They're businessmen/women/etc. What puts more butts in the seats and money in their wallet?
(Hint, it's not keeping the TLJ fans happy).
I don't deny there are those who like TLJ, and more power to them, however they're just a much smaller percentage than those who don't.
I'm curious, if you don't think they care about the fans, what is it they care about? it's not the story, they didn't care enough to craft it out ahead of time, or give enough time between for them to properly do the work. They let rian trash luke, so they don't care about the history or the existing fans. There's only one thing left, money.
Who's going to put more money in their wallets? Those who grew up with the OT and now have the most disposal income? The PT fans who are now getting into the workforce/been in a few year? Or the ST aimed at today teens/tweens?
My nephews flat out love marvel. They still haven't seen captain Marvel, but they could quote you lines and tell you the entire story inside of 24 hours of its release. They're not really into star wars at any level (which i blame my sister for
). Marvel's theory isn't anything hard to figure out. Stay true to the story(ies) that people love and made them what they are, stick to the master plan, and worry about making a good movie. Follow the plan and the money will come.. I can't say any of that went into the ST sadly. Follow the plan and the money will come.
You can't quote ST figures either to say the money is coming because it was in the bank before the damage was done. I also can't sit here and tell you that Solo tanked solely because of TLJ. However, i'd bet the house that if the exact same flick came out 6-12 months after TFA, it would have done a decent amount better. Better of enough to be considered a success? I don't know, but better. More surprising was due to the perceived failure of one flick, they killed all the other stand alones that were in progress. Due to one flick that did turn a small profit, just not a giant one? That tells me they heard the comments from TLJ, and not the ones from morons attacking people/actors/etc.
What will they do about it? Well, we've got 8 months to wait before we find out. I guarantee you before starting 9 they found themselves in a position they never imagined possible, that being in the position of making a star wars trilogy that, probably won't kill, but does severely damage the property. That 4B price tag wasn't just for the rights to the material (well, legally speaking it was), but they paid that much because of the built in fan base. TFA was virtually a guaranteed money printing machine. Some didn't like it as much, but no one flat out hated it. No one was leaving the series in the dust over it. Everyone was still anxious/interested for 8. You can't say the same thing after 8. Regardless how anyone feels about it (like or dislike) there is no argument that it did damage the brand.
Another thing i'd bet the house one, they won't double down on TLJ.
