The rise and fall of a legacy
When Kathleen Kennedy stepped into her role as Lucasfilm president, she inherited one of the most storied franchises in cinematic history. A protege of Steven Spielberg and a seasoned producer with credits like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park, Kennedy was seen as a natural fit to guide Star Wars into a new era. Her early years were marked by the release of The Force Awakens in 2015, which grossed over $2 billion worldwide and reignited fan enthusiasm. However, the subsequent films in the sequel trilogy—The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker—were met with mixed reviews and declining box office returns.
By the time The Rise of Skywalker premiered in 2019, it earned just over half of what The Force Awakens made, pulling in 1.08 billion globally. Spin?offs like Solo: A Star Wars Story fared even worse, losing money with a meager 392 million worldwide gross. Critics argue that Kennedy’s focus on identity politics and her "The Force is Female" campaign alienated longtime fans. John Nolte of Breitbart News noted, “Kennedy took the formula that killed Star Wars and murdered Indiana Jones.”
The Indiana Jones debacle
Kennedy’s influence extended beyond Star Wars, with the Indiana Jones franchise also suffering under her stewardship. The latest installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, has been labeled a financial disaster, with critics panning its portrayal of the titular hero as a “bitter incompetent” while elevating Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character in what some have called a “Mary Sue” role. Nolte described the film as “on track to become one of the biggest money losers in Hollywood history.”
The backlash has been fierce, with even progressive reviewers criticizing the film’s lack of appeal. Elon Musk joined the chorus of detractors last year, accusing Kennedy of pushing a “woke” agenda in projects like The Acolyte. Kennedy, however, has defended her approach, telling the New York Times in November 2023 that women in Star Wars often face disproportionate criticism. “Because of the fan base being so male-dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal,” she said.
A divisive legacy
Kennedy’s tenure at Lucasfilm has been a study in contrasts. On one hand, she oversaw the expansion of the Star Wars universe into television with successful series like The Mandalorian. On the other, her handling of the film division has been widely criticized for prioritizing representation over storytelling.
While her commitment to diversity has earned praise in some quarters, others argue that it came at the expense of the franchises’ core appeal. The decline in box office performance and fan engagement has led many to question whether Kennedy’s vision aligned with the spirit of George Lucas’s original creations. Kennedy’s legacy is a reminder that even the most powerful figures in Hollywood are not immune to the consequences of their left-wing bias and desires to inject political agendas into movies. Diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas do not belong in film; they damage creative expression and the integrity of storytelling.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.
