Movies

Lucasfilm Boss Kathleen Kennedy to Step Down

BBG News

Kathleen Kennedy, who has been in charge of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars series since Disney purchased it from George Lucas, is now leaving her position.

According to Puck’s reports, Kennedy has informed her friends and colleagues that she plans to step down from her position as Lucasfilm president by the end of this year. The Hollywood Reporter refers to this move as a retirement, as Kennedy will turn 72 later this summer.

Kennedy stepped into Lucasfilm just prior to its acquisition by Disney, subsequently assuming the presidency following the sale and departure of its founder. Under her guidance, “Star Wars” re-emerged as a significant force in cinemas and morphed into a continuous television series. The initial phase of Kennedy’s tenure was characterized by one triumph after another, with Disney’s first “Star Wars” film, “The Force Awakens,” remaining the highest-grossing movie in U.S. history. Many other “Star Wars” productions under her watch became financial behemoths.

In more recent times, the quality of output from this franchise has been a bit up and down. For every standout like “The Mandalorian”, there’s been a less successful one such as “Book of Boba Fett”. After “The Last Jedi” sparked much debate among fans, the franchise appeared to struggle with how to wrap up the so-called “Skywalker Saga”. Lucasfilm ultimately released “The Rise of Skywalker”, directed by J.J. Abrams, who also helmed “The Force Awakens”. This latest Star Wars film has been in cinemas now for about six years.

There have been numerous instances of backstage turmoil, accompanied by a flurry of project announcements (such as Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” and Rian Johnson’s spinoff trilogy) that ultimately failed to materialize. Additionally, there were high-profile mid-production changes; for example, the “Solo: A Star Wars Story” initially belonged to Phil Lord and Chris Miller, but they were dismissed during filming and replaced by Ron Howard. The final movie brought in less than $400 million globally—a significant drop compared to the $936 million that “The Force Awakens” earned within the U.S. alone.

As Kennedy steps down, it’s intriguing to consider how her Star Wars era might be perceived by fans in the future. George Lucas left Star Wars following a wave of criticism from dedicated fans who felt he had tarnished their childhood memories with the Prequel Trilogy. Nowadays, many fans express a preference for these films over Disney’s recent Star Wars productions. Will the current generation of fans hold Kennedy’s work in the same esteem in 15 years? Only time will reveal the answer.

In theaters, the upcoming “Star Wars” movie titled “The Mandalorian & Grogu” is set for its release on May 22, 2026.

Actors Who Were Wasted in Star Wars Roles

Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo is often featured in Robert Rodriguez’s projects. So it was no surprise when he turned up in “The Book of Boba Fett,” a series directed by Rodriguez on Disney+. However, his role was disappointingly brief; he portrayed the trainer of Boba Fett’s rancor pet for only a few minutes on screen. This is Machete we’re talking about! Isn’t it a missed opportunity not to see him engage in a showdown with Boba Fett?

Dominic Monaghan

It appears that each Disney’s “Star Wars” sequels have characters who received considerable buzz before release but ended up having minimal screen time in the final film. In the movie “The Rise of Skywalker”, this character was Beaumont Kin, portrayed by Dominic Monaghan. The character of Beaumont was touted as a brilliant codebreaker working for the Rebels, and with his casting as a key member of the “Lord of the Rings” cast and one of the original leads of the popular TV series “Lost”, it suggested to viewers that this individual would be significant. However, in “The Rise of Skywalker”, Beaumont did very little code breaking, and he didn’t do much else at all.

Dominic West

A couple of years prior to Dominic West’s leading role in the iconic series “The Wire”, he had a minor, one-scene part in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” as a security guard who allows Anakin Skywalker access to Queen Amidala’s room. He delivers a few expository lines and doesn’t even get a close-up. Dominic West seems ideal for portraying a charming, morally ambiguous smuggler in the style of Han Solo. Interestingly enough, he could potentially still take on this role. For now, his underutilized performance in “The Phantom Menace” stands as an unusual squandering of talent.

Gwendoline Christie

Fans were thrilled when actress Gwendoline Christie, known for her role in ‘Game of Thrones’, was cast as Captain Phasma, the tough Stormtrooper in a shiny armor suit, in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. However, instead of the substantial part they expected, she ended up with a minor role. Essentially, Captain Phasma’s character served to utilize an eye-catching design that was initially intended for Kylo Ren. Despite appearing in both ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’, her character failed to leave a significant impression on either film. In truth, any actor could have worn the undeniably cool armor.

Jessica Henwick

In relation to “Game of Thrones”, Jessica Henwick has made appearances both in Westeros and a distant galaxy. She’s also taken significant roles on “Iron Fist” (as Colleen Wing) and in “The Matrix Resurrections” (as Bugs, a key character from the younger cast). In “The Force Awakens”, Henwick portrayed… an X-wing pilot.

