Kathleen Kennedy Reflects on Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Exit
Kathleen Kennedy discusses Rian Johnson’s departure from Star Wars, his acclaimed work on The Last Jedi, and the impact of online backlash on filmmakers.
After stepping down as president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy has offered a candid look at her time overseeing the Star Wars franchise, particularly her collaboration with Rian Johnson on The Last Jedi. Johnson’s entry into the galaxy far, far away proved to be one of the most polarising moments in recent film history, and Kennedy has now shed light on why he ultimately distanced himself from the saga.
According to Kennedy, Johnson’s schedule quickly filled up after he signed a deal with Netflix and began work on the Knives Out series. She drew a parallel with director Shawn Levy, who became absorbed by Stranger Things after initial talks about a Star Wars project. “Once he made the Netflix deal and went off to start doing the Knives Out films, that has occupied a huge amount of his time,” Kennedy explained. “That’s the other thing that happens here. After Shawn and I started talking about Star Wars, Stranger Things kicks in and he was completely consumed for a while by that. That's what happened with Rian.”
Online Hostility and Its Effects
Yet, it wasn’t just professional commitments that led Johnson to step back. Kennedy acknowledged the toll that online criticism took on the director, especially following the release of The Last Jedi in 2017.
“And then I do believe he got spooked by the online negativity. I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies. He's a brilliant filmmaker and he got spooked. This is the rough part. When people come into this space, I have every filmmaker and actors say to me, 'What's going to happen?' They're a little scared.”
She noted that the digital backlash, while coming from a relatively small but vocal group, can be daunting for anyone stepping into such a high-profile universe. Kennedy has made it a point to be upfront with newcomers about the realities of public scrutiny, particularly for women, who she says are often unfairly targeted.
“I'm honest, especially with the women that come into this space because they unfairly get targeted. I don't try to sugarcoat it. And I emphasize that it's a very small group of people, with loud megaphones. I truly do not believe that it's the majority of the fans. And I think we're also in this weird world of where bots can affect things.”
Preparing Filmmakers for the Star Wars Spotlight
Kennedy’s approach has been to encourage resilience among those joining the franchise.
“You have to develop a tough skin. That is exactly right. That's what you have to do. You can't make it go away. All we can do is put our heads down and do the work and believe that we're doing the best we can, telling the best story we can. And if somebody gets really nervous about it and doesn’t want to do it, I say, then don't do it because I can't tell you this won’t happen.”
Her departure marks the end of a 14-year tenure at Lucasfilm, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan now steering the Star Wars ship. As the franchise looks ahead to new films and series, Kennedy’s reflections offer a glimpse into the pressures and passions that come with shaping one of cinema’s most enduring universes.