Why no "Episode VII"..?

In the new starwars.com press release, they just refered to episode IV as Star Wars: A New Hope.
I think that kind of confirms that Star Wars: (Insert title) is the new format they are adopting.

 

As long as it is in the crawl and on the box I am happy.

 

I've seen official websites do that with all titles. It just sounds.... weird to me. I prefer either just the title or SW:Episode_:Title

 

I've said I'd be okay with it before, but I'm liking the idea even more. I would love if they dropped the episode number, and just used the title. I suppose (for continuity, if nothing else) as long as they still number the episode in the crawl I'd be perfectly happy with it.

 

Further proof that they're moving toward a uniform Star Wars: Title for all of the movies: in today's Star Wars Weekends guests announcement, that's how they formatted all of the films.

 

If that's the case, why even bother writing "Star Wars" and just the title when it's obviously referring to the franchise? If they're not using Episode number to distinguish which Episode they're talking about, then the title is enough. No need to remind us seven times what series it is

 

Yeah.It really looks off the way they present it now .
Star Wars :Episode ... Title is still the best in my opinion.
It's one saga .(That's why I refer to the PT as EI-III and OT,CT,T(how many names can it have ?!) as EIV-VI so that it doesn't separate the trilogies/saga that much .

 

Wouldn't the same logic apply if they were still including the episode numbers? The old style of Star Wars Episode # - Subtitle did the same thing. Of course we don't need to be reminded what franchise this is, but casual "fans" or the general public may not know that Attack of the Clones is a Star Wars film. Those are the demographics they're targeting when marketing this stuff, not us. We're already bought in.

 

Difference being the website you linked to is starwars.com

I think if you're on a site called "starwars" with the SW logo everywhere, I don't exactly think it's necessary if they won't include the ep number

 

Right, but they've always done that. In last year's Star Wars Weekends announcement, it was Star Wars: Episode Number Subtitle for each. No one had an issue with the title formatting then. It makes total sense from a marketing perspective to have one consistent way to format the titles of your films, whether it's on your official site or anywhere else.

 

Hm, true.

I don't know why, but the format comes across as pretentious to me. It's probably just my opinion though

 

Right now, you can get free Star Wars posters in Honey Nut cheerios!!!! (and some others)
they are the Drew Struzan posters.
However, probably to make things constistant, they removed the original titles and replaced it with
Star
Wars
(subtitle)

 

I disagree with that decision if that is indeed the way they go, the episode numbers IMO are something that really only belonged to Star Wars and helped to differentiate it from other franchises.

 

I don't think just the use of the word "Episode" is enough to make this something that only belongs to Star Wars and differentiates it.

 

Well I like the use of it as it is only a part of a larger saga.
It is basically a long film/journey divided into Episodes.

 

I do

 

The most recent digital release of the Star Wars saga seemed to have dropped the numbers from most of the write ups / download links I can see. Just "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace", "Star Wars: The Empire Stirkes Back", etc. etc.

 

Star Wars Episode.......... was only introduced for the prequels and personally I see no need to carry on with using the episode number in the title. Its too wordy. I'm pleased to see they've gone back to the OT way of titling them, although even back then the title Star Wars was always in smaller print. As long as the episode number is in the opening crawl (which I assume it will be) then thats perfectly adequate I think.

 

It's Episode VII in every sense but marketing - they even list it as such on the Star Wars website and in the URL (http://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-vii-the-force-awakens). I doubt very much that it has anything to do with what Disney think of previous films in the saga or anything else; it's simply a marketing decision.

 

• I kind of like it for one reason : If the movie doesn't fit within the established saga or it doesn't feel like Star Wars , the lack of title (even when it is on the opening crawl and on some sites ) will help to separate it from the saga.

 

I think you are on to something there. If I see a movie title with a high number, I associate it with crap movie series. And obviously Disney doesn't want us to think we're going to see a crap movie.

 

I think part of dropping the number might be in case they do movies that predate The Phantom Menace in the timeline (*cough* KOTOR *cough*). If that is the long-term reason why they are doing it then I am completely on-board, as long as the main Episodes still get the number in the opening crawls. Also, this new method could be used to make spin-offs taking place in between existing films fit in more naturally as well - plus it would help to avoid making the spin-off titles feel a bit "less important" than the ones with episode numbers in them.

 

I think they're having a bob each way. By dropping the episode numbers they're de-emphasising the overarching saga idea, but they're not doing so to the extent that they'll drop the SW title all together. Personally I like just the title best.

 

Like I already said, as long as it is in the craw and on the box I am good. With that said though, with having standalone movies coming out between proper saga movies that could cause confusion with people not as familiar as us. Obviously Disney does not feel it is important enough to worry about, but it is a potential problem.

 

True that! But too bad they have even removed episodes numbers on iTunes in the digital edition of old episodes

I am still hoping to see EPISODE VII in the crawl!