Found this comment on Rebelscum a bit interesting: "German LEGO fan site zusammengebaut.com reports that LEGO noted that the popularity of their Star Wars theme had peaked (when?) and that sales were declining. In their live blog of the LEGO press conference, the field reporter from zusammengebaut.com noted that the mood from LEGO was glum."
http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/LEGO_Nuremburg_Toy_Fair_Reveals_178467.asp
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Personally, I think this is an accurate assessment. I think the Star Wars theme is tumbling towards rock bottom (and hasn't reached it yet), but it's heading there and quickly. I don't blame this strictly on Lego, but a lot of the blame should be placed on Disney's shoulders. It's just not Lego that is tumbling, but the Star Wars theme in general. I recently noticed the Toys R Us in my vicinity completely scaled back the Star Wars aisle, and marvel merchandise was combined with it. Basically the space was halved. I also noticed two targets in my area do the same thing.
I personally didn't like the Last Jedi movie, and I don't think my son thinks too much about that film either since he doesn't seem to want anything from it, and still hasn't built the two sets from the theme he got from Christmas. Overall, looking at this year, I only have interest in picking up the Ach-to, Yoda's Hut, and all 4 battle packs (already picked up the Jawa version).. The Solo film sets i'm going to have a wait and see attitude with (I did pretty much the same for the Last Jedi), but I could see definitely picking up the speeder, but i have no interest in the new falcon other than maybe bricklinking minifigs a few years from now when prices bottom out on them. Overall, I don't see myself spending much money on Star Wars this year. It will probably be around 130 bucks at most. Not anything like previous years. I also feel the same way about the Marvel infinity sets (have zero interest other than bricklinking some figs). The Jurrassic World sets is probably going to get the most dollars from me this year.
Anyway, can Star Wars recover? I don't know... i'm a bit of an old timer now with this theme, as we have a pretty solid collection but with rehashes, and sets based on movies that didn't inspire - well it will be hard pressed to want to go and buy every single set. At this point, I no longer just collect them all. If I had a 3 or 4 year old again, and wasn't around for the 2010-2015 era I could see myself anxiously awaiting the Sandcrawler, and X-wing, but at this point, it's hit the rehash and revision cycle and I dont know if it's enough to make me want to go out and buy those. The future of this theme gets bleaker with each wave reveal, i'm afraid to say.