Introduction

Would it make sense to involve Dave Filoni, the creator of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, in directing Universal Pictures' 'Dark Universe'?

The Clones of Action: Filoni's Expertise

While there's no doubt that Dave Filoni is highly skilled at handling the intricate and beloved Star Wars universe, his expertise lies primarily within the Star Wars franchise itself. This raises questions about whether his 'magic touch' that has made Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian standout can be applied effectively to other worlds and properties.

The Dark Universe: A Flawed Copycat

The 'Dark Universe' is often viewed as a blatant attempt by Universal Pictures to capitalize on the immense success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the key difference lies in the depth of established storylines and fan bases. While Marvel had years of rich comic book history and dedicated readers before launching Iron Man, and similarly, Star Wars has a deep legacy and fanbase formed over three decades through a variety of media—including legendaries like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian.

Universal's Dark Universe, on the other hand, relies on a sparser foundation of horror stories, without the robust built-in fan base that Star Wars has enjoyed. The allure of classic yet dated horror characters might not be as compelling or relatable to a modern audience, making it a less robust starting point for a cinematic universe.

Substance Over Style: Feige and Filoni's Success

For large, interconnected franchises to succeed, they often require a certain level of visionary oversight and continuity. In the case of Marvel, the success is largely attributed to Kevin Feige, the 'benevolent dictator' of the MCU, who ensures consistency and cohesion across the wide range of films and series. Similarly, at Lucasfilm, talent like Dave Filoni contributes to the overarching narrative, thanks to the focused and singular vision of the studio.

Failed attempts at similar franchises include Warner Bros. with DC Comics, where despite having a vast repository of characters, the execution has not always been successful. Other notable examples outside the US, such as Eon Productions for James Bond and Toho Studios for Godzilla and related Kaiju films, also highlight the challenges in creating a cohesive and engaging universe. These studios have been successful due to a singular focus and a deep understanding of the properties they work with, often led by a visionary who can bring to life a collective storyworld.

Conclusion

In essence, while Dave Filoni's experience with Star Wars is undeniably valuable, his involvement in the Dark Universe might not lead to a successful outcome. The fundamental differences in the source material, the fan base, and the execution strategies make it challenging for Filoni or any director to bring existing properties to life with the same level of success achieved in the Star Wars or MCU franchises.