Justin Theroux

Initially, Justin Theroux accepted the role of the Master Codebreaker on the planet Canto Bight in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, expecting a significant part in that segment. However, by the time filming for Canto Bight occurred, writer/director Rian Johnson had revised the film’s plot and Theroux’s character’s role was drastically reduced. Despite this, Johnson asked if Theroux would still appear, and he agreed to make a brief appearance that turned out to be more like an Easter egg for observant fans. It’s always great to see Justin Theroux, but it’s even better when he has something meaningful to do or say in the movie.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o transitioned from winning an Oscar for her role in “12 Years a Slave” to portraying a seemingly insignificant CGI character in the “Star Wars” sequels. Over three films, Maz Kanata, played by Nyong’o, failed to utilize her remarkable talents effectively. In the initial film, she attempted to give Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber to Rey before eventually handing it over to Finn. In “The Last Jedi”, she had a brief appearance where she instructed Finn, Poe, and Rose to visit Canto Bight in search of a Master Codebreaker. In “The Rise of Skywalker”, her role primarily involved helping clarify the General Leia storyline that was developed posthumously following actress Carrie Fisher’s death. She never had a scene that sparked interest, excitement, or emotion. Regardless of what Disney paid Nyong’o for these movies, they arguably did not receive value commensurate with their investment.

Max Von Sydow

It’s quite possible you hadn’t recalled Max von Sydow’s role in The Force Awakens until now, but indeed, he was a part of the cast. He portrayed Lor San Tekka, a character whose name is surprisingly lengthy compared to his brief screen time in the movie. Lor was an old friend of Luke Skywalker and the Jedi; he provides Poe Dameron with the map leading to Luke’s location, which becomes the film’s crucial plot device. Regrettably, Lor San Tekka didn’t survive for long in the storyline. In fact, his time on screen was quite limited. RIP Lor San Tekka.

You might not have realized that Max von Sydow was in The Force Awakens, but he was – he played a character called Lor San Tekka. This name is longer than the amount of time von Sydow appeared in the film. Lor was an old friend of Luke Skywalker and the Jedi, who gave Poe Dameron a map to find Luke. Sadly, Lor didn’t last long in the movie. In fact, he died quite quickly.

Rose Byrne

By 2002, Rose Byrne had already made a name for herself as an Australian actress; in fact, she even won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in 2000 for her performance in the movie “Goddess of 1967”. However, her character in “Attack of the Clones”, where she played one of Senator Amidala’s handmaidens, might give the impression that she was a newcomer to acting. This could be true from Hollywood’s point of view. But it didn’t take long for her to demonstrate that she was far more versatile than just this role suggested.

Sung Kang

Any devotee of the Fast & Furious series can attest, Sung Kang is undeniably one of the most captivating actors globally. He possesses the talent to headline a Star Wars series or film single-handedly; his Fast & Furious character’s alias, “Han Seoul-oh,” hints at this, as it mirrors the iconic pilot of the Millennium Falcon. Sadly, Sung Kang’s Star Wars persona fell short in comparison. As the Fifth Brother, he was one of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Inquisitors, but he wasn’t even among the pivotal ones. Couldn’t we now create a standalone Star Wars story centered around “Seoul-Oh” instead?

Thandiwe Newton

In my opinion, Thandiwe Newton’s character in “Solo” had great potential that unfortunately wasn’t fully realized. As the partner of Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett, she brought life to a well-crafted character, but her role felt shallow and underdeveloped. Val’s untimely demise during an initial heist served as a plot device, driving Tobias’ actions forward, yet it felt like a wasted opportunity for the talented Newton. I couldn’t help but wonder how much more impactful her performance could have been if she had been given a meatier role within the film. Newton herself expressed disappointment with Val’s story arc, stating that she was initially intended to survive the early heist and play a more significant part in the “Star Wars” universe. Her words were particularly poignant when she said, “You don’t kill off the first Black woman to ever have a real role in a ‘Star Wars’ movie. Like, are you joking?” It’s a shame that such a talented actress was given such limited screen time in a movie as popular and influential as “Solo.

Titus Welliver

Titus Welliver is one of television’s remarkable actors, tracing his career back to hit shows such as “Deadwood,” “Lost,” and “Sons of Anarchy.” More recently, he has gained prominence for portraying the lead character on Amazon’s police series “Bosch” and its offshoot “Bosch: Legacy.” On “Star Wars,” his role was confined to a solitary appearance in an episode of “The Mandalorian,” where he played the captain of an Imperial vessel filled with Mandalorian weapons, which Bo-Katan aimed to steal. Regrettably, his character met his end at the conclusion of that episode, ruling out any possibility of future appearances. Ah well, we’ll forever cherish “Bosch.

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2025-02-25 17:54

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