Star Wars provides a new hope for a listless movie industry -- Biz Please

Happy May the 4th from us to you.
 By 
Jason Abbruzzese
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

This week we've concocted a special Star Wars-themed episode of Biz Please to celebrate May the 4th.

Why May the 4th? Well, the Internet adopted that date a few years ago, centered around the phrase "May the 4th be with you."

Turns out the phrase is a lot older than that, and Mashable's chief critic and resident Star Wars expert Chris Taylor (who literally wrote the book on the Star Wars franchise) joins us to explain its surprising origins. 


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We'll also delve into the business side of the deal, including Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm, the franchise's insane merchandizing and just how many Star Wars movies you can expect in the coming years.

In the second half, we welcome BTIG Research media analyst Rich Greenfield to talk a bit more broadly about the movie industry. With people turning to their phones for more entertainment, what's happening to the big screen?

Like this episode? Subscribe to Biz Please here on iTunes and even here on Stitcher. And you can always find us @Biz_Please on Twitter.


Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.



Topics Star Wars

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Jason Abbruzzese

Jason Abbruzzese is a Business Reporter at Mashable. He covers the media and telecom industries with a particular focus on how the Internet is changing these markets and impacting consumers. Prior to working at Mashable, Jason served as Markets Reporter and Web Producer at the Financial Times. Jason holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an M.A. in International Affairs from Australian National University.

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