Controversial Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Stepping Down – What Does This Mean for the Future of ‘Star Wars’?
When George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, Kathleen Kennedy took over the company as president of Lucasfilm. She guided the line of Disney “Star Wars” movies and TV shows in the time since, including the highly controversial sequel trilogy. Now, after nearly fourteen years, Kennedy is stepping down from Lucasfilm. What does this mean for the future of “Star Wars” and other Lucasfilm franchises?
Kathleen Kennedy’s Legacy at Lucasfilm
Kennedy has an impressive history as a film producer, working with such directors as Steven Spielberg, M. Night Shyamalan, and, of course, George Lucas. In 2012, Lucas sold Lucasfilm and all its properties to Disney, and Kennedy became president of the company. Under her leadership, Disney released five “Star Wars” films, an “Indiana Jones” film, and a number of “Star Wars” TV series, most of which went to Disney+.
She became a controversial figure among the “Star Wars” fanbase due to the increasingly negative reception that the sequel trilogy received. Many fans complained about how the sequels treated the original trilogy characters, especially Luke Skywalker, and the trilogy’s clumsy storytelling made for a less-than-satisfying overall experience. “The Force Awakens” felt like a retread of “A New Hope,” “The Last Jedi” seemed more focused on subversion than storytelling, and “The Rise of Skywalker” desperately tried to pick up the pieces of both movies.
Despite this, the sequel trilogy was financially successful, with “The Force Awakens” grossing over $2 billion worldwide. On streaming, “Star Wars” shows have garnered a mixed reputation. “The Mandalorian” Seasons 1 and 2 and “Andor” were well received, but most of the other shows got a lukewarm reception, with fans especially panning “The Acolyte” and Season 3 of “The Mandalorian.” As such, Kennedy’s reputation as president has not been positive with the fans.
Kennedy’s Departure from Lucasfilm
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Kennedy said in a statement that “It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”
Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s executive VP and chief creative officer, will be stepping up as president and chief creative officer. Filoni is best known for his work on “Star Wars” TV shows such as “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “The Mandalorian.” Lynwen Brennan, the president and general manager of the Lucasfilm business, will be promoted to co-president to handle business matters at Lucasfilm.
So, what will Lucasfilm look at under Filoni’s leadership? Since “The Mandalorian” is already getting a feature film this year with “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” perhaps there will be more merging of the “Star Wars” film and TV worlds in the future. In addition, Disney seems to be distancing itself from the sequel trilogy in recent years. Kennedy’s departure could mean the cancellation of “New Jedi Order,” the Rey Skywalker movie that already has a dubious future, given how long it has been in development with little news.
Where Does the Sequel Trilogy Fit with the Future?
While it is currently popular to hate the sequel trilogy in the “Star Wars” fanbase, people need to remember how a fanbase’s attitude can change as younger fans get older. The fanbase eventually grew to appreciate the initially controversial prequel trilogy as fans who grew up with the prequel trilogy got older. Before Lucas’s departure, certain fans used to detest him, but now the fanbase is nostalgic for the days when Lucas was in charge. Perhaps someday, the fanbase will be nostalgic for the days of Kennedy’s leadership.
