Rian Johnson has expressed his enthusiasm for new directions in the Star Wars franchise following the recent departure of Kathleen Kennedy as the head of Lucasfilm. Kennedy, who has led the studio for 14 years after being chosen by George Lucas, announced her exit earlier this month. She will be succeeded by Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan.
At the Variety Studio presented by Audible during the Sundance Film Festival, Johnson remarked, “I love Kathy. I am excited now to see what she does next.” He emphasized the importance of introducing “fresh voices and fresh filmmakers” into the franchise. “As a ‘Star Wars’ fan, the most exciting thing for me is always seeing when they bring in fresh voices and fresh filmmakers to come in and tell new stories in that world,” he added.
Johnson directed the critically acclaimed Star Wars: The Last Jedi and reflected on his experience, stating, “I had the time of my life doing it. I am now an even bigger ‘Star Wars’ fan than I was when going into it. I would feel blessed if that were to ever happen [again].”
Alongside Johnson, Kelly Marie Tran, who portrayed Rose Tico in both “The Last Jedi” and “The Rise of Skywalker,” weighed in on Kennedy’s leadership. Tran described Kennedy’s exit as “such a loss,” acknowledging her significant impact on the franchise. “She’s had such an incredible career,” Tran noted. “To have someone who is not just a woman but who is so capable in that role for so long, and it’s historic. I think that it’s such a loss, but I am very happy for all the life changes she is making.”
Following the release of “The Last Jedi” in 2017, Johnson was expected to develop a new trilogy within the Star Wars universe. However, the project did not progress, leading him to focus on his own Knives Out trilogy. In an exit interview with Deadline, Kennedy explained that Johnson’s commitment to the “Knives Out” films occupied a significant portion of his time. She also mentioned that he had become “a little scared” by the fan backlash to “The Last Jedi.” Johnson took to X to refute this claim, stating, “Lol zero spooked, sorry.”
As the franchise transitions under new leadership, both Johnson and Tran’s comments reflect a sense of optimism for the future of Star Wars. Fans eagerly await the introduction of new creative voices to expand the beloved universe.
