‘Solo’ makes some nervous about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ future

Until “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” Walt Disney Co.’s efforts to continue the long-running space opera series were virtually unassailable. Disney’s first three “Star Wars” movies, starting in 2015 with “The Force Awakens,” paid off handsomely for the entertainment giant and its chairman and chief executive, Bob Iger.

But with “Solo,” the seemingly invincible saga has delivered a box-office dud.

The prequel, about the adventures of a young Han Solo, has grossed about $264 million worldwide, including $149 million in the United States and Canada, since its May 25 debut, significantly lagging behind the previous movies.

The film, which cost an estimated $250 million to produce, may result in a write-down of $50 million or more for Disney, one analyst predicted Monday.

Although some analysts said “Solo’s” crash landing was likely a one-off blip for an otherwise successful franchise, others worried it could be the first sign that the barrage of new “Star Wars” material is wearing thin for audiences. So-called franchise fatigue would be a problem for the Burbankbased studio that has staked much of its future on the continued success of the “Star Wars” movies, which are expected to drive toy sales, theme park visits and a new streaming service.

“It does make you a little bit nervous,” said Barton Crockett, a media and entertainment analyst with B. Riley FBR, in an interview Monday. “Disney is putting a lot of money into this brand. It’s crucial that this brand feels fresh and relevant.”

Disney declined to comment for this story.

To be sure, the “Star Wars” movies have been a boon for Disney since it paid $4 billion for Lucasfilm in 2012.

And Disney can easily absorb one or two duds. Apart from “Solo” and the recent misfire “A Wrinkle in Time,” Disney is having a stellar run at the box office. The company has enjoyed a streak of hits from its Marvel Studios, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation subsidiaries. Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” hauled in $1.3 billion and nearly $2 billion, respectively. Pixar is poised to release the highly anticipated sequel “Incredibles 2” this month, which is expected to be a big draw.