News Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down as President of Lucasfilm

[networkpro]

It’ll be interesting to see how Mando and Grogu does at the box office, that’ll be the ultimate indicator of whether or not the brand is damaged.

The prequels and sequels all got a lot of pushback for being mediocre overall but Star Wars fans still showed up and they all made bank (with the exception of Solo), if Mando can pull in a billion it’ll show the brand is still healthy, every dollar under a billion likely equals a person who has lost faith in the brand though.

My guess is on $500-600 million, but I think the brand is damaged so that’s affecting my prediction, maybe I’ll be wrong and it’ll pull in a billion and prove me wrong.

Money talks, Mando and Grogu will give us our answer as to whether or not it’s damaged.

Man who ? Grow what ? Both literally vanished almost 3 years ago. Oh there was a new Mando with "Grogu in a bag" walk around character in splashed concrete land, but IMHO there's no been no staying power.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wish we got his trilogy. But I don't blame him between the suits and the fandom.

Yeah…definitely build your encampment on THAT hill

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Man who ? Grow what ? Both literally vanished almost 3 years ago. Oh there was a new Mando with "Grogu in a bag" walk around character in splashed concrete land, but IMHO there's no been no staying power.

True, but it’s also the first Star Wars film in nearly a decade, if Star Wars is as strong as ever it won’t matter if people know the characters or not.

There was a time “Star Wars” on the poster guaranteed success, the brand was so popular it didn’t matter who was in it or how good/bad the film was, the brand alone guaranteed success… Mando will show us if that’s still true.

I’d say the exact same thing about Marvel and Pixar also, there was a time when the “Marvel” or “Pixar” name on the poster guaranteed success, that time has passed because those brands perception have been damaged also.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

True, but it’s also the first Star Wars film in nearly a decade, if Star Wars is as strong as ever it won’t matter if people know the characters or not.

There was a time “Star Wars” on the poster guaranteed success, the brand was so popular it didn’t matter who was in it or how good/bad the film was, the brand alone guaranteed success… Mando will show us if that’s still true.

I’d say the exact same thing about Marvel and Pixar also, there was a time when the “Marvel” or “Pixar” name on the poster guaranteed success, that time has passed because those brands perception have been damaged also.

Totally…

I wonder if dilution with the “one cheek” streaming shows is the real culprit there?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Fans of the original trilogy story who were turned off to the franchise by Disney's approach to Luke Skywalker (and to a lesser extent, the lore) and who are now apathetic (or in some instances, hostile) to the franchise.


Not everything is about you.

You said damage with fans.

I'm a fan.

I'm not damaged.

Stop speaking for everyone.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

You said damage with fans.

I'm a fan.

I'm not damaged.

Stop speaking for everyone.

I wasn't speaking for everyone. I was specifically speaking for fans that no longer have interest in or support the franchise. If that's not you? Great for you. That doesn't mean the other type of fans don't exist. Their relationship with Lucasfilm has been damaged (probably permanently, which is a shame). As I already said, not everything is about you. If it was, Kennedy wouldn't have been fired.

 

[Tha Realest]

Wish we got his trilogy. But I don't blame him between the suits and the fandom.

One of the get times we’ve seen a public break between the two. He was explicitly calling out KK

 

[Disney Irish]

Kennedy wouldn't have been fired.

She wasn’t fired, she stepped down, big difference there bud. You can call it a mutual parting of ways if you wish, but she wasn’t fired.

 

[MisterPenguin]

One of the get times we’ve seen a public break between the two. He was explicitly calling out KK

View attachment 903226

Wha?

KK said, that Rian got spooked by the online negativity.

How is that a break between KK and Rian? She was referring to the toxic fanbase breaking with Rian.

She's shielding him, not throwing him under a bus. She then goes on to say he's "a brilliant filmaker." And Rian has publicly said his involvement with SW isn't over, but that he's busy with Knives Out.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

She wasn’t fired, she stepped down, big difference there bud. You can call it a mutual parting of ways if you wish, but she wasn’t fired.

She was fired. Shhhh ... don't tell anybody. Apparently it is a secret. Bud.

 

[MisterPenguin]

She wasn’t fired, she stepped down, big difference there bud. You can call it a mutual parting of ways if you wish, but she wasn’t fired.

Indeed.

It's been said for the past few years she was retiring at the end of her contract in 2024. But, they asked her to stay on until now.

Disney/Iger had plenty of opportunities to 'fire' KK if he wanted to each time her contract was up by simply not renewing it. He kept renewing it. That most indeed is not what "being fired" looks like.

 

[Disney Irish]

She was fired. Shhhh ... don't tell anybody. Apparently it is a secret. Bud.

If she was fired the statements out of both parties would have been different. Plus she wouldn’t had been allowed to do a PR tour with all the interviews like she is, because she’d have an NDA that Disney would have made her sign. Nor would she still be a producer on any upcoming films.

Sometimes you guys really need to just let things go. Because in the end it doesn’t really matter the circumstances why, she is no longer head of LFL. So just accept the way it happened and move on bud.

