Kathleen Kennedy Says Rian Johnson Made One of the Best Star Wars Movies and Admits Online Negativity "Spooked" Him
After stepping down as president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy is finally speaking freely about her long tenure guiding the Star Wars franchise and one of its most controversial chapters.
In a recent interview, Kennedy reflected on working with Rian Johnson and the lasting fallout from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, revealing how the intense online reaction ultimately pushed the filmmaker away from the franchise.
Kennedy explained that Johnson’s departure from Star Wars wasn’t just about creative differences or unfinished plans. Timing and opportunity played a major role. As she told Deadline, his career quickly exploded in another direction.
"Once he made the Netflix deal and went off to start doing the Knives Out films, that has occupied a huge amount of his time," Kennedy said, pointing to how quickly filmmakers get pulled in different directions.
She cited Shawn Levy as a similar case while discussing his involvement with the upcoming Star Wars project Star Wars: Starfighter.
"That’s the other thing that happens here. After Shawn and I started talking about Star Wars, Stranger Things kicks in and he was completely consumed for a while by that. That's what happened with Rian."
But Kennedy didn’t stop there. She acknowledged what many fans have long suspected. The reