Kathleen Kennedy Emerges From Bunker to Name New SVP

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This thread title is perfect...especially since half the board can’t appreciate it

If they want a Feige, this should have been Filoni

Disagree...need a fresh person who’s into Star Wars but not polluted by the 1999-present mismanagement of it in any form

While I've long believe the "fan backlash" was more an internet thing than actual backlash. And that Kennedy while not good creatively, she is good on the business side. Solo being the anomaly all other Disney Star Wars films have made over a Billion at the box office. And that is what Iger and the board look at for a head of a studio. So I figure with now them having a single person to lead the franchise on the creative side. She is sticking around a lot longer to handle the business side than most posters around here predicted.

You have the right to believe/not believe anything you want.

And since there’s never a backlash from the customers...bob iger has a right to let it burn for a year or two more

That could be true. Unfortunately I'm not super excited about this hire. Unless I'm missing something, what does she have in her background that says she can handle star wars. Feige was and is a marvel fan at heart. Understanding the history of the franchise and what is at its core is important. We will see how this works out in the end. But maybe this is something Disney allowed so if it doesn't work out, they have an out to let her go.

Yep...this isn’t a good move. But it’s gonna take it to be painfully obvious before the praetorian guard will admit it.

So you put a Spielberg Lacky in charge of lucasfilm...she trips over her feet...

So now you put an abrams lackey under her?

The common thread is neither her nor Kennedy seems to have the shantest if clues why people like Star Wars in the first place...so that’s a good patch of quicksand to build a house on

Good move...hit on 19.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

On a positive note...all of lasseters lieutenants managed to pull it off...

They went with what worked...so it worked. Lesson could be learned there

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And in the context of star wars, that scares me.

Only because your eyes actually work and the little power cord that connects them to your brain still is plugged in

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What I suspect might be happening here is Rejwan really impressed the higher ups with her work on Rise of Skywalker. Someone (possibly Kennedy?) saw real potential in her maybe a case of seeing a bit of herself in Rejwan (That drive and passion for film) and has decided to personally take her under her wing. As Kennedy prepares to retire at the end of her current contract. This is Kennedy obviously laying the ground work for her successor. She will most likely be mentored personally by Kennedy.

For anyone to get promoted based on Star Wars work that no fan has seen is as abjectly silly as giving 3 movies to a terrible director who made an awful one nobody has seen

 

[RandySavage]

The prequels extinguished my childhood love for Star Wars. Force Awakens didn't revive it. I figured I'd outgrown the franchise.

Then came the unexpected. Rogue One: among the most electrifying, goosebump-inducing and awesome experiences I've had at the movies (from beginning to end). I have always liked the Empire and the martial aspects of Stars Wars over the Luke/Leia/Jedi stuff. R1 dumped a barrel of gasoline on that Star Wars spark I thought was long out. It's definitely my favorite of the entire series now (benefiting by standing on the shoulders of - acting as a prologue to - A New Hope).

Because Kennedy was a big factor in bringing about the final theatrical version of R1 (i.e., greenlighting it, hiring Edwards, bringing in the 2nd writer/"director" for reshoots), I'm perfectly content with her running Lucasfilm. I also liked Solo quite a bit (in the top five of the franchise). So, I'll happily take a lesser (but still miles better than the prequels) sequel trilogy, that I can ignore, since it came with one of my now all-time favorite movies (R1). She's struck out a couple times but also hit a homerun that won the game.

Now please release the De-Specialized Versions of the originals, Kathleen!

 

[Disney Irish]

This thread title is perfect...especially since half the board can’t appreciate it


Disagree...need a fresh person who’s into Star Wars but not polluted by the 1999-present mismanagement of it in any form

You have the right to believe/not believe anything you want.

And since there’s never a backlash from the customers...bob iger has a right to let it burn for a year or two more

Yep...this isn’t a good move. But it’s gonna take it to be painfully obvious before the praetorian guard will admit it.

So you put a Spielberg Lacky in charge of lucasfilm...she trips over her feet...

So now you put an abrams lackey under her?

The common thread is neither her nor Kennedy seems to have the shantest if clues why people like Star Wars in the first place...so that’s a good patch of quicksand to build a house on

Good move...hit on 19.

We'll see what happens. But in my opinion if Ep9 does better domestically than TLJ then I would say that SW under Disney will be just fine. And that the "backlash" is just an internet thing versus an actual customer backlash.

This is what I see will happen. Kennedy will move to corporate Disney after Ep9 and Michelle will take over Lucas and bring in a content director to lead the overall story arcs of both the D+ series and the films.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We'll see what happens. But in my opinion if Ep9 does better domestically than TLJ then I would say that SW under Disney will be just fine. And that the "backlash" is just an internet thing versus an actual customer backlash.

This is what I see will happen. Kennedy will move to corporate Disney after Ep9 and Michelle will take over Lucas and bring in a content director to lead the overall story arcs of both the D+ series and the films.

Interesting ideas...

The only one I really disagree with you on...and we really have to let this debate go...is that there is/was a 100% real backlash to Disney’s Star Wars management. It happened/is happening...they’ve had to adjust plans accordingly.

