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 path 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 path following her go away.

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 probably identify her successor, which is extensively anticipated to be both Jon Favreau or Dave Filoni.

Puckwas the primary to announce the information of her attainable retirement on Monday evening; nevertheless, 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, nevertheless, many really feel that her selections have solely spelled catastrophe for the franchise.

Even earlier than “The Drive Awakens” hit theaters, there was already bother brewing, partially attributable to 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 opinions, whereas Colin Trevorrow was imagined 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 stated that he left the venture attributable to “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 completely 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 normal sense of the place the story was going,” she explained. “We had been on a schedule, as we frequently are with these films, and needed to make a troublesome determination as as to whether or not we thought we might 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 the whole lot 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 had been fired mid-production in the midst 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 when it comes to films. The Disney+ exhibits have come below fireplace currently, with “The Acolyte” dealing with 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 attributable to COVID-19 restrictions current on the time.

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

“Recreation of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss additionally announced plans to create an untitled “Star Wars” movie collection, but it surely’s probably they’ve already walked away from the venture. Rian Johnson was additionally imagined to create a trilogy for the “Star Wars” franchise, but it surely seems like that has been shelved in favor of his “Knives Out” franchise.

Along with the on-again-off-again “Rogue Squadron” collection, Taika Waititi was imagined 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 arduous to say with any actual certainty what “Star Wars” film will come out subsequent, however “The Mandalorian and Grogu” appears to be a stable 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 based mostly on the origin story of the Drive. After the information was first introduced at Star Wars Celebration, Mangold advised Varietythat he envisioned a Biblical epic for the movie, related to those who had been standard in Hollywood within the Forties and Fifties.

“After 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 start of the Drive,’” Mangold defined. “The Drive has develop into a type of non secular legend that spans by way 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 might happen after the sequel trilogy. Though Rey is the one sequel character confirmed to return thus far, the venture has confronted quite a few setbacks.

“Misplaced” creator Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson had been initially connected to the venture however had 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 can be changed by but another person.

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

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,” but it surely’s arduous to say how a lot involvement Kennedy had in any of the animated collection.

Proper now, DC Studios goes by way of 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 taken with 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 means, and lots of followers don’t need to be let down by watching the sequel trilogy characters undergo the identical destiny.

The powers-that-be really want to assume lengthy and arduous in regards to the previous failures of the franchise and what they will study from them. Solely then can they determine 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 recognize why you aren’t prepared, you may be prepared.”