Kathleen Kennedy Reflects on Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Exit and Online Backlash

Kathleen Kennedy, who recently stepped down as president of Lucasfilm, has shared her perspective on working with Rian Johnson and the challenges that come with leading the Star Wars universe. As she looked back on her tenure, Kennedy addressed the circumstances that led Johnson to distance himself from the franchise after directing the polarizing The Last Jedi.

According to Kennedy, Johnson’s decision to step away was influenced by a combination of professional obligations and the intense reaction from fans online.

“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,”

Kennedy explained. She pointed to director Shawn Levy, who became deeply involved with Stranger Things after initial talks about Star Wars, as a similar example.

“That’s the other thing that happens here. After Shawn and I started talking about Star Wars, Stranger Things kicks in and he was completely consumed for a while by that. That's what happened with Rian.”

Facing Online Negativity

Kennedy also acknowledged the toll that online criticism can take on filmmakers.

“And then I do believe he got spooked by the online negativity. I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies. He's a brilliant filmmaker and he got spooked. This is the rough part. When people come into this space, I have every filmmaker and actors say to me, 'What's going to happen?' They're a little scared.”

She noted that the digital environment can be especially harsh, and that creators often worry about the backlash they might face.

When asked how she prepares newcomers for the possibility of online hostility, Kennedy said,

“I'm honest, especially with the women that come into this space because they unfairly get targeted. I don't try to sugarcoat it. And I emphasize that it's a very small group of people, with loud megaphones. 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.”

Advice for Filmmakers Entering the Franchise

Kennedy stressed the importance of resilience for anyone joining the Star Wars creative team.

“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. All we can do is put our heads down and do the work and believe that we're doing the best we can, telling the best story we can. And if somebody gets really nervous about it and doesn’t want to do it, I say, then don't do it because I can't tell you this won’t happen.”

After 14 years at the helm of Lucasfilm, Kennedy has handed over leadership to chief creative officer Dave Filoni and general manager Lynwen Brennan, who will now guide the future of the Star Wars saga. As the franchise moves forward, the conversation around creative freedom and the impact of online voices remains as relevant as ever.