The idea that it is a 1% internet fandom coup has been proven wrong in real life. That doesn’t mean Star Wars is “dead”...not in the slightest.

But all the excuses that still indicate it’s somehow not real takes them off the hook for bad management and they absolutely have had it and should answer it.

 

[Disney Irish]

Interesting ideas...

The only one I really disagree with you on...and we really have to let this debate go...is that there is/was a 100% real backlash to Disney’s Star Wars management. It happened/is happening...they’ve had to adjust plans accordingly.

The idea that it is a 1% internet fandom coup has been proven wrong in real life. That doesn’t mean Star Wars is “dead”...not in the slightest.

But all the excuses that still indicate it’s somehow not real takes them off the hook for bad management and they absolutely have had it and should answer it.

Ok, let me rephrase. The backlash is way overhyped by the internet. The fact that for such a divisive movie like TLJ to still get over 1.3B WW shows there wasn't as much backlash as the internet claims. While Solo got right in line with origin stories that the mega cash printing machine Marvel does. So all that proves is that audiences in both franchises are more interested in the team up movies then they are the origin stories, with exceptions such as Black Panther and Capt Marvel.

So the only way I'll concede to there being a real fan backlash is if Ep9 does less than 1B WW. Then and only then will I state there is a backlash. However if Ep9 does more than the 1.3B WW that TLJ did, you have to admit there isn't as big a fan backlash as you claim there is.

 

[networkpro]

Ok, let me rephrase. The backlash is way overhyped by the internet.

Then go by box office receipts... TLJ vs Solo. Kathleen's stewardship of the franchise along with inserting new social themes has gone over like a hamburger buffet for vegans.

 

[drod1985]

The "right" person doesn't need to be a huge Star Wars fan in order to work with the people that are. This is some fan notion built up on the internet that only a Star Wars Fan can run the franchise. Hollywood studios have run fine for generations without a fan of the content they make running them. Again a content director who is a fan, such as a Dave Filoni, can weave a narrative through multiple movies and TV shows with one voice, while Michelle works on the production side of things. Or maybe Michelle is that person that can be the content director also and we just don't know it yet.

Feige is a unique person likely never to be truly duplicated by another studio.

You and I are aligned on a lot of opinions around this subject. But I truly believe the right person - even to run the business side - needs to be a fan. If she's making decisions as to which creatives to hire then she needs to be able to identify who's truly in touch with what Star Wars is and what it needs to be to move forward.

I'm not saying that's not Rejwan - for all we know she could be a massive Star Wars fan. And a partnership with somebody like Filoni could yield exceptional results...as long as Rejwan and Filoni (or whoever is overseeing creative direction) are aligned with the direction of the franchise.

 

[Disney Irish]

Then go by box office receipts... TLJ vs Solo. Kathleen's stewardship of the franchise along with inserting new social themes has gone over like a hamburger buffet for vegans.

Obviously you didn’t read the rest of what I wrote as I answered that.

 

[drod1985]

Then go by box office receipts... TLJ vs Solo. Kathleen's stewardship of the franchise along with inserting new social themes has gone over like a hamburger buffet for vegans.

But even before TLJ nobody wanted a Solo film, not even Star Wars fans. I'm glad we have it, its a fun ride, but it wasn't necessary. I'm not sure Solo would've done much better even if TLJ had been a unanimously well received home run.

I agree with @Disney Irish - TROS' box office performance will be the truest indicator of the film franchise's overall health.

 

[Disney Irish]

You and I are aligned on a lot of opinions around this subject. But I truly believe the right person - even to run the business side - needs to be a fan. If she's making decisions as to which creatives to hire then she needs to be able to identify who's truly in touch with what Star Wars is and what it needs to be to move forward.

I'm not saying that's not Rejwan - for all we know she could be a massive Star Wars fan. And a partnership with somebody like Filoni could yield exceptional results...as long as Rejwan and Filoni (or whoever is overseeing creative direction) are aligned with the direction of the franchise.

And I can respect that opinion.

 

[erasure fan1]

Ok, let me rephrase. The backlash is way overhyped by the internet. The fact that for such a divisive movie like TLJ to still get over 1.3B WW shows there wasn't as much backlash as the internet claims. While Solo got right in line with origin stories that the mega cash printing machine Marvel does. So all that proves is that audiences in both franchises are more interested in the team up movies then they are the origin stories, with exceptions such as Black Panther and Capt Marvel.

So the only way I'll concede to there being a real fan backlash is if Ep9 does less than 1B WW. Then and only then will I state there is a backlash. However if Ep9 does more than the 1.3B WW that TLJ did, you have to admit there isn't as big a fan backlash as you claim there is.

