Kathleen Kennedy Calls for Star Wars Movies to Become Spectacular James Bond-Like Events
In a recent interview, Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, shared her vision for the future of Star Wars on the big screen. Kennedy emphasized the importance of turning new theatrical releases into grand, James Bond-like events.
During Star Wars Celebration in April, Lucasfilm and Disney unveiled plans for not one, not two, but three new live-action Star Wars films. However, Kennedy expressed that they are not in a hurry to meet specific release dates. Instead, she wants future movies to be truly momentous occasions.
Drawing inspiration from the James Bond franchise, Kennedy explained her outlook on theatrical release schedules. She stated, “I’ve often brought up Bond. That’s every three or four years, and there wasn’t this pressure to feel like you had to have a movie every year. I feel that was very important to Star Wars. We have to eventise this.”
Kennedy emphasized the importance of honesty and allowing movies to be made and released when they are truly ready. While there is no confirmed release window for the next Star Wars film, we do know that James Mangold is working on a project focused on the dawn of the Jedi, Dave Filoni is exploring the New Republic era, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing a film centered around Daisy Ridley’s character, Rey.
Kennedy elaborated on their plans, stating, “What we’re exploring is the evolution of the Jedi. We’re going very far back, we’re looking at the present, and now we’re moving 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. The First Order has fallen, the Jedi are in chaos – there’s even a question of how many exist anymore – and Rey is building the New Jedi Order, based on the texts she was given and the teachings of Luke.”
These upcoming projects mark the return of Star Wars to the big screen after a multiyear hiatus. The last theatrical release was The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, which concluded the iconic Skywalker Saga that began with the original Star Wars trilogy from 1977 to 1983.
While Star Wars has expanded its storytelling through episodic series on Disney+, such as The Mandalorian and Andor, the franchise is now poised to captivate audiences with highly anticipated cinematic experiences. Fans got a glimpse of upcoming series like The Acolyte, Skeleton Crew, and Ahsoka during Star Wars Celebration, signaling an exciting future for the galaxy far, far away.
