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Hollywood’s Next Hit Strategy Isn’t More Sequels, It’s Smarter Nostalgia

Streaming and demand data show "LOST," "Interstellar" and "The Truman Show" rival active franchises, pointing to a major untapped strategy.

Picture this: elevated fashion wowing onlookers with immediate trend-setting appeal. A who’s who collection of star-power shining so brightly that someone should warn NASA. No, I’m not talking about the recent Academy Awards. I’m talking about May’s The Devil Wears Prada 2. The highly-anticipated legacy sequel, which is already tracking like a surefire hit, arrives 20 years after the original. But what’s even more impressive than the attractive ensembles adorning its original cast is how the film serves as a microcosm for an important trend.

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Franchise fatigue is a real threat in Hollywood, but often misdiagnosed. The Devil Wears Prada 2 exists because there is still enduring demand for the original despite two decades without any continuations. Meanwhile, a meaningful portion of audiences say they’re no more likely to watch new entries from long-running active franchises like Marvel (36 percent), Game of Thrones (49 percent), The Walking Dead (54 percent), according to Hub Entertainment Research. The audience issue isn’t with general franchises. It’s with........

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