"In 2012, Disney purchased production studio Lucasfilm, which meant it also inherited the beloved Star Wars franchise. This corporate marriage sent media critics and fans into a frenzy of speculation about the future of the hugely popular series. Disney's Star Wars: Forces of Production, Promotion, and Reception gathers twenty-one renowned and emerging fan and media studies scholars from around the world to examine Disney's revival of the immensely popular Star Wars franchise, which George Lucas had famously declared "over" after fans lambasted his prequel trilogy (1999-2005). Covering the period from Disney's purchase through the release of The Force Awakens in December 2015, these essays examine the significance of this transitional period from the intertwined perspectives of the studios, storytellers, marketers and audiences involved. For many, Star Wars is a vitally important cultural text. How did these fans anticipate, interpret, and respond to the steady stream of production stories, gossip, marketing materials, merchandise, and other sources in the build-up to the movie's release?"--.