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 enable “Star Wars” to develop in a brand new route following the lackluster reception to the sequel trilogy.

Nevertheless, 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 go away.

This 12 months, 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 probably title her successor, which is broadly anticipated to be both Jon Favreau or Dave Filoni.

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

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

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

It is unclear why Trevorrow left the venture. Some say it’s because of the chilly reception of Trevorrow’s “The E book of Henry,” whereas Kennedy mentioned that he left the venture resulting from “inventive variations.” Followers all know what occurred right here: Abrams was introduced in on the final minute, and so they 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 thought.

“Colin was at an enormous drawback not having been part of ‘Power 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 determination as as to if or not we thought we might get there within the time or not. And as I mentioned, Colin was at an obstacle as a result of he hadn’t been immersed in every little thing 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 course of “Solo” and Ron Howard was chosen to take over. Nevertheless, 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 underneath 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 venture 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 related setbacks when showrunner Stephen Schiff was let go. Tony Gilroy took over the venture, however later required Toby Haynes to step in resulting from COVID-19 restrictions current on the time.

There are a whole lot of films which have been introduced, solely to seemingly disappear. There was an untitled Boba Fett movie that was speculated 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, nevertheless it’s doubtless they’ve already walked away from the venture. Rian Johnson was additionally speculated to create a trilogy for the “Star Wars” franchise, nevertheless 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 speculated to be making a “Star Wars” movie. Though it was introduced in 2020, he has admitted through the years that he still hasn’t created a script and the WGA author’s strike didn’t assist issues.

It’s onerous 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 transferring 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 Power. After the information was first introduced at Star Wars Celebration, Mangold advised Varietythat he envisioned a Biblical epic for the movie, related to people who have been well-liked in Hollywood within the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties.

“Once I first talked to Kathy Kennedy about it, I mentioned, ‘I simply see this opening to make type of a ‘Ben-Hur’ or ‘Ten Commandments’ concerning the delivery of the Power,’” Mangold defined. “The Power has turn out to be a type of non secular legend that spans by 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 identical 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 up to now, the venture has confronted quite a few setbacks.

“Misplaced” creator Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson have been initially hooked up to the venture however have been let go. “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight was the subsequent to be employed and fired from the venture. In January 2025, George Nolfi grew to become the brand new author in control of the venture; nevertheless, 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 triggered some controversy, she has received two Academy Awards for her work and will present a singular 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 effective factor. There have been too many bulletins about new tasks which have by no means come to fruition. There have been a handful of wins, particularly “The Unhealthy Batch,” “Star Wars: Visions,” and “Skeleton Crew,” nevertheless it’s onerous to say how a lot involvement Kennedy had in any of the animated sequence.

Proper now, DC Studios goes by a serious overhaul and Lucasfilm must do the identical. There’s a gold mine of tales which have but to be advised earlier than the Skywalker Saga that followers are nonetheless interested by listening to. Though followers are curious to see the destiny of the galaxy after the Skywalker Saga, it appears dangerous to go there with no 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 approach, and lots of followers don’t wish to be let down by watching the sequel trilogy characters undergo the identical destiny.

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