Latest news with #ANewHope
Business Insider
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Disney and Coca-Cola Stock Look to Strike Back with Star Wars Push
Coca-Cola (KO) and Disney (DIS) aren't just celebrating 70 years of partnership, they're reigniting two of the most recognizable brands on Earth at a time when both could use a bit of magic in their stock stories. The launch of Coca-Cola's new Star Wars -themed campaign, 'Refresh Your Galaxy,' isn't just a fizzy nostalgia play. It's a calculated brand offensive with shareholder implications. Confident Investing Starts Here: Brand Equity Goes Galactic At first glance, it's collectible cans and hologram gimmicks. But zoom out. You've got 30 limited-edition Coke designs hitting shelves in global markets from Asia to the Americas. It's not just about fans collecting, it's about reigniting emotional loyalty with one of the most commercially powerful fanbases in history. For Coca-Cola, this kind of cross-generational marketing doesn't just spike short-term sales. It builds long-term equity. We're talking retail uplift, social media engagement, and maybe most importantly: pricing power. Limited edition packaging gives Coke a reason to flex its premium branding muscle in an increasingly competitive beverage landscape. And yes, collectors will buy more than one. Disney's Content Flywheel Gets New Fuel On the other side of the can: Disney (DIS). The House of Mouse is juicing the Star Wars IP across platforms. From cinema ads to in-park exclusives, this campaign is a masterclass in ecosystem monetization. Theme park traffic? Boosted. Coke's exclusive designs are only available at Disney parks in Florida and California. That's incremental spend on-site, plus food, merch, and everything else that comes with a theme park visit. Disney also wins from eyeballs. The ad spot, a crowd of cosplayers using Coke bottles as lightsabers in a theater screening A New Hope, is engineered to go viral. Viral means reach, and reach means more subscriptions, more merch, more ticket sales. The Impact on Disney and Coca-Cola Stock For Coca-Cola, this isn't just brand theater. It's a margin story. Limited editions help drive volume, but more importantly, they support pricing in an inflation-heavy environment where differentiation matters. If the campaign drives even a modest increase in global sales velocity, it could meaningfully impact earnings, particularly in emerging markets where brand-led growth is key. For Disney, the campaign is a reminder that Star Wars remains a crown jewel, and a lever that can pull revenue across theme parks, streaming, merchandise, and more. In a year when Disney's streaming margins are under scrutiny and parks face post-COVID normalization, multi-channel campaigns like this offer synergistic upside. Is Coca-Cola a Good Stock to Buy? According to 16 Wall Street analysts, Coca-Cola is firmly in 'Strong Buy' territory. The consensus includes 15 Buy ratings and one Hold, with zero Sell recommendations in sight. The average 12-month KO price target is $79.53, a healthy 14.2% upside from its current level of $69.64. Why it matters? A global campaign tied to Star Wars nostalgia and AR-driven social engagement doesn't just move hearts, it moves units. If this cross-promotional campaign lands well (and early signs suggest it will), it could drive volume, especially in international markets where brand saturation still has room to grow. Is Disney a Good Stock to Buy? Meanwhile, Disney isn't far behind in analyst confidence. Out of 19 ratings, 15 are Buys, four are Holds, and, again, zero Sells. The average 12-month DIS price target of $125.12 suggests 3% upside from the current price of $121.61. Star Wars continues to be one of Disney's most monetizable IPs, from box office and streaming to parks and now partnerships. The AR campaign with Coca-Cola amplifies that flywheel, driving engagement in a way that touches nearly every corner of Disney's ecosystem, from Disney+ subscribers to theme park foot traffic.
Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Gareth Edwards: I'm very happy to move on from Star Wars
Gareth Edwards was "very happy to move on" from the Star Wars franchise. The 50-year-old filmmaker helmed 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but Gareth doesn't have any intention of returning to the sci-fi franchise. Asked if he'd ever make another Star Wars movie, Gareth told Business Insider: "I'm very happy to move on and do my thing." Despite this, Gareth remains a huge fan of the Star Wars movies. He said: "It's the thing that was in my life before I knew what a film was. "It's like your mom; it's like something that's a part of you. I'm always fascinated by what they're doing. I never stop loving that trilogy." Fan sentiment towards Rogue One has become kinder in recent years. But Gareth has downplayed the suggestion that his movie - which starred the likes of Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, and Forest Whitaker - is the best Star Wars film since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012. The director said: "I don't agree with it, but I appreciate it. I'm very grateful that people say nice things." Gareth has encouraged cinemagoers to judge movies over a long period of time, rather than jumping to conclusions. The filmmaker shared: "What you have to keep in your pocket as you go through making other films is that it's not about how people feel the day it gets released, it's how people feel about it 10, 20 years from now. "When you make a movie, you're living at least a year from now, you're trying to imagine what it's like, all these decisions you're making, what they are going to be like a year from now when this movie is released, what's the audience going to think? "And as the movie comes out, you go, 'I'm going to pretend I'm living ten years from now, and it doesn't matter what people say in the moment.' It's the kid who comes up to you 20 years from now and goes, 'Oh my god, I loved that movie!' I think that's the reward." Meanwhile, Gareth previously hailed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope as the movie that changed his life. The director admitted to being obsessed with the film during his younger years. He told the Guardian newspaper: "I don't remember exactly when I first saw A New Hope; it's always just sort of existed for me. It's the only film that I don't remember actually sitting down to watch for the very first time. "From the age of about six I watched it every day for at least a couple of years. I must have seen it more than 200 times. My mum remembers me quoting it word for word on long car journeys. I once did the entire script."
