Star Wars Future Unveiled: Exciting Changes Fans Have Been Waiting For!
Kathleen Kennedy, head of Lucasfilm, revealed her plans for the future of Star Wars, which should bring excitement to fans who have been critical of the franchise’s recent productions. Since 2012, Kennedy has held the position of president at the prestigious film studio, guiding its Star Wars projects under the Disney corporation. However, in more recent times, she, along with the broader Star Wars universe, has faced criticism from some fans due to concerns about insufficient movie releases, a focus on creating sagas over standalone stories, and overall quality issues.
Kathleen Kennedy, head of Lucasfilm, recently shared some intriguing news about the future of Star Wars, which should delight fans who have had reservations about the brand’s more contemporary productions. This announcement arrives as the series is poised to embark on a new chapter, with the upcoming theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, along with a diverse lineup of original films spanning different eras within the Star Wars universe.
In a recent interview with Variety, Kennedy discussed plans for a public screening of George Lucas’ original cut of Star Wars, a version that hasn’t been shown publicly in over 30 years. During this conversation, she shared her vision for the popular sci-fi series in the near future, emphasizing a focus on individual, standalone stories.
The Lucasfilm head proposed that the current situation has expanded the range of filmmakers we can invite. He also mentioned that the studio is focusing on telling stories that have personal significance to them, whether these stories tie into existing franchise elements or not.
Now, we find ourselves at a point where we can expand the range of narratives and filmmakers whose perspectives we can share, allowing them to tell meaningful stories that resonate with them. It’s not essential for these new stories to tie directly to everything previously explored in ‘Star Wars.’
Over the past decade, Lucasfilm seems to have shifted its approach, deviating significantly from what was previously perceived as its strategy. Instead of merely maintaining the narrative established by George Lucas during his tenure as the franchise leader, they’ve been extending or filling in gaps within that existing storyline.
Kennedy mentioned that fresh tales in the Star Wars universe don’t always have to contribute to a grand narrative arc and can instead serve as “self-contained stories.” These self-contained stories might expand further if there’s potential for it.
“It can actually be a standalone story that then builds into many many other stories.”
Next year, Star Wars is coming back to cinemas with the continuation of “The Mandalorian” and “Grogu,” a spin-off from the extremely popular Pedro Pascal-led Disney+ show, “The Mandalorian.
Instead of adhering strictly to Lucasfilm’s traditional approach, the recent shift towards movies like “Star Wars: Starfighter” and “The First Jedi” directed by James Mangold suggests that Kennedy and his team are genuinely committed to this new direction.
Why Star Wars Needs To Change
Since the debut of “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” in 2019, there’s been a growing demand among fans for Lucasfilm to take another look at their artistic approach.
For certain individuals, this sensitive topic turned out to be a highly contentious issue due to numerous theatrical productions from the studio being repeatedly announced and subsequently abandoned.
As a dedicated cinephile, I must admit that it’s been quite a long wait since we last saw new Star Wars installments on the big screen. Taika Waititi’s untitled project, Kevin Feige’s brainchild from Marvel Studios, and Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron have all seemingly taken a backseat, pushing the franchise’s theatrical release date beyond the half-decade mark.
As time went on, the franchise struggled on streaming platforms, with shows such as “The Book of Boba Fett”, “Obi-Wan Kenobi”, and “The Acolyte” receiving mixed to negative feedback from fans. One common criticism across all three (and many other productions) was that they appeared to have been interfered with or tampered with by the studio.
It seemed like a creative retooling was in order, which looks to be precisely what is happening.
Fans have been advocating for Lucasfilm to allow creators to develop stories within the Star Wars universe first, then consider the franchise’s future potential later. The audience has just experienced a glimpse of this with the recent launches of Jon Watts’ “Skeleton Crew” and Tony Gilroy’s “Andor”.
Absolutely, both series fall under the present Star Wars canon, yet they each presented a unique perspective of the iconic sci-fi universe, crafted by gifted directors such as Watts and Gilroy, who were able to weave their desired narrative threads into the franchise.
As a movie enthusiast, I firmly believe that moving ahead, the brand should embrace an idea originating from an excited creator and let creativity thrive. The setting of the story, be it within the current timeline or not, or its potential to become a franchise shouldn’t be the deciding factors. Instead, the focus should be on nurturing unique stories that resonate with audiences.
It’s my hope that these quotes mark the start of an artistic resurgence for the Star Wars franchise, as next year’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” are poised to usher in a fresh chapter for this classic Hollywood property.
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2025-06-15 18:34