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Disney To Launch New Dedicated Channel For Star Wars & MCU

Disney+ has really stirred the pot with their latest announcement—introducing a dedicated Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) channel called Hits and Heroes. You’d think fans of these iconic franchises would be over the moon about more content at their fingertips, but instead, reactions have been… let’s just say, mixed.

According to Bloomberg, Hits and Heroes is just one of four new 24/7 live-streaming channels Disney’s rolling out for premium subscribers. Joining it are Throwbacks, Real Life, and Hallowstream, each playing specific content on a continuous loop, updated monthly.

Now, why is Disney doing this? Well, in the cutthroat world of streaming wars, Disney+ and Hulu are lagging behind. As of July, they made up less than 5% of all viewing shares—ouch. Compare that to the competition, which is growing its slice of the pie, and it’s clear why Disney’s scrambling to bring in more subscribers and bump up viewership. But instead of innovation, this move smells more like desperation.

The Star Wars and Marvel channels have raised some eyebrows, particularly because of Lucasfilm’s string of recent failures. One observer put it bluntly: is Disney begging the question by giving Star Wars its own 24/7 channel after so many missteps? And it’s a valid concern. Just last month, Disney announced The Acolyte, a Star Wars spinoff, wouldn’t be renewed for a second season. Despite a “diverse” cast and some high-profile hype, the show tanked with audiences, racking up only an 18% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics might’ve been kind with their 78%, but fans weren’t shy about calling it out for being too “woke” and feminist-focused instead of delivering the classic Star Wars magic.

This disappointment isn’t new for fans of the galaxy far, far away. Remember the backlash in 2015 when Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced Rey, played by Daisy Ridley? Critics slammed her as a “Mary Sue”—a character with unrealistically perfect abilities who, without training, could pilot the Millennium Falcon and wield a lightsaber like a seasoned pro. It didn’t sit well with longtime fans, who felt the character undermined the Star Wars tradition of struggle, growth, and earned power. Yet, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy continues to dismiss fan criticism as rooted in sexism, doubling down in a New York Times interview that the Star Wars fan base is too “male-dominated” and sometimes lashes out against female-led storytelling.

Kennedy’s approach might strike a chord with some, but it’s clear the real frustration comes from weak storytelling, not the gender of the characters. Fans who have supported this franchise for decades—men and women alike—are tired of watching iconic universes get rebranded with political and social agendas that overshadow the plot and character development. And for those fans, hearing that Hits and Heroes is going to be streaming more of the same is hardly a reason to cheer.

In trying to please everyone, Disney seems to be losing touch with what made these franchises so beloved in the first place: good, compelling stories. If the Mouse House isn’t careful, it might find that even 24/7 Star Wars and Marvel streams won’t be enough to keep disillusioned fans from looking elsewhere.

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