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Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy officially stepped down from the position earlier this year, bringing her 14-year tenure to an end. She recently appeared at Bloomberg’s Screentime conference, where she reflected on her experiences leading the studio for more than a decade.
Many of the decisions Kennedy made after taking charge of Lucasfilm faced years of intense criticism from Star Wars fans, at times turning her into a lightning rod for the fandom’s anger. Kennedy acknowledged that relinquishing such a demanding position had brought her some relief. “I suppose I do feel a little relieved. It wasn’t an easy job, and taking charge of what George Lucas had built was an enormous challenge.”
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Addressing the fierce reactions she encountered, Kennedy said: “I think every franchise faces this challenge, especially one that has existed for 50 years and means so much to so many people. At the same time, you also have to create something new and original. Finding the right balance is the hardest part.” Some viewers have argued that Kennedy listened too closely to certain sections of the fandom. Responding to that criticism, she said Lucasfilm needed to pay attention to fans “without turning it into a referendum,” while continuing to support filmmakers with a clear creative vision.
When asked whether she had any regrets about her 14 years in charge, Kennedy said it was impossible for every project in the movie business to become a flawless success. She instead tried to study what worked and what did not, applying those lessons to future productions. Looking back, Kennedy remains convinced that Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm was the right and worthwhile decision. She described Star Wars as an ideal acquisition for Disney and emphasized that selling the company to Disney was what George Lucas himself had wanted.