Adapted by:
John Tones
WriterI've been writing about culture for twenty-something years and, at Xataka, I cover everything related to movies, video games, TV shows, comics, and pop culture.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
Star Wars has been in its most controversial era for years. It’s no longer just about economics but pure creativity. New series and films no longer generate the same excitement as before. In this context, Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm since Disney’s acquisition, is leaving without a clear successor. Whoever follows her will inherit a complicated situation.
12 years of decisions. In more than a decade at the helm, Kennedy has faced one of the most volatile and aggressive fandoms. Critics and fans have accused her of taking the franchise in a new direction, being overly rigid, and clinging to past glories. Her Star Wars films have been blockbusters, but attempts to distance the franchise from its canon—like Solo: A Star Wars Story—have struggled. No matter what she did, criticism was inevitable.
Producers vs. auteurs. During her tenure, Kennedy tried to turn Star Wars into an auteur-driven franchise, clashing with creators along the way. Filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller abruptly left Solo. Director Patty Jenkins and showrunner duo David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were set to reshape the franchise, but their projects fizzled. That goal remains part of Kennedy’s legacy, but she won’t be the one to see it through. Maybe directors James Mangold, Taika Waititi, or Donald Glover will. Who knows if the fans will see it.
The Marvel mirror. Comparisons to Disney’s other super-franchise are inevitable. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, in a role comparable to Kennedy’s, has avoided relying on prestigious writers. Instead, most projects are now handled by filmmakers with limited creative freedom or outright yes-men like director Shawn Levy. But Marvel is also facing a prestige and box office slump similar to Star Wars. Whichever franchise finds a way out first may set the path for the other.
How things are going: movies. A seven-year gap between Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian & Grogu in 2026 is unheard of in today’s franchise-driven landscape, where studios churn out content to keep fans engaged. This delay, due to both chance and missteps, is the first challenge Kennedy’s successor must address—bringing major projects back to the big screen.
How things are going: series. Like Marvel, Star Wars television is struggling with oversaturation and lack of direction, though its results often surpass Feige’s projects in quality. Despite controversies, Ahsoka and The Acolyte have earned positive reviews. The Mandalorian’s first season and the exceptional Andor are among the best Star Wars content since the classic films and video games. Still, these shows primarily appeal to hardcore fans. Lucasfilm must make Star Wars relevant in mainstream culture again.
Broken visions. Perhaps Kennedy wasn’t the producer Star Wars needed—one who could have delivered consistent blockbusters at a faster pace with a less ambitious vision. She aimed to expand the saga beyond its repetitive tropes, introducing The High Republic as a new frontier and pushing Lucasfilm beyond Star Wars and Indiana Jones with projects like the Children of Blood and Bone trilogy. We’ll never know what might have come from such ambitions.
Image | Gage Skidmore
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