Written by Edwin Francisco and Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Disney extended Kathleen Kennedy‘s contract as Lucasfilm president, confirming Geekosity‘s scoop from last summer.
Geekosity Editor-in-Chief Mikey Sutton scooped Kathleen Kennedy’s renewal on August 23, 2021.
According to a new report, Kathleen Kennedy stays until 2024.
The news may come as a surprise to some people.
After all, there has been little news about her.
Moreover, Lucasfilm blasted Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron into Alderaan smithereens.
Conspiracy theories exploded that Disney removed Kathleen Kennedy’s Star Wars movies.
Disney Plus Day pushed aside Lucasfilm.
There were only a few announcements like The Book of Boba Fett, concept art for Obi-Wan and Willow.
There was barely any mention of the other programs they are working on like Andor, Ahsoka, and The Acolyte.
Disney Plus Day put more emphasis on Marvel Studios.
Consequently, because Disney Plus Day was short on Star Wars, the bogus rumor circulated again.
Which one?
Detractors claimed Kathleen Kennedy’s days were numbered.
Obviously not.
Unless, of course, you count 775 days until 2024.
While it may be true that Lucasfilm shelved Rogue Squadron, Disney didn’t take it away from her.
Scoop Confirmed: Kathleen Kennedy Extended At Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm parted ways with Jenkins over “creative differences.”
Is that a shock? Similarly, creative differences caused Jenkins’ departure from Thor: The Dark World.
Moreover, Rian Johnson was supposed to make another trilogy of films.
They were recently shelved because of “creative differences.”
In Johnson’s case, Disney suffered heartburn from his Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
It wasn’t pretty.
Indeed, The Last Jedi polarized fans and audiences.
A vocal portion violently despised it.
Thus, The Last Jedi began Star Wars‘ downward journey into box-office weak sauce.
The Last Jedi weakened Solo: A Star Wars Story the following year.
By 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a number of fans were disappointed with the last trilogy of films that starred Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and John Boyega.
Nevertheless, Disney Plus’ The Mandalorian changed the narrative.
The gritty Star Wars TV series brought pulpy adventure back into the franchise.
Internally, Disney praised Kathleen Kennedy for its mammoth success.
The Mandalorian has had two acclaimed seasons. A spin-off, The Book of Boba Fett, comes this December 29.
Thus, she’s staying.
Scoop Confirmed: Kathleen Kennedy Extended At Lucasfilm
Image: Getty Images
Edward Lauder at Small Screen had intel from a source that reported to him Kathleen Kennedy will be at Lucasfilm for the “forseeable future.”
In other words, Lauder’s source explained that:
It seems as though the ball’s very much in Kennedy’s court regarding how long she stays as Lucasfilm’s president.
To some, Star Wars is doomed.
Then again, they shouldn’t have felt so cocky that Kathleen Kennedy was finished.
To others, this was inevitable.
Regardless of what people think of Kathleen Kennedy, she delivers profits for Lucasfilm.
Beyond that, Kathleen Kennedy has had an amazing career as a producer since 1984.
She quickly rose from an associate to Steven Spielberg in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
To producing such films like Gremlins (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), The Sixth Sense (1999), and more.
George Lucas handpicked Kathleen Kennedy for Lucasfilm after Disney bought the company in 2012.
Related: New Lucasfilm Games Division Set To Take On Game Industry With Veteran Studios
