A shocking survey in the U.K. – which would undoubtedly be replicated in the U.S. – reveals the greatest problem facing Star Wars. Anyone who wants to make a movie has to ask one simple question: Who I am making this for? It sounds like such a basic question, but it’s important if your movie is going to be a success.

Over in the U.K., pollster YouGove has conducted a survey of Britons asking which “kidult” hobbies are most childish. The results for Star Wars are pretty fascinating.

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According to YouGov, 54% believe Star Wars is equally for children and adults – and 26% think the franchise is mostly (or entirely) for adults. George Lucas, in particular, would be appalled.

George Lucas Believed Star Wars Is For Children

George Lucas always insisted Star Wars is a kids’ movie. Responding to criticisms of the prequels, he hand-waved them away in evident frustration:

Everybody said the same thing about 3P0, that he was irritating and we should get rid of him. When I did the third one it was the Ewoks: ‘Those are little teddy bears. This is a kid’s movie, we don’t want to see a kids’ movie.’ I said: ‘It is a kids’ movie. It’s always been a kids’ movie.’

The very fact Lucas made these comments – and even implies these are common criticisms – suggests Star Wars has always had something of an idenтιтy crisis. Star Wars movies have always been kids’ movies that adults wanted to watch, and these adults have frequently tried to insist it belongs to them – not to children.

Lucas, for his part, was always unflinching in his belief that Star Wars is for kids. Incredibly, even after all the controversies, he even insists Jar Jar Binks is his favorite Star Wars character.

Why Disney Star Wars Has Forgotten It’s Aimed At Children

But how have we gotten to a position where pollsters are showing the public believing this franchise is for adults? And, let’s be clear, this isn’t just a British problem; I have absolutely no doubt that the YouGov results would be replicated in the U.S. too.

The problems began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, where Disney was desperate to avoid the kind of backlash seen with the prequels. Lucasfilm played the nostalgia card, focusing particularly on replicating both the aesthetic and even the narrative of the original trilogy. The audience had changed to OT fans.

Disney’s Star Wars has gradually matured. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a step along this path, but it’s been most notable in Star Wars‘ best TV show, Tony Gilroy’s Andor. Meanwhile, we’ve seen an increasing push for R-rated Star Wars, with some YouTubers vocally hoping for Darth Vader stories in particular.

There’s Nothing Wrong With Star Wars Becoming More Diverse

Now, let’s be clear; there’s nothing wrong with Star Wars stories that are aimed at adults; Andor season 2 literally tops our ranking of Star Wars TV shows. The problem, though, comes when the franchise as a whole is seen as more for adults than for kids. That’s when something has been lost, neglected and forgotten.

Third-party data from companies like Parrot Analytics illustrates the problem; so few Disney Star Wars stories have seemed to appeal to Generation Z.

There have been positive signs of movement in the right direction. Jon Watts and Christopher Ford’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew was absolutely delightful in its child-friendly approach, and it felt like something Lucas himself would have loved. But a single show is hardly enough to change the reputation of a mᴀssive franchise.

Star Wars: Starfighter Is Just What Star Wars Needs

This, in part, is what makes Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter so exciting. Starring Ryan Gosling, Starfighter is something fresh and new; it’s an original story, featuring an all-star cast who are Gen Z-friendly. The story appears to center on Flynn Gray’s mysterious young character, even featured in the first official image.

Here’s the simple fact that older Star Wars fans tend to forget; if the franchise is to have a future, it must reach the next generation. It must establish itself as a child-friendly franchise once again, drawing in the audience that has been neglected. Starfighter is just what Star Wars needs, a promise for the franchise’s future.

I can’t help feeling that Starfighter looks set to be the kind of movie George Lucas himself would have made – one aimed at children, with a need for speed, a young star, and a Gen Z appeal. With Starfighter, Star Wars is returning to its roots – and that’s the way it should be.