Kathleen Kennedy Says Rian Johnson Made ‘1 of the Best Star Wars Movies,’ Talks His Return

Kathleen Kennedy addressed ongoing questions about Rian Johnson’s future with Star Wars in a recent interview. The longtime Lucasfilm president spoke about Johnson’s current status and revealed why his return to the franchise has remained uncertain.

Kathleen Kennedy on if Rian Johnson will return to Star Wars

In an interview with Deadline, Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that Rian Johnson’s return to Star Wars remains uncertain. “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,” she said. Johnson’s involvement with the franchise has been paused due to scheduling and other commitments.

Kennedy also addressed the impact of online reactions. “I do believe he got spooked by the online negativity,” she stated. “I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies. He’s a brilliant filmmaker and he got spooked.” According to Kennedy, this response is not uncommon among creatives entering the Star Wars universe.

Kennedy highlighted the apprehension many filmmakers feel. “Every filmmaker and actor says to me, ‘What’s going to happen?’ They’re a little scared.” She added that new voices in the franchise, particularly women, are often targeted. “Especially with the women that come into this space… they unfairly get targeted. I don’t try to sugarcoat it.”

She emphasized the need for resilience in the face of criticism. “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.” Kennedy said the negativity is driven by a vocal minority. “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.”

Kennedy acknowledged that the demanding nature of Star Wars productions also contributes to hesitations. “These are really complicated, difficult movies to make… People have to set their lives aside for years.” Whether Johnson returns will depend on his availability and decision to re-engage with the franchise.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.com.

Source: Comingsoon.net