It looks like the only Christmas miracle that’s going to save Kathleen Kennedy is a new Star Wars film.
According to sources, Disney has allegedly hurled an ultimatum at the Lucasfilm president, demanding a new Star Wars movie from her in two years’ time. What’s more, the studio apparently wants a finished product, with all the tedious processes of production and filming wrapped up just in time for the movie to be out in cinemas by Christmas 2025.
The rumor further states that in case Kennedy isn’t able to hand over a completed project by the given timeline, she’d be outstripped of her title as the president of Lucasfilm. And if said rumors hold any veracity whatsoever, then the producer’s clock is ticking.
Kathleen Kennedy’s Position As Lucasfilm’s President Might be in Jeopardy
Kathleen Kennedy has served as the president of Lucasfilm for over a decade now. She first took over the company’s reins back in 2012 with a vision of reviving the Star Wars franchise, a goal that she ultimately achieved with grand success. After all, George Lucas had himself chosen her for the job.
Sure, the Star Wars universe has had its fair share of highs and lows throughout Kennedy’s lengthy tenure, but it doesn’t change the fact that the award-winning producer practically salvaged what is perhaps one of the most influential pop culture phenomena today. But it seems that Disney is planning on rewarding her unflinching loyalty and devotion with a shocking threat to her job instead.
Industry insider Jeff Sneider recently revealed that certain trusted sources had told him how the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial‘s producer’s job is on the line with Disney breathing down her neck to deliver a new Star Wars film by 2025. “[Her] whole job depends on having a movie in theatres on Christmas Day 2025,” Sneider claimed.
Kennedy’s reported predicament is followed by yet another rumor about the upheavals currently taking place at Disney, according to which the billion-dollar studio is also hatching a plan to wrap up the Indiana Jones franchise so that it can fully focus on Star Wars instead. In which case, it would make sense why the 69-year-old Lucasfilm president is being pressurized to introduce fresh, new content involving the space opera franchise. But it still seems a bit of a stretch to put her job at stake for that.
A Horde of New Star Wars Projects Are Rumored to be in the Works
With Disney apparently investing all its time, effort, and money in the galactic universe of Star Wars, it would naturally need sizzling new content to back said plans up. So it wouldn’t be too astonishing for fans to wake up one day and find out that three new Star Wars films are on their merry way to the big screens. And who knows, that might just end up happening after all. At least Sneider has been told so.
From what he knows, three new movies are indeed going to be announced this very year, during the annual Star Wars Celebration, a massive fan gathering celebrating the renowned franchise that is more than four decades old.
However, none of these rumors have been verified yet so it’s best to take them with a pinch of salt. Even so, may the force be with Kennedy.
Source: The Hot Mic