 

[sedati]

Looking back at what's been done under Kennedy's tenure I can honestly say the only project I don't see myself revisiting ever again is "Resistance." But even that was a gorgeous production with an amazing art style and great side-characters. But that show had my least favorite character ever, Kazuda Xiono. I can stand Jar-Jar, I can't stand Kazuda. But that's just me, I don't begrudge anyone who likes the character.

My biggest disappointment is "Kenobi," partly due to my having the highest expectations for it, and it's shocking low production quality when compared to all other series. Still, I've watched it through three times and will do so again. There's plenty in there I do enjoy and have hopes for a second series.

Everything else I will not only rewatch, but will likely do so in the next year in anticipation of both Mandalorian and Grogu and Ahsoka season 2. I don't love everything about everything that's come out, but I have to admit that's also true about the Lucas era productions as well.

Looking forward to Maul, Ahsoka, 9th Jedi, Grogu- wow, what a year we're in for.

I grew up with Star Wars. Seeing the original is literally my earliest memory. I also remember how I filled the literal years gaps in content- soundtrack records, read-a-longs with cassettes, the paperback adaptation, and taking out "The Making of Star Wars" from the library again and again. I wouldn't be able to fathom the amount of good Star Wars currently available with more on the way.

What's more, I am now seriously considering buying a PS5 (now that prices are dropping) solely to catch up on all the games (Squadrons, Jedi Survivor/Outcast, and Outlaws.)

 

[AdventureHasAName]

If she was fired the statements out of both parties would have been different. Plus she wouldn’t had been allowed to do a PR tour with all the interviews like she is, because she’d have an NDA that Disney would have made her sign. Nor would she still be a producer on any upcoming films.

Sometimes you guys really need to just let things go. Because in the end it doesn’t really matter the circumstances why, she is no longer head of LFL. So just accept the way it happened and move on bud.

Question: How does Disney make her sign an NDA after they fire her? Bud.

 

[Disney Irish]

Question: How does Disney make her sign an NDA after they fire her? Bud.

Tell me you've never worked for a corporation without telling me you've never worked for a corporation.

Its part of the "exit" process when they tell you that you've been fired, you have to sign a bunch of paperwork so the termination is finalized, right before they force you to clean out your office, hand over your keys and badge, and get escorted out by security.

 

[Chi84]

Tell me you've never worked for a corporation without telling me you've never worked for a corporation.

Its part of the "exit" process when they tell you that you've been fired, you have to sign a bunch of paperwork so the termination is finalized, right before they force you to clean out your office, hand over your keys and badge, and get escorted out by security.

You forgot to say bud.

 

[Figments Friend]

All this talk about Buds is making me thirsty.

I need a beer….



A toast to KK’s departure…cheers!



-

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Tell me you've never worked for a corporation without telling me you've never worked for a corporation.

Its part of the "exit" process when they tell you that you've been fired, you have to sign a bunch of paperwork so the termination is finalized, right before they force you to clean out your office, hand over your keys and badge, and get escorted out by security.

This may shock you, but when you're making $5 million a year, your employer can't make you sign anything. It would be embarrassing and laughable (for all involved) to even try. CEOs have personal lawyers. The first thing a lawyer tells you when you've been fired is to not sign anything and to tell your former employer to direct all requests to them. It's not the same process as firing a 23 year old fry cook from McDonalds. Bud.

 

[Disney Irish]

This may shock you, but when you're making $5 million a year, your employer can't make you sign anything. It would be embarrassing and laughable (for all involved) to even try. CEOs have personal lawyers. The first thing a lawyer tells you when you've been fired is to not sign anything and to tell your former employer to direct all requests to them. It's not the same process as firing a 23 year old fry cook from McDonalds. Bud.

It may shock you, but actors and studio execs sign NDAs, ALL. THE. TIME, there bud. They are also known to sign anti-competitive clauses too. This is both during and after employment. This ain't no fry cook bud, this is an executive that has inside secrets to Disney's C-Level. If you think they aren't having her sign an NDA, even if she wasn't fired, you don't know how corporations work let alone how Hollywood works. I myself have signed a few NDAs in my time in the corporate world, its a standard practice in order to work in a very competitive corporate world.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

It may shock you, but actors and studio execs sign NDAs, ALL. THE. TIME, there bud. They are also known to sign anti-competitive clauses too. This is both during and after employment. This ain't no fry cook bud, this is an executive that has inside secrets to Disney's C-Level. If you think they aren't having her sign an NDA, even if she wasn't fired, you don't know how corporations work let alone how Hollywood works. I myself have signed a few NDAs in my time in the corporate world, its a standard practice in order to work in a very competitive corporate world.

Sure they do ... they sign them as part of their initial contract. They don't sign them after they've been fired. You forgot to mention non-disparagement clauses, too. But those are part of contract negotiations, not exit interviews. Bud.

This whole conversation is ridiculous. She was fired. It reminds me of Norm MacDonald's monologue when he hosted SNL:

"I don’t know if you remember this, but I used to actually be on this show. I used to do the 'Weekend Update' news routine, you remember that? That’s where I did the make-believe news jokes. That was me, you know? So then, a year and a half ago, I had sort of a disagreement with the management at NBC. I wanted to keep my job. Right? And they felt the exact opposite."