This is a re-edited version of the original article written in 2023 to account for the 2024 releases that highlight further the points made.
In the world of filmmaking, screenwriting, and acting, we often talk about keeping fans happy. But what if we think about fandom in a much deeper, almost mystical way? What if the fans of a long-running franchise, the ones who keep returning year after year, aren’t just passive observers but are part of something much larger—an autonomous, energetic entity with a life of its own? In Mark Stavish’s Egregores: The Occult Entities That Watch Over Human Destiny, this idea of an egregore—a powerful collective thought form—shifts from the abstract to the very real. For filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors, this concept can help explain both the longevity and fragility of iconic franchises.
To make sense of this concept, let’s dive into what egregores are and how they shape the creative process and success of beloved franchises like Doctor Who, James Bond, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Whether you’re creating your own indie film universe or stepping into an established franchise, understanding the role of the fanbase as an egregore might just be the key to long-term success.
What Is an Egregore?
Stavish explains an egregore as a “powerful, autonomous psychic entity created by a collective group mind.” In simple terms, an egregore is born out of the beliefs, emotions, and energy of a group of people who invest in a shared idea. Over time, this thoughtform can take on a life of its own, shaping and guiding the direction of the group that created it. In the world of film and television, this “group” is the fanbase. The franchise becomes more than just a collection of stories or characters; it’s a living, breathing entity sustained by the energy of its followers.
Think about Doctor Who or Star Wars. These franchises are not only about the stories being told on screen but also about the expectations, hopes, and emotional investment of the fans. Over decades, these franchises have grown into massive egregores—shaped by their original creators but ultimately controlled by their followers. The fans become the guardians, and any deviation from the established canon feels like an assault on this shared collective entity.
The Franchise Egregore: Guardians of Canon
Take a franchise like Doctor Who, which has been on air since 1963, or Star Wars, whose universe spans over 40 years of storytelling. These are not just simple stories but entire worlds that fans have helped shape through their collective imagination and emotional investment. Every time the custodians of these franchises release new material, they’re working within the egregore’s boundaries, whether they realise it or not.
Franchises like these have a long-standing canon—a series of accepted narratives, rules, and aesthetics that define what that universe is. Over time, fans come to expect consistency with this canon. This expectation feeds the egregore, which in turn protects the integrity of the franchise. If creators deviate too much from the established egregore, as we’ve seen in recent iterations of franchises like Marvel or Doctor Who, the reaction can be swift and often brutal. The audience feels betrayed, and the collective egregore—what they perceive as the “truth” of the franchise—rejects the new material.
For example, in Star Wars, the backlash to Ahsoka and more recently The Acolyte illustrates this well. These series strayed from the tone and character arcs that the fanbase associated with the series’ egregore, resulting in division among the fans. On the other hand, The Mandalorian was heralded as a return to the original spirit of Star Wars because it honoured the core tenets of the franchise’s egregore: adventure, mysticism, and a tight moral core (and good storytelling – at least in the first season).
Breaking the Egregore: The Risks of Straying Too Far
In today’s era, where inclusivity and progressiveness are increasingly important, studios face a paradox. They want to modernise and expand their franchises to reach new audiences, but doing so risks breaking the egregore formed by the original fan base. This tension can be likened to the “irresistible force paradox”—what happens when an unstoppable force (a new creative vision) meets an immovable object (the franchise’s established egregore)?
Doctor Who, for instance, saw a similar clash when it reintroduced The Doctor as a female character. While some embraced the change, others felt that the move broke with the egregore established by decades of male Doctors. The resulting friction illustrated how deeply the egregore is intertwined with fan expectations (though the writing was blamed as the primary reason it fractured the egregore, not simply that Doctor Who was now a female doctor). In contrast, 007 faced outcry when discussions around a female James Bond emerged. The fans’ egregore surrounding James Bond is firmly rooted in a particular image: suave, male, and steeped in a certain type of British masculinity. Changing that too drastically risks alienating the fan base.
However, it’s important to note that updating a franchise isn’t inherently bad. Innovation is essential for keeping stories fresh. It’s when that innovation feels disjointed from the franchise’s established egregore that trouble brews. In the case of Star Trek: Discovery, it departed from the philosophical optimism and deep space exploration that fans held dear, instead offering a darker, more action-oriented tone. Many felt it veered too far, and its cancellation in favour of Picard (at least, season 3) and Strange New Worlds—a return to the franchise’s traditional form—reflected the importance of understanding and respecting the franchise’s egregore.
The Role of Creatives: Balancing Innovation and Tradition
For writers, directors, and actors, working within a franchise is a bit like walking a tightrope. On one side, there’s the pressure to innovate, to keep the franchise relevant in an ever-changing world. On the other, there’s the need to honour the established egregore that the fans have helped shape. So how do you find that balance?
The answer lies in what the Dao calls “the middle way”—the path that neither clings to the past nor completely abandons it. Creatives need to evolve the story and characters, but they must do so in ways that feel authentic to the franchise’s history. When Star Wars: Andor aired, it pushed the boundaries of storytelling by diving into the political intrigue and moral ambiguity of the universe. Yet, it did so without breaking the core values of the Star Wars egregore. The result was critical acclaim and fan appreciation.
But the danger remains: swing too far in the direction of novelty or “pushing boundaries,” and you risk fracturing the egregore. Marvel’s Phase 4 & 5 (notwithstanding Spider-Man and Deadpool & Wolverine) have been criticised for turning its once deeply nuanced characters into comedic caricatures, creating a rift between the established egregore and new iterations. This misalignment led to dwindling audience engagement.
The Fan Base as the Egregore’s Guardians
At the end of the day, fans are the gatekeepers of the franchise egregore. Their loyalty, expectations, and emotional investment form the bedrock of a long-running series’ success. When studios understand and respect the egregore, they create material that resonates with the audience and continues to grow the franchise – just look at Deadpool & Wolverine. When they ignore or challenge it too aggressively, they risk alienating the very people who keep the franchise alive.
For independent filmmakers, screenwriters, and actors, there is a profound lesson in this: know your audience. Understand the egregore of the worlds you create or adapt from existing materials. Innovation is necessary, but so is staying true to the foundation. As Stavish points out in his book, egregores can be both powerful and destructive, and the energy they harness can either sustain or break your creation.
The real question is: how will you nurture the egregore of your next project?