Kathleen Kennedy has been at the helm of Lucasfilm for 13 years, overseeing one of the most famous film franchises in history—Star Wars. When she took on the role in 2012, many expected her to lead the franchise to new heights. However, over time, fans and critics have expressed disappointment with the direction Star Wars has taken under her leadership. While some projects found success, others failed to meet expectations, leading to a divided fanbase and uncertainty about the franchise’s future.
A Promising Start That Turned Uncertain
When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, Kathleen Kennedy was chosen to lead the company. She was already a well-respected producer in Hollywood, having worked on big films like Jurassic Park and E.T.. Her experience made her seem like the perfect choice to handle a legendary franchise like Star Wars.
At first, things looked promising. In 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released, and it became a massive success. The film brought back beloved characters like Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing new ones like Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. Fans were excited, and the movie made over $2 billion at the box office.
However, the excitement did not last long. The next two films in the trilogy—The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019)—divided the fanbase. Some people loved them, but others felt that the story was not well planned. Many were disappointed with how characters were handled, and some felt that the movies did not respect the legacy of Star Wars.
A Trilogy That Lacked Direction
One of the biggest complaints about the new Star Wars trilogy is that it did not have a clear plan from the beginning. Unlike the original Star Wars films, which had a consistent storyline, the sequel trilogy seemed to change directions with each movie.
The Last Jedi, directed by Rian Johnson, took bold creative risks, but it also upset many fans. It changed important storylines and introduced new ideas that were not followed up in The Rise of Skywalker. When J.J. Abrams returned to direct The Rise of Skywalker, he tried to fix some of the controversial choices from The Last Jedi, but this made the story feel rushed and inconsistent.
Because of this, the trilogy ended without a strong conclusion. Instead of making Star Wars more exciting for a new generation, it left many fans frustrated and disappointed.
Disney+ Shows: A Mixed Response
After the film trilogy ended, Lucasfilm shifted its focus to television, producing several Star Wars series for Disney+. Shows like The Mandalorian (2019) and Andor (2022) were well-received and showed that Star Wars could still tell compelling stories. The Mandalorian, in particular, became very popular, thanks to its strong storytelling and the beloved character Grogu (also known as “Baby Yoda”).
However, not all Star Wars shows were successful. The Book of Boba Fett (2021) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) received mixed reviews, with some fans criticizing their weak storytelling and lack of excitement. Even though these shows were set in the Star Wars universe, they failed to capture the same magic as the original films.
Lucasfilm also announced many other Star Wars projects, but several of them were delayed or canceled. For example, movies that were supposed to be directed by famous filmmakers like Patty Jenkins and Rian Johnson were put on hold or scrapped completely. This created uncertainty about the future of Star Wars on the big screen.
Other Challenges and Setbacks
Beyond the movies and TV shows, Kennedy’s leadership of Lucasfilm faced other challenges. Some directors left their projects due to creative disagreements, leading to delays and changes in production.
For example, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were originally hired to direct Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), but they were fired during filming and replaced by Ron Howard. The movie ended up being a box office disappointment, making much less money than expected. This failure led Lucasfilm to stop making standalone Star Wars movies for several years.
There were also concerns about how Star Wars handled diversity and representation. Some actors, like John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran, spoke out about their negative experiences while working on the films. Boyega, who played Finn, felt that his character was pushed aside in later movies. Tran faced online harassment, which led her to leave social media. These issues raised questions about how well Lucasfilm was managing its actors and stories.
Kennedy’s Legacy: Successes and Failures
Despite the criticism, Kathleen Kennedy did achieve some successes during her time at Lucasfilm. Under her leadership, Star Wars expanded beyond just movies and became a major part of Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. Shows like The Mandalorian proved that Star Wars could still tell great stories outside of the main films.
She also helped bring more diversity to Star Wars, with more female characters and directors working on the franchise than ever before. However, her leadership was also marked by inconsistency, canceled projects, and a divided fanbase.
As Kathleen Kennedy prepares to step down, the future of Star Wars remains uncertain. Some fans hope that a new leader will bring fresh ideas and a more consistent vision for the franchise. Others worry that Star Wars may never regain the magic it once had.
