venture.
The total scope and reach of the franchise and what it means to people is one bucket. The other bucket is what was intended. The story was written to be simple and aimed largely at kids. That’s a fact. Luke was the “hero” and Han wasn’t meant to be popular or even in the story. The “good boy” Luke was such because traditionally the heroes of kids stories were all virtue. By the 1970’s media was still somewhat “wholesome” by our standards outside of X ratings- but the “moralist” codes and the like of the 50’s were gone and grown up heroes had flaws. Luke was made for kids to like. He’s good. He does good things.
Surprise. Han was popular with adults because adults generally don’t like squeaky clean heroes. Luke kisses his sister because she wasn’t his sister. He was supposed to get the girl because in kids stories- the hero gets the girl. Star Wars being an all ages phenomenon or adults being the main buyers of Star Wars toys was a happy accident that anyone in their right mind would capitalize on.
As for merchandising- Kenner took the deal but it had been offered to multiple companies who turned it down. By the time Kenner got it they didn’t have time to get a toy to market for Christmas. At the time- merchandising films like that was not common at all. Some merchandising existed but little- especially toys. For children. As adult toy collecting also wasn’t a thing at the time, and the very concept of the action figure- aka “doll for boys” was itself only about 10 or so years old.
Lucas was inexperienced in merchandising and movie merchandising wasn’t really a “thing.” This is evidenced by the deal they made with Kenner. It gave Lucas about 1% of the toy sales FOREVER unless Kenner either didn’t sell at least $10k in toys or didn’t send Lucas $10k. Star Wars was not expected to become a phenomenon that redefined and created new models across businesses and media.
To that end- as early as episode 1 changes were being made to the franchise to both keep the media side alive and feed the merchandise based on popularity. The story of the original trilogy- from L&L being brother and sister (as an easy way to explain how Han Solo “gets the girl” when new hope left Luke “winning,”) to han being frozen and in effect much of ROTJ- all based in money.
Everything is made to sell products. They wanted to make a prequel to the prequels and that required a younger Yoda. So what they made him cute? All babies are made to be “cute” it’s for survival and profit
I’m not saying that’s not a thing the do (create/refine characters based on how much product the character will sell), just saying they had no idea about this one.
I don't recall the series existing much before the release of ep.IV. During 1977 (IV release date) the licensing rights for toys was given to 'Kerner', which produced toys based on the movies, and because no one anticipated the reception of the movies, or it's demand for toys, no where near enough was created.
If you mean more literally yes, Star Wars was created to sell more Star Wars, but then again, what isn't?
I think it's unfair to brand the first trilogy, or at least the first movie, as nothing more than 'a kids movie to sell toys'.
However what Lucasfilm turned the series into (EP I - III), and then Disney further capitalised on, I completely agree, it did turn into nothing more than a profit driven venture.