First off, everything on the internet is overhyped.
Ep9 is most likely going to do just fine and easily pass a billion worldwide. There are far too many people who have decades invested in the franchise to not see the conclusion of the Skywalker saga. If it does last jedi numbers or better it doesn't mean there wasn't backlash. You can see it in more than just movie box office. The real test for star wars will be the next trilogy. If you end up with mediocre box office after a 3yr absence, then that will be a significant backlash. But I've said it many times before. Star wars is beloved and even if a movie is horrible, it won't kill the franchise. People want it to succeed.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Then go by box office receipts... TLJ vs Solo. Kathleen's stewardship of the franchise along with inserting new social themes has gone over like a hamburger buffet for vegans.

I don’t want to say this for the 100th time...but essentially “yes”

Star Wars should never have a flop. If you’ve lived the history of it, it’s not even really conceivable. But it done happened. Big time.

There are other things that unquestionably prove backlash: licensed merchandise shipped at a rate of 50% of the farce awakens. That’s not just last Johnson...it actually paints a bigger/worse picture.

And the North American gross of Johnson flatlined below $1 on I think the 27th day?? That’s a collapse...it really is. I think the last two avengers did that in like the 55th to 60th day...to say nothing of the steady burn of black panther or captain marvel.

And Kennedy was absolutely put in the closet. She barely is seen and has done no speaking as she did in 2016-17.

The truth is there...have to accept it.

 

[Disney Irish]

First off, everything on the internet is overhyped.
Ep9 is most likely going to do just fine and easily pass a billion worldwide. There are far too many people who have decades invested in the franchise to not see the conclusion of the Skywalker saga. If it does last jedi numbers or better it doesn't mean there wasn't backlash. You can see it in more than just movie box office. The real test for star wars will be the next trilogy. If you end up with mediocre box office after a 3yr absence, then that will be a significant backlash. But I've said it many times before. Star wars is beloved and even if a movie is horrible, it won't kill the franchise. People want it to succeed.

So wait, if Ep9 is going to easily do over 1B and its only a single film that didn't make over 1B wouldn't that make the single film an anomaly? I mean invested or not if there really is this supposed backlash that made people all upset against all things "Star Wars made by Disney" wouldn't Ep9 also flop as you guys claim happened with Solo? I would think that if people are really that upset they'd just wait until it came out on video.

So I'm sorry but you guys can't have it both ways. Either there is this backlash that is causing fans to not go to the movies or there's not. You can't say there is a backlash if the film is still going to do gangbusters in theaters. If that's the case then its a real hollow backlash, as in "I'm so upset that I'll sit out one film, but yet I'm still going to give them my money for the next one (and likely see it 2-3 times)".

Give me a break....

 

[networkpro]

One break ? Too many. If it was a linear episodic installment plan with continuity of agree, but injected side movies about how character "a" had an agenda or unrealized life goal that ran contrary to everything previously shown I call BS. Insert SJW Deaux Ex Machina with odd hair as a plot point here.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree with @Disney Irish - TROS' box office performance will be the truest indicator of the film franchise's overall health.

This is absolutely not the case. We need to learn from our mistakes.

Box office bloat is a reality of Hollywood but is in no way an indicator of longterm Franchise pull/power.

Pengys charts and Bonzai Kid’s Rey-lovin’ snits said last Johnson was just an amazing movie...for roughly 15 days.

And then let the record show what has happened since...flops and cancellations and federal marshals protecting who’s hidden at skywalker ranch.

There is an - unwarranted - abrams love that will provide great box office for 9. That’s not really in dispute. But I suggest to everyone to watch the movie (and let me know what it’s like) and analyze it on the first showing.

Because I was 99% certain there was a problem an hour into last Johnson. It was all wrong.

And I learned that the hard way - it was an audience with the exact same gasps and groans as phantom Menace. Thad “uh oh” feeling that wasn’t defined at the time.

Hopefully abrams makes something decent. Isn’t much to work with.

 

[Janir]

I don’t want to say this for the 100th time...but essentially “yes”

Star Wars should never have a flop. If you’ve lived the history of it, it’s not even really conceivable. But it done happened. Big time.

There are other things that unquestionably prove backlash: licensed merchandise shipped at a rate of 50% of the farce awakens. That’s not just last Johnson...it actually paints a bigger/worse picture.

And the North American gross of Johnson flatlined below $1 on I think the 27th day?? That’s a collapse...it really is. I think the last two avengers did that in like the 55th to 60th day...to say nothing of the steady burn of black panther or captain marvel.

And Kennedy was absolutely put in the closet. She barely is seen and has done no speaking as she did in 2016-17.

The truth is there...have to accept it.

Kennedy was trotted out during Star Wars Celebration panels like for The Mandalorian reveal and some other stuff and was part of the senior leadership VP SWGE touring as well.

 

[Disney Irish]

One break ? Too many. If it was a linear episodic installment plan with continuity of agree, but injected side movies about how character "a" had an agenda or unrealized life goal that ran contrary to everything previously shown I call BS. Insert SJW Deaux Ex Machina with odd hair as a plot point here.

Contrary to your belief the entire fan base doesn't have the same opinion as you. You and your other grumpy friend here don't speak for the entire fan base. The boys only club has had their time and can go sit at the back of the bus and let someone else drive.

Ep9 will speak for itself on whether the fan base truly has an issue with the franchise or not.