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Star Wars after Lucas: A Critical Guide to the Future of the Galaxy
Politics, craft, and cultural nostalgia in the remaking of Star Wars for a new age
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away--way back in the twenty-first century's first decade--Star Wars seemed finished. Then in 2012 George Lucas shocked the entertainment world by selling the franchise, along with Lucasfilm, to Disney. This is the story of how, over the next five years, Star Wars went from near-certain extinction to what Wired magazine would call "the forever franchise," with more films in the works than its first four decades had produced.
Focusing on The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), and the television series Rebels (2014-18), Dan Golding explores the significance of pop culture nostalgia in overcoming the skepticism, if not downright hostility, that greeted the Star Wars relaunch. At the same time he shows how Disney, even as it tapped a backward-looking obsession, was nonetheless creating genuinely new and contemporary entries in the Star Wars universe.
A host of cultural factors and forces propelled the Disney-engineered Star Wars renaissance, and all figure in Golding's deeply informed analysis: from John Williams's music in The Force Awakens to Peter Cushing's CGI face in Rogue One, to Carrie Fisher's passing, to the rapidly changing audience demographic. Star Wars after Lucas delves into the various responses and political uses of the new Star Wars in a wider context, as in reaction videos on YouTube and hate-filled, misogynistic online rants. In its granular textual readings, broad cultural scope, and insights into the complexities of the multimedia galaxy, this book is as entertaining as it is enlightening, an apt reflection of the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away--way back in the twenty-first century's first decade--Star Wars seemed finished. Then in 2012 George Lucas shocked the entertainment world by selling the franchise, along with Lucasfilm, to Disney. This is the story of how, over the next five years, Star Wars went from near-certain extinction to what Wired magazine would call "the forever franchise," with more films in the works than its first four decades had produced.
Focusing on The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), and the television series Rebels (2014-18), Dan Golding explores the significance of pop culture nostalgia in overcoming the skepticism, if not downright hostility, that greeted the Star Wars relaunch. At the same time he shows how Disney, even as it tapped a backward-looking obsession, was nonetheless creating genuinely new and contemporary entries in the Star Wars universe.
A host of cultural factors and forces propelled the Disney-engineered Star Wars renaissance, and all figure in Golding's deeply informed analysis: from John Williams's music in The Force Awakens to Peter Cushing's CGI face in Rogue One, to Carrie Fisher's passing, to the rapidly changing audience demographic. Star Wars after Lucas delves into the various responses and political uses of the new Star Wars in a wider context, as in reaction videos on YouTube and hate-filled, misogynistic online rants. In its granular textual readings, broad cultural scope, and insights into the complexities of the multimedia galaxy, this book is as entertaining as it is enlightening, an apt reflection of the enduring power of the Star Wars franchise.
- GenresStar WarsNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 9, 2019
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1033 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 25, 2019
A readable and insightful guide to the ways Disney has won the hearts of fans dedicated to a franchise maintained by a solo auteur for three and a half decades. I reviewed Star Wars After Lucas for The Tangential.
May 30, 2019
This book was fascinating, and full of interesting facts and thoughts. It picks up where How Star Wars Conquered the Universe leaves off in the Star Wars pop culture timeline. How Star Wars Conquered is a little lighter, it's more popular history, and this one is definitely academic in tone and nature.
Some of his points I disagree with, but there was so much to appreciate here. I like that he had some of the same issues with The Last Jedi that I did (though I wouldn't have minded if he had dwelt more on these!), and his discussion of the positive points of the Last Jedi gave even more depth to the parts of that movie that were strong.
He seems to disregard Solo almost entirely, which I find unfortunate, but his reflections on The Force Awakens and Rogue one made me appreciate those movies even more, as well as marveling (for better or for worse) at Disney's marketing skills. Really interesting points about the weaponized nostalgia of The Force Awakens, diversity as the politics of the Disney Star Wars era, and a great summary of the critiques and praises of Star Wars over the years and how Stars responds to its time and to itself.
There's a beautiful chapter on the music of Star Wars, and how the music of The Force Awakens relates to the previous Star Wars music. Had to look up both songs and some musical terms for that one!
Some of his points I disagree with, but there was so much to appreciate here. I like that he had some of the same issues with The Last Jedi that I did (though I wouldn't have minded if he had dwelt more on these!), and his discussion of the positive points of the Last Jedi gave even more depth to the parts of that movie that were strong.