Geek Tyrant
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Shares Smart New Direction for STAR WARS Movies — GeekTyrant
While there have been reports of Kathleen Kennedy being replaced at Lucasfilm as some point, right now she is still in charge of all things Star Wars and she has a new plan for the future of the franchise. Appearing at the BFI Film on Film Festival in London, Kennedy introduced a rare theatrical print of A New Hope and offered insight into the evolving strategy for the Star Wars film universe. For fans tired of franchise fatigue and forced interconnectivity, her comments might feel like a breath of fresh Tatooine air. She shared: 'I really think that now we're in a position where it's broadened the possibility of stories and filmmakers we can bring in to tell stories that mean something to them – it doesn't necessarily have to connect to every little thing that's been done in Star Wars ; it can actually be a standalone story that then builds into many many other stories.' That's a big shift. For a franchise known for its dense lore and rigid continuity, Kennedy is now embracing something more open-ended—stories with personal vision, not just legacy checklists. After the lukewarm reception to Solo and the divisive Star Wars sequel trilogy, it's a strategy that might finally let creators tell cool and interesting untethered stories. The approach seems to be playing out with filmmaker Shawn Levy ( Free Guy, Stranger Things ) and his upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter film, currently in development, and set to release in 2027. Levy shared: 'When Kathy Kennedy brought me on board to make a Star Wars movie, her central mandate to me was, 'I want a Shawn Levy movie. I want a story and a tone that reflects you and your taste and what you bring to your movies — with a Star Wars story.' So I have felt extremely empowered.' That's the kind of creative freedom fans often hope exists behind the scenes of making these movies, but we've all heard the horror stories of studio interference and mandates that need to be followed. If Kennedy is serious about hiring filmmakers to make their movies rather than committee-driven products, it could lead to a much-needed new era for Star Wars in theaters. To help maintain the spirit of Star Wars , Kennedy still insists on one non-negotiable… every filmmaker must study A New Hope . She calls it 'the gold standard' for story and character. 'I would say this is the film everyone starts with when we start talking about story, [George Lucas'] intent, and what it is we're trying to build off of.' It's been nearly six years since a Star Wars film hit theaters, and while Disney+ has kept the franchise alive, many fans have been wondering when and how the cinematic side of the galaxy would return. Now we have our answer, and it sounds more filmmaker-driven and story-first than ever before. Next summer brings The Mandalorian & Grogu to theaters, with Starfighter following in 2027. I actually like this new strategy, and I hope that Lucasfilm can actually pull it off! Via: Variety
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
It's not illegal: Star Wars boss ends fear over BFI screening rare version of film
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy introduced a rare screening of the first cut of Star Wars: A New Hope at the BFI Southbank, reassuring fans it was officially sanctioned despite George Lucas 's preference for later edits. The original 1977 version is extremely rare, lacking the Episode IV: A New Hope subtitle and featuring a different cut of the Mos Eisley cantina scene where Han Solo shoots Greedo first, a change Lucas later altered. BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts contacted Kennedy about screening the print found in their archives, unsure if it could be shown due to Lucas's revisions; Kennedy expressed surprise at the print's existence, calling it "remarkable." Kennedy emphasised the original film's importance as the "gold standard" for new Star Wars projects, influencing story discussions and George Lucas's original intent. Kennedy mentioned the upcoming Starfighter film starring Ryan Gosling, set to begin shooting in September, and highlighted how series like Andor have broadened the possibilities for future Star Wars stories.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
On Star Wars
Daily Quiz | On Star Wars Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit YOUR SCORE 0 /6 RETAKE THE QUIZ 1 / 6 | Let's toss it up, to start with. The first Star Wars movie that was released, was retrospectively paired with two other movies, and that trilogy was later associated with a prequel trilogy and a sequel trilogy. What was this trilogy of trilogies called? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : The Skywalker Saga SHOW ANSWER 2 / 6 | What was Return of the Jedi called before they changed the name a few months before release? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Revenge of the Jedi SHOW ANSWER 3 / 6 | Before Frank Oz controlled the puppet for Yoda, what animal was supposed to play the wise one? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : A monkey SHOW ANSWER 4 / 6 | During the production of A New Hope, the Libyan government mistakenly identified this vehicle as a military tank. Name the vehicle. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : The Jawa Sandcrawler SHOW ANSWER 5 / 6 | Before Yoda had only one name, 'Yoda' was actually supposed to be his last name. What was his first name then? DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Minch SHOW ANSWER
