As Kathleen Kennedy prepares to exit Lucasfilm, her farewell interview with Deadline reads less like an honest assessment of her tenure and more like a final attempt to rewrite the narrative — one that once again places the blame on Star Wars fans themselves.
Rather than acknowledging the fractured state of the franchise she leaves behind, Kennedy repeatedly minimizes criticism, dismisses dissent as fringe, and insists she would change nothing about the decisions that led Lucasfilm to its current position.
“A Very, Very Small Percentage of the Fan Base”
When discussing the “lows” of her time running Lucasfilm, Kennedy did not point to the lack of a cohesive sequel trilogy plan, the collapse of multiple announced films, or the diminishing cultural impact of Star Wars as a theatrical brand.
Instead, she targeted the audience.
“The lows are that you’ve got a very, very small percentage of the fan base that has enormous expectations and basically they want to continue to see pretty much the same thing,” she said.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm attends the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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Kennedy’s framing reduces years of sustained backlash into an issue caused by an allegedly tiny, unreasonable subset of fans — a claim that stands in stark contrast to declining box office confidence, streaming attrition, and the brand’s increasingly diminished presence in pop culture.
She continued: “And if you’re not going to do that, then you know going in that you’re going to disappoint them. I’m not sure there’s anything you can do about that, because you can’t please everybody.”
Rather than treating criticism as feedback, Kennedy characterizes it as an unavoidable annoyance — something that simply comes with the territory and therefore does not warrant reflection or change.
“I Wouldn’t Change Anything”
If there was any lingering doubt about Kennedy’s mindset as she exits Lucasfilm, she eliminated it entirely with one definitive statement.
“I wouldn’t do that any differently and I wouldn’t change anything that we’ve done over the years,” she said.
This declaration comes after more than a decade marked by inconsistent storytelling, abandoned creative directions, and a sequel trilogy that famously lacked a unified vision. Yet Kennedy insists that no aspect of her leadership deserves reconsideration.
Adam Driver as Ben Solo kisses Daisy Ridley as Rey in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Lucasfilm
She elaborated further: “I understand why some people may like certain things more than others, but that’s not going to change why I decided to do certain things and why I decided to work with the people that we worked with.”
In other words, fan response is irrelevant. Decisions were made, and those decisions are beyond critique.
Invoking George Lucas to Deflect Criticism
Kennedy also repeatedly positioned herself as the true steward of George Lucas’ legacy, invoking his name as a shield against criticism.
“All you can do is try to tell good stories and try to stick to the essence of what George created. He embedded incredible values into Star Wars… the whole idea of hope and fun and entertainment.”
George Lucas via AMC+ YouTube
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The implication is unmistakable: those who reject the current direction of Star Wars are not merely dissatisfied consumers, but people who fundamentally misunderstand the franchise’s values.
This rhetorical move reframes criticism as moral or philosophical failure rather than a response to storytelling choices, leadership decisions, or franchise mismanagement.
A Familiar, Unchanged Pattern
None of this is new. Kennedy has spent years attributing backlash to loud minor subsections of the fanbase, online negativity, or unrealistic expectations. What makes this interview notable is not the rhetoric itself, but the timing.
This was an opportunity for reflection. Instead, Kennedy doubled down.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: (L-R) Daisy Ridley, Kathleen Kennedy and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attend the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
As she prepares to leave Lucasfilm, she offered no acknowledgment of missteps, no lessons learned, and no indication that leadership bears any responsibility for the current state of Star Wars. The fault, once again according to Kathleen Kennedy, lies with the Star Wars fans.
What This Exit Interview Really Says
If this interview is meant to define Kathleen Kennedy’s legacy, it makes one thing abundantly clear: she does not believe the audience was ever owed accountability.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
For fans hoping her departure would signal a philosophical reset at Lucasfilm, this interview offers a sobering reality check.
Kathleen Kennedy may be leaving Star Wars — but her view of its fans hasn’t changed at all.
And she made sure to say that out loud on her way out.
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