He seems to disregard Solo almost entirely, which I find unfortunate, but his reflections on The Force Awakens and Rogue one made me appreciate those movies even more, as well as marveling (for better or for worse) at Disney's marketing skills. Really interesting points about the weaponized nostalgia of The Force Awakens, diversity as the politics of the Disney Star Wars era, and a great summary of the critiques and praises of Star Wars over the years and how Stars responds to its time and to itself.
There's a beautiful chapter on the music of Star Wars, and how the music of The Force Awakens relates to the previous Star Wars music. Had to look up both songs and some musical terms for that one!
February 19, 2019
I absolutely love the Star Wars franchise, and this book is no exception! I was lucky to win this book in a giveaway but I honestly would have bought it either way. I love how it goes into detail about the lore and a behind the scenes look at the movies
January 30, 2020
This is a thoughtful, well-informed series of essays that focuses on the first few years of the Star Wars franchise in the Disney era, combining critical accounts of the new films with discussions of media industries, fandom, and questions of franchising and legacy film-making. I really enjoyed Golding's analysis of the emergence of Legacy Films and how the sequels operate in this specific genre of film. I also loved his exploration of how Disney era Star Wars has utilized nostalgia to its benefit and detriment. The Force Awakens, Rogue One, Rebels, and The Last Jedi are all discussed in great length with a brief mention of Solo. As wonderful as this book is, it lacks cohesion, as it would be fitting to end this book with a chapter dedicated to an analysis of The Rise of Skywalker (which I would love to read Golding's analysis of).
November 21, 2018
A thoughtful, well-informed and nicely rounded reflection on the first few years of the Star Wars franchise in the Disney era, combining critical accounts of the new films with discussions of media industries, fandom, and questions of franchising and legacy filmmaking. The author’s passion and excitement are infectious, and the book strikes a great balance between critique and celebration.
June 5, 2019
A very smart book about Star Wars post-sale to Disney. The chapters about the Legacy Films and the analysis of why TFA cannot be discarded as a simple remake of ANH are extremely well thought out. An authentic academic work by a fan. Strongly recommended. Congratulations Mr. Golding.
October 5, 2025
Dan Golding has some smart insights into The Force Awakens, in particular, including an excellent chapter on John Williams’s score for the film. In a way, this book was published too early in the post-Lucas Star Wars world, because the franchise went in interesting, frustrating, puzzling, and sometimes transcendent directions that moved it well beyond Lucas’s vision. From the retrenchment of The Rise of Skywalker, the entertaining Solo, and a mixed bag of TV series that culminated in Andor, one of the best shows of the late golden age of television. Perhaps a second edition is order?
December 23, 2019
Some fantastic essays about The Force Awakens and Rogue One worth reading, but as it was written largely before The Last Jedi and the franchise's subsequent decline it has unfortunately become outdated when discussing topics besides those films, which is why I won't be buying it. I would love Golding to write a sequel or expansion reflecting on the past two years of Disney Star Wars as we move into the post-ST era.
October 1, 2021
I want to know how much Disney paid Golding to write this. From the repeated condescending snipes at George to his pseudo-intellectual rambling and glorifying of the sequel films as some sort of cultural statement on heredity and nostalgic inheritance instead of the cheap, formulaic dog-and-pony copy/paste jobs that they are, I found this book insufferable. This guy is clearly on Disney's payroll.
September 26, 2019
I think a better title would have been Gender and Race in Star Wars. If that book sounds interesting to you, then have at it. But if you'd rather explore the new characters beyond their most basic attributes, then this book may not be for you.
Unfortunately for me, I'm of the later camp. I could really care less if a stormtrooper is black or if the lead if female, or any such thing.
Unfortunately for me, I'm of the later camp. I could really care less if a stormtrooper is black or if the lead if female, or any such thing.
February 1, 2020
Interesting perspectives on how Star Wars has transformed based of fan need for nostalgia, changes in social norms and mores, the evolution of the blockbuster and serial movies. It was well researched and reinforced. It also explains why there has been contention among Star Wars fans with the recent trilogy.
January 17, 2021
For a dissertation on film, this book carries itself rather well. There are many repetitive ideas throughout the film but it does a truly great job of placing the Star Wars University in a variety of contexts.
October 27, 2019
An essential read about the current state of Star Wars and beyond.
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January 4, 2020Review in Extrapolation coming this spring...
July 9, 2024
Brilliantly insightful and thorough.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews