Star Wars Boss Kathleen Kennedy Next To Be Fired?
A new unconfirmed report claims Kathleen Kennedy is on her way out as president of Lucasfilm.
Earlier this week it was announced that the Walt Disney Company’s former CEO, Bob Iger, has made his return to the company as Chief Creative Officer. He was the driving force in acquiring many notable Disney-owned intellectual properties, including Lucasfilm. Now there are unconfirmed reports the job of Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is in danger.
The Direct reports that there are rumors that Disney plans to relieve Kathleen Kennedy of her position. For 10 years, Kennedy has presided over the brand and has vastly expanded the projects being developed for Star Wars, as well as the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 and Willow series.
But there has also been the closure of LucasArts and rumors of hectic productions for several Star Wars projects, including Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker. Not to mention the box office returns for Solo were less than desirable.
For years there have been stories circulating that Kathleen Kennedy’s time with George Lucas’ old studio is numbered, and a new development may see her departure sooner than later.
Bob Iger and Kathleen Kennedy have never been pals, so it remains to be seen how things will work with the pair of them working together again. Iger will surely put the Lucasfilm issues at the forefront of his to-do list.
In 2019, Kathleen Kennedy remarked in an interview with LA Times that future Star Wars films will move away from the trilogy structuring as it can be restricting. Iger countered this in an interview with Variety, where he remarked, “I don’t know about that,” and went on to say that he and Kennedy talked about trilogies being difficult. Still, he didn’t appear to count them out completely.
Iger also talked about listening to and respecting the views of Star Wars fans, while still being careful not to overreact to their responses, especially those of the more hostile Internet trolls.
Youtuber John Campea says he has sources that have informed him that the move to remove Kathleen Kennedy has already been decided. Campea has contradicted other reports that Iger is a fan of Kennedy, and she will at least remain through her current contract that ends in 2025. He has always thought Iger and Kennedy get on well, and his return would secure her position.
He went on to say two separate sources have notified him that his speculations are inaccurate and Kennedy could be out in the upcoming year.
If the rumors are true and Kathleen Kennedy does get pushed out, Lucasfilm could see a new president assigned in 2023, and that person will oversee the numerous projects rumored to be in development.
Lucasfilm’s next major theatrical release will come on June 30, 2023, with the premiere of Indiana Jones 5, starring Harrison Ford. The movie will use de-aging CGI technology to alter Harrison’s appearance in the film in the opening sequence.
Only time will tell the fate of Lucasfilm and its current president Kathleen Kennedy.
