Kathleen Kennedy’s Retirement Can Put ‘Star Wars’ On The Right Path

Again in 2021, many thought that Kathleen Kennedy would step down from Lucasfilm, which might permit “Star Wars” to develop in a brand new route following the lackluster reception to the sequel trilogy.

Nonetheless, her contract was quietly renewed, and no different “Star Wars” films have been proven in theaters since that point. A number of films are within the works, however with frequent delays and fixed behind-the-scenes adjustments, many are hoping that “Star Wars” will transfer in a brand new route following her depart.

This yr, the Star Wars Celebration occasion will happen in Tokyo in April. It’s anticipated that Kennedy will formally announce her retirement on the occasion and presumably identify her successor, which is broadly anticipated to be both Jon Favreau or Dave Filoni.

Puckwas the primary to announce the information of her doable retirement on Monday night time; nonetheless, Lucasfilm and Kennedy have but to answer to The Blast’s requests for feedback.

George Lucas himself had really picked Kennedy to helm Lucasfilm when Disney purchased out his studio within the 2012 acquisition, nonetheless, many really feel that her choices have solely spelled catastrophe for the franchise.

Even earlier than “The Drive Awakens” hit theaters, there was already hassle brewing, partly attributable to an alleged dispute between screenwriter Michael Arndt and J.J. Abrams, which led to Arndt being faraway from the mission. Rian Johnson took maintain of “The Final Jedi” to very blended critiques, whereas Colin Trevorrow was alleged to have written and directed “The Rise of Skywalker.”

It is unclear why Trevorrow left the mission. Some say it’s as a result of chilly reception of Trevorrow’s “The E-book of Henry,” whereas Kennedy stated that he left the mission attributable to “inventive variations.” Followers all know what occurred right here: Abrams was introduced in on the final minute, they usually rushed to finish the movie in eighteen months. At one level, Kennedy even admitted that bringing in three totally different administrators to create a unifying trilogy was a foul concept.

“Colin was at an enormous drawback not having been part of ‘Drive Awakens’ and in a part of these early conversations as a result of we had a common sense of the place the story was going,” she explained. “We have been on a schedule, as we frequently are with these films, and needed to make a tricky choice as as to whether or not we thought we may get there within the time or not. And as I stated, Colin was at a drawback as a result of he hadn’t been immersed in every part that all of us had beginning out with Episode VII.”

Throughout the filming of “Rogue One,” director Gareth Edwards was faraway from the manufacturing and changed by Tony Gilroy, who utterly reshot the movie’s third act.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller have been fired mid-production in the midst of “Solo” and Ron Howard was chosen to take over. Nonetheless, he needed to re-shoot over half the movie, which resulted within the budget becoming more than double what had been anticipated.

And that’s simply by way of films. The Disney+ reveals have come below fireplace currently, with “The Acolyte” going through essentially the most vocal backlash. The Ewan McGregor-led “Kenobi” was seen positively by followers, however even that mission was initially slated to be a trilogy and confronted turmoil behind the scenes after screenwriter Hosein Amini was fired and Joby Harold needed to take over.

“Andor” additionally confronted comparable setbacks when showrunner Stephen Schiff was let go. Tony Gilroy took over the mission, however later required Toby Haynes to step in attributable to COVID-19 restrictions current on the time.

There are quite a lot of films which were introduced, solely to seemingly disappear. There was an untitled Boba Fett movie that was alleged to be directed by Josh Trank, though it appears to have disappeared in favor of the lackluster “The E-book of Boba Fett” Disney+ sequence.

“Recreation of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss additionally announced plans to create an untitled “Star Wars” movie sequence, however it’s possible they’ve already walked away from the mission. Rian Johnson was additionally alleged to create a trilogy for the “Star Wars” franchise, however it appears to be like like that has been shelved in favor of his “Knives Out” franchise.

Along with the on-again-off-again “Rogue Squadron” sequence, Taika Waititi was alleged to be making a “Star Wars” movie. Though it was introduced in 2020, he has admitted over time that he still hasn’t created a script and the WGA author’s strike didn’t assist issues.

It’s exhausting to say with any actual certainty what “Star Wars” film will come out subsequent, however “The Mandalorian and Grogu” appears to be a strong wager for a launch in 2026. Shawn Levy’s film additionally appears to be shifting alongside easily, with “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling reportedly in talks to star.

In 2023, throughout Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy additionally revealed that “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future” filmmaker James Mangold was creating a movie primarily based on the origin story of the Drive. After the information was first introduced at Star Wars Celebration, Mangold informed Varietythat he envisioned a Biblical epic for the movie, comparable to those who have been well-liked in Hollywood within the Forties and Nineteen Fifties.

“Once I first talked to Kathy Kennedy about it, I stated, ‘I simply see this opening to make type of a ‘Ben-Hur’ or ‘Ten Commandments’ in regards to the beginning of the Drive,’” Mangold defined. “The Drive has grow to be a type of spiritual legend that spans by means of all these films. However the place did it come from? How was it discovered? Who discovered it? Who was the primary Jedi? That’s what I’m writing proper now.”

On the similar time, Daisy Ridley was introduced to be returning as Rey for an untitled “Star Wars” film that will happen after the sequel trilogy. Though Rey is the one sequel character confirmed to return thus far, the mission has confronted quite a few setbacks.

“Misplaced” creator Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson have been initially connected to the mission however have been let go. “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight was the following to be employed and fired from the mission. In January 2025, George Nolfi turned the brand new author accountable for the mission; nonetheless, it stays to be seen if the “Ocean’s Twelve” scribe will probably be changed by but another person.

There have additionally been questions on Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a Canadian-Pakistani journalist who is thought for her work in journalism and political activism. Though her involvement has brought about some controversy, she has received two Academy Awards for her work and will present a novel spin on a galaxy far, far-off.

It could have taken some time to get right here, however that is all to say that Kathleen Kennedy’s retirement is an efficient factor. There have been too many bulletins about new initiatives which have by no means come to fruition. There have been a handful of wins, specifically “The Dangerous Batch,” “Star Wars: Visions,” and “Skeleton Crew,” however it’s exhausting to say how a lot involvement Kennedy had in any of the animated sequence.

Proper now, DC Studios goes by means of a serious overhaul and Lucasfilm must do the identical. There’s a gold mine of tales which have but to be informed earlier than the Skywalker Saga that followers are nonetheless curious about listening to. Though followers are curious to see the destiny of the galaxy after the Skywalker Saga, it appears dangerous to go there with out a set plan in place.

Kathleen Kennedy isn’t the individual to make such a plan for the destiny of the galaxy, particularly contemplating how badly the sequel trilogy was dealt with. It wasted the potential of getting the legacy characters return in a significant manner, and lots of followers don’t need to be let down by watching the sequel trilogy characters endure the identical destiny.

The powers-that-be actually need to suppose lengthy and exhausting in regards to the previous failures of the franchise and what they will study from them. Solely then can they resolve who would be the finest individual to form the “Star Wars” canon: each its previous and its future. As Qui-Gon Jinn stated, “When you already know why you aren’t prepared, you may be prepared.”