Final Up to date on October 1, 2026 by Cliche
Former Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy is feeling “aid” after stepping away from the “Star Wars” franchise. George Lucas handpicked the longtime producer to steer the corporate after he bought it to Disney in 2012. The franchise has confronted heavy criticism throughout her tenure, particularly over the sequel trilogy, which started with 2015’s “The Drive Awakens” and ended with 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”
Kathleen Kennedy Addresses The ‘Unbelievable Problem’ She Confronted At Lucasfilm
Whereas chatting with The Hollywood Reporter at Bloomberg’s annual Screentime occasion in Los Angeles, Kathleen Kennedy was requested about how she felt after guiding Lucasfilm for the previous fourteen years.
“I suppose there’s a little bit of aid,” she stated. “These jobs are usually not simple, and entering into one thing like that that George had created was an unimaginable problem.”
She additionally pushed again on the extensively held perception that Lucas had handed her his personal concepts for the sequel trilogy. Kennedy claimed Lucas advised her, “it’s all right here,” whereas pointing to her head, prompting her to reply, “I stated, okay, nicely that’s going to be fascinating to try to mine that.” She additionally stated Lucas gave her “a few paragraphs” of story concepts, however no official remedies.
Whereas chatting with Brad Stone, the editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, she additionally addressed the “hardest” side of her job at Lucasfilm.
“Properly, I feel that that’s the problem that every one franchises [face], definitely one thing that’s been round now for 50 years. You’ve received individuals the place this implies loads to them,” she stated. “However on the identical time, the problem is to attempt to create one thing new, one thing authentic. So discovering that stability is absolutely the hardest factor.”
She additionally stated that she wanted to concentrate to followers “with out making that be a referendum.”
Kennedy went on to say she was happy with how she dealt with the relaunch of the movie franchise, beginning with 2015’s “The Drive Awakens.” This was adopted by 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” 2017’s “The Final Jedi,” 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” That grew to become the final “Star Wars” movie to hit theaters till the discharge of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in Might 2026.
Kennedy stated she was additionally proudest of the discharge of “Andor” and “The Mandalorian,” two of essentially the most profitable Disney+ sequence launched throughout her tenure. Nevertheless, she didn’t get particular about any reveals, like “The Acolyte” or “The E book of Boba Fett,” that she may need regretted.
“I imply, I don’t suppose you are able to do something when it comes to the film enterprise the place each single factor goes to be an ideal hit,” she stated as a substitute. “I feel you be taught issues, I at all times like studying issues from the flicks that we do, the postmortems we do on what labored, what didn‘t. However I’m at all times pleased with the work that’s been executed.”
Kennedy Briefly Addressed The Turmoil Behind ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
In 2017, Kennedy eliminated Phil Lord and Chris Miller from “Solo: A Star Wars Story” over inventive variations. Ron Howard was later introduced in to wash up the movie earlier than its 2018 launch. When requested what that state of affairs was like, Kennedy replied, “Properly, that actually solely occurred as soon as, thank god.”
Nevertheless, she additionally sidelined director Gareth Edwards when it got here time to complete 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Tony Gilroy, who later labored on each seasons of “Andor,” was introduced in to complete the challenge.
“I wasn’t required to do this. There are a lot of difficult conditions that develop that definitely attain some extent the place it’s a must to make a tough choice like that,” Kennedy stated. “Actually, my observe report reveals that I’ve labored with a number of completely different administrators, I’ve made many varieties of flicks, and I’ve by no means been in a state of affairs like that.”
Kathleen Kennedy Nonetheless Feels This Is What George Wished
When Disney purchased the corporate for $4.05 billion in 2012, nobody may have predicted how poorly the sequel trilogy can be obtained. Nevertheless, Kennedy maintained that that is what Lucas wished.
“I feel Star Wars was an ideal acquisition for Disney, and it’s what George wished,” she stated. “There was no different firm he wished to promote the franchise to aside from Disney.”
Since she stepped down, longtime “Star Wars” chief inventive officer Dave Filoni and government Lynwen Brennan have taken over Kennedy’s function. Nevertheless, she remains to be producing “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is scheduled for launch in Might 2027.
The Kathleen Kennedy Insists Promoting ‘Star Wars’ to Disney Is ‘What George Lucas Wished’ first appeared on The Blast
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