For the last few years, a particularly toxic corner of the Star Wars fanbase has called for the firing of Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. These “fans” are unhappy with the direction that the franchise has gone in under her leadership since she took the job back in 2012 following Disney‘s acquisition of Lucasfilm.
While Kennedy has made several decisions that some fans take issue with, the Star Wars franchise has absolutely flourished under her guidance, and if Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek has anything to say about it (which he does), Kennedy isn’t going to be getting fired anytime soon.
The Walt Disney Company recently held its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders where they discuss the direction of the company and its various assets. During the Q&A portion of the event, CEO Bob Chapek was asked if Disney would fire Kennedy and promote someone like Dave Filoni or Jon Favreau; both of whom had been instrumental in the Star Wars brand’s recent success behind the runaway hit streaming series The Mandalorian.
Chapek was quick to respond and didn’t waste any time solidifying Kathleen Kennedy’s position with the company for the foreseeable future:
We’ve been absolutely thrilled that we can have the kind of talent in our company, the likes of Kathy Kennedy, to run Lucasfilm. We look forward to having Kathy directing the activities of the entire Lucasfilm organization for many years to come.
While controversial in certain circles, many of Kathleen Kennedy’s decisions as president of Lucasfilm have been well received by the larger Star Wars fanbase. Many were disappointed to see the old Expanded Universe retired and made non-canon (now rebranded as “Star Wars Legends“). Kennedy has also overseen major projects like the Star Wars: Rebels and Star Wars: Resistance animated series and a revival of Star Wars: The Clone Wars; our first ever standalone A Star Wars Story spinoff films set apart from the main Skywalker Saga, Rogue One and Solo; the first ever live-action Star Wars television series, The Mandalorian; and of course the Star Wars sequel trilogy which consisted of Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Some of these projects have been better received than others, but the majority have done well to expand the popularity of the Star Wars universe and continuously grow its fanbase.
There are also plenty of new projects still in the pipeline that Kathleen Kennedy has had a hand in, with upcoming film projects like Rogue Squadron from director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) and untitled projects from directors Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok), Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), and even Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. On the television side of things, Kennedy has already greenlit multiple spinoffs of The Mandalorian including Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Rangers Of The New Republic, plus an Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series starring Ewan McGregor, and new animated series like The Bad Batch and Star Wars: Visions.
Love her or hate her, it sounds like the only leaving that Kathleen Kennedy is doing at Lucasfilm anytime soon is leaving her mark on the franchise that George Lucas built. In the words of the legendary Darth Vader- “the Force is strong with this one“.
Are you glad to hear that Kathleen Kennedy is sticking around Lucasfilm for years to come? Or were you among the camp that wanted to see her replaced sooner rather than later? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and be sure to stick around Geek Anything for more Star Wars updates!
