Kathleen Kennedy Says Rian Johnson ‘Got Spooked,’ Gives His Star Wars Return Update

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Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, recently discussed Rian Johnson’s potential involvement with future Star Wars projects. She explained where things stand with Johnson and why his return hasn’t been confirmed.

Kathleen Kennedy on if Rian Johnson will return to Star Wars

Kathleen Kennedy recently told Deadline that it’s currently unclear if Rian Johnson will return to direct future Star Wars films. She explained that his work on the Knives Out movies for Netflix has taken up most of his time, putting his involvement with the Star Wars franchise on hold.

Kennedy suggested that the negative online reaction affected Rian Johnson, the director. She believes he made an excellent Star Wars film but was discouraged by the criticism. She explained that this kind of response isn’t unusual for creatives working within the Star Wars franchise.

Kennedy acknowledged the anxiety many people working on the films are experiencing. She said filmmakers and actors frequently ask her about the future, expressing a sense of fear. She also pointed out that newcomers to the franchise, especially women, often face unfair criticism and negativity, and she doesn’t shy away from admitting that.

She stressed the importance of being able to bounce back from criticism. “You need to learn not to take things personally,” she explained. “You can’t eliminate negativity altogether.” Kennedy believes the criticism comes from a small, but loud, group of people, and that online bots can also amplify it. She doesn’t think it reflects the views of most fans.

Kennedy admitted that the complex and time-consuming nature of making Star Wars films also makes it hard for people to commit. She explained that these movies are incredibly challenging and require significant dedication, often for years. Whether Rian Johnson will direct another film depends on his schedule and if he chooses to get involved again.

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2026-01-16 06:06