Kathleen Kennedy’s Retirement Can Put ‘Star Wars’ On The Proper 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.

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 path following her depart.

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 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 potential 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 on account of 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 combined critiques, whereas Colin Trevorrow was imagined 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 on account of “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 nasty thought.

“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 defined. “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 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 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 fully 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 finances changing into greater than double what had been anticipated.

And that’s simply when it comes to 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 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 on account of COVID-19 restrictions current on the time.

There are a variety 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.

“Sport of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss additionally introduced plans to create an untitled “Star Wars” movie collection, but it surely’s doubtless they’ve already walked away from the mission. Rian Johnson was additionally imagined to create a trilogy for the “Star Wars” franchise, but it surely appears 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 nonetheless 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 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 informed Selectionthat he envisioned a Biblical epic for the movie, comparable to people who have been standard in Hollywood within the Nineteen Forties and Fifties.

“Once I first talked to Kathy Kennedy about it, I stated, ‘I simply see this opening to make form of a ‘Ben-Hur’ or ‘Ten Commandments’ in regards to the beginning of the Drive,’” Mangold defined. “The Drive has change into a form of spiritual legend that spans via 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 to this point, 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 grew to become the brand new author in control of the mission; 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 understood 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 should present a novel spin on a galaxy far, distant.

It might 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 exhausting to say how a lot involvement Kennedy had in any of the animated collection.

Proper now, DC Studios goes via 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 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 and not using a set plan in place.

Kathleen Kennedy shouldn’t be the particular person 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 plenty 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 exhausting in regards to the previous failures of the franchise and what they will be taught from them. Solely then can they resolve who would be the greatest particular person to form the “Star Wars” canon: each its previous and its future. As Qui-Gon Jinn stated, “When you realize why you aren’t prepared, you can be prepared.”