Before Disney extended their business with the Star Wars franchise, the studio had an expensive bet against George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope— a space adventure that took Hollywood by storm. It was one of the greatest hits of the time, which prompted several studios to have their pie in the game.
Of course, it was before Disney acquired Lucasfilm— founded by the director of the first and several Star Wars movies, George Lucas. Decades before the acquisition of the company on 30 October 2012, Disney had their own ambitious plan to create another space adventure marvel.
Disney’s Most Expensive Bet Against Star Wars
Disney was very keen to have their shot at the space adventure genre following the mega-hit of George Lucas’ 1977 Star Wars movie. Disney made the most expensive bet against Lucas’ Star Wars by making The Black Hole. However, the flow of the studios heading toward space adventure prompted Disney to develop the movie a few years before the release of Lucas’ hit movie that went on to gross over $775 million at the box office against the production budget of $11 million.
Dinsey’s The Black Hole – one can say the Star Wars rip-off – cost $20 million to make, which was the highest expense the studio had made by the time. Also, the studio showed intent and all the seriousness by pouring $6 million into the advertising of The Black Hole. The movie went on to gross a little over $35 million, far too down the line if compared with Lucas’ Star Wars.
In this regard, it is safe to say that, Disney’s attempt at the race was not fruitful, at least, not as the studio wanted the movie to be.
The Black Hole— Death Of A Huge Ambition
With The Black Hole, Disney lost the bet against the first Star Wars movie, which expanded into a huge and one of the most profitable franchises ever. Gary Nelson, who has celebrated titles including Murder in Coweta County and Freaky Friday to his name, helmed The Black Hole.
Jackie Brown star Robert Forster, Blind Date actor Joseph Bottoms, Psycho famed Anthony Perkins, and The Dirty Dozen star Ernest Borgnine appeared in the movie as central cast. Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens played two main robot characters in the film, but their performances were uncredited.
Further, the movie received mixed reactions from critics as it failed to absorb the fame and glory Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope enjoyed. The 1979 movie claimed only a 43% score on Rotten Tomatoes while Lucas’ Space Adventure secured an astonishing 93% score. Disney did not make another shot at the race again until the studio bought Lucasfilm to produce a series of movies in the franchise.
The Black Hole is available to stream on Disney+.
