Why Kathleen Kennedy Would Probably Not Want To Step Down From Lucasfilm and 'Star Wars'

I highly doubt that Kathleen Kennedy would want to step down from Star Wars. We know that her extension goes up to 2021, and it is possible that it may not be renewed. Personally, I do not buy that Kennedy would try to find a way to step down sooner than that, as has been rumored. And if Disney ends up giving her the option to continue her Lucasfilm contract further, I do not think that she would step down.

First of all, it is Star Wars. No matter how bad the movie is, the team would still make way more than a billion per movie. Take a look at Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, which made $620 million domestically and $1.33 billion worldwide. Sure, we did not know what to expect and were excited to see it when it came out. Responses were mixed, but because it was Star Wars, people still went and saw it. Look at Star Wars: Episode XI - The Rise of Skywalker, which still made $1.07 billion worldwide and $515 million domestically. Again, mixed responses, and a decrease from what The Last Jedi gained, but it still broke a billion across the globe.

As for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which got mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, this film made $532 million domestically and $1.06 billion worldwide. Even the not as well received Solo: A Star Wars Story made drew in audiences. Granted, it was a big flop in the box office that did not earn over a billion dollar worldwide, In fact, it only got $393 million worldwide and $214 million domestically. Despite this, Kathleen Kennedy still earning her backend. I do not think that she is in it just for the money, but this still gives her a chunk of change for her lunch, which is a nice perk. I know I myself would not quit, either.

Kathleen Kennedy knows that no matter how mixed the responses are for a Star Wars film in the distant future, it would still make money no matter what. Star Wars has countless fans worldwide. Longtime fans and/or newcomer fans will always be around. Every day, people are becoming Star Wars fans. Star Wars will never die. I firmly believe that it will continue decades and decades onward, even into the next century. It would be foolish of Kennedy to want to step down from Star Wars.

Even though recent Star Wars movies (The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, and Solo) either got mixed responses or underperformed I guarantee that in the next 10 or 20 years or so, these three will each have as big of an online following as the prequel trilogy did once the generation who grew up with those films became more active on the internet. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is very popular online. And guess what? Kathleen Kennedy is still cashing that change from the recent Star Wars films. I can tell you this: Kennedy would still gain a percentage off each film. So, why would she be stepping down on future Star Wars films?

Some fans want the sequel trilogy to be remade with some of George Lucas' original ideas (even though some of those ideas were already in the sequels). With Carrie Fisher gone, however, this would be difficult. Many fans probably do not want to see anyone else play Leia. Plus, it seems that Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford feel that they have fulfilled all that they can as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. What Kathleen Kennedy needs to do is to find the right story to tell, not just cash the cow. Then, she might make even more money in the long run.

As of right now, I do not think that she is stepping down. This is her cushion to guarantee her income. She does not even need to produce anything else. As we know, however, she is teaming up with Steven Spielberg on Indiana Jones 5. In any case, Kathleen Kennedy there are more Star Wars stories to tell in film. To be clear, I do not believe that she is in it just for the money, but also for the fun of having these films made. Like Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios CEO, that genius is having so much fun as the person in charge of this world filled with potential for creativity. I do not believe the rumors that she is stepping down very soon. Not one word.

Written By Pat Kusnadi

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