Lucasfilm Reportedly Fires Controversial Executive After Latest Film Flops

A top executive at Lucasfilm may be taking her final bow—for real this time.

After years of speculation and the clock running out on a contract shakily renewed in 2021, rumors are swirling that Kathleen Kennedy is officially ousted from the film-making giant. With over 70 feature film credits, 120 Academy Award nominations, and 27 wins, Kennedy’s resume is nothing to scoff at. Still, her tenure at Lucasfilm has been scrutinized since she stepped into George Lucas’s role in 2012.

Handed immense pressure to maintain the potency of artisan film branches’ success along with her new title, Kennedy hasn’t delivered in the eyes of Disney fans—especially regarding Star Wars and Indiana Jones. But before Kennedy opposers rejoice in her Shakespearian demise, let’s dive into the Lucasfilm facts.

Fans Think the Force Is Not With Her

Before The Walt Disney Company dropped a cool $4.05 billion acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Kennedy was busy producing prolific films like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Jurassic Park (1993), and more recently, the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.

Despite success with her leading the Lucasfilm charge when J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) reached die-hard fans, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) had a critical response from fans, losing their trust in her leadership. Kennedy’s treatment of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) was one of the most condemned elements of her approach to Star Wars, in addition to accusations of Kennedy having a “woke” agenda.

Kennedy has famously been a proponent of incorporating more women creators into Lucasfilm projects, though few have made progress. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins was set to helm spinoff of a Star Wars film titled Rogue Squadron back in 2020, but the film hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

With seemingly manufactured moves that have shifted Lucasfilm’s focus from the integrity of the lauded franchise, fans have called for “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka” creator Dave Filoni to take over Kennedy’s role. No moves have been officially announced for Filoni, but in the meantime, another controversial franchise has been in trouble: Indiana Jones.

Film Flops and the Lucasfilm Future

Not only has the final installment of America’s favorite hero franchise been considered a flop, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) purportedly makes the same mistake Kennedy made with Luke Skywalker in recent Star Wars films. Having yet to break even on its astronomical $295 budget since opening in theaters on June 30, the latest Indy installment has received backlash for positioning the titular hero in a dwindling light.

With Lucasfilm’s latest project in hot water, It appears the curtain could be closing on Kennedy’s time at the company. Rumors of her contract expiring in 2024, combined with box office blunders, have suggested her contract will be clipped sooner than anticipated. Over the weekend, “Kathleen Kennedy fired” was trending on social media along with this tweet from @ThwipT_:

I’m hearing Kathleen Kennedy is now gone from Lucasfilm

I’m hearing Kathleen Kennedy is now gone from Lucasfilm #Lucasfilm #StarWars #IndianaJones

— ThwipT (@ThwipT_) June 29, 2023

Kennedy’s contract with Lucasfilm notably expired in 2021. Still, it was reportedly extended so she could oversee projects like Obi-Wan Kenobi and the three confirmed Star Wars films in the box office queue. An Inside the Magic article reports a new development citing Kennedy was offered two weeks of paid leave and locked out of her business email so higher-level execs could put their heads together about her Lucasfilm future.

Despite these whispers and social media movements supporting Kennedy’s alleged departure, she was seen not too long ago at the Star Wars Celebration Europe, and speculation about the email lockout and paid leave may stem from Kennedy simply taking a vacation.

However, with the end of her contract nearing, these claims are not baseless. Disney Fanatic will continue providing updates on Kennedy’s rumored departure as they come.