The Indian Express: When Disney bought Lucasfilm for more than $4 billion in 2012, there were lofty expectations of reviving Star Wars in spectacular hyper-speed fashion with a new trilogy that continued the story of Luke Skywalker and other beloved characters.The space saga has been a smart investment, starting with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which in 2015 became the fastest movie to reach $1 billion. Despite the financial success, there’s been a dark side fierce criticism of the new trilogy amplified by social media.

Some fans have attacked the story lines, which have shifted away from Skywalker toward a new generation of characters. The new films are more inclusive and feature a diverse cast and a focus on a female protagonist, Daisy Ridley’s Rey, leading to volleys of racist and sexist remarks directed at the franchise’s newest stars.

With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opening in theaters Dec. 20, director J.J. Abrams expects more backlash. Especially since the new film — which he calls the “aftermath of Luke Skywalker and his sister Princess Leia” — is the final installment of a nine-part movie series that began 42 years ago.