A large group of the lucky people who remember going to the cinema to watch Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977 are now likely to be in their late fifties. People who got in a bit later and watched the sequels first are likely in their forties, while most of the prequel crowd are now in their thirties.
Older viewers make up a high proportion of the dedicated Star Wars fanbase, but you could argue that these people aren’t being catered to enough. Lucasfilm has ventured into countless spinoffs to expand the franchise, but it could be doing more to keep older fans onside.
Grittier Storylines Could be Effective
Andor is a prime example of what a lot of older viewers are looking for in their modern Star Wars content. It had a gritty storyline, violence, and was clearly aimed at adults with its themes. Because of these things, it’s ranked as one of the best spinoffs in the franchise.
Star Wars has always been known for appealing to a wide range of ages, and it’s fine for it to continue doing that with many of its spinoffs. However, showrunners should also consider making more content for those who have been with the universe for the last five decades.
To appeal to these people more, there should be darker offerings that are clearly aimed only at adults. These could involve more violence and other themes that can’t be included in the more age-inclusive titles.
Leveraging Other Adult-Themed Entertainment
Star Wars has expanded into the global behemoth it is today through clever franchising across different platforms, with countless games and mobile apps related to the legendary series. However, it has neglected one of the most booming markets thus far – online casinos.
For Star Wars to reach more adult audiences, it should have spinoffs in the bustling slots sector. These could be associated with new series to help raise awareness of them when they’re released, helping to pull audiences back in who may have lost interest in the franchise. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for other brands, with Jurassic World and the Terminator among various franchised slots. These can be found at Jackpot City, where there are plenty of bonuses for new players. For instance, there’s the free spins deal when you join, and the Mega Money Wheel bonus for returning players.
Exciting Upcoming Projects
Despite the lack of dedicated adult content, there are reasons for older Star Wars to get excited. The most eagerly anticipated one is the return of Andor for a second season in April 2025. The series would have worked well as a standalone offering but, due to its immense popularity, the showrunners wisely decided to bring it back.
There’s also a Taika Waititi Star Wars offering in development, which could potentially cater more towards adult audiences. The New Zealand filmmaker is a lifelong Star Wars fan, and his offering may be designed to appeal to his own demographic.
It’s great that there’s an abundance of Star Wars content, but few would deny that there have been some weak offerings. Star Wars should ensure that it’s always appealing to its older fanbase, as these are the people who have stuck with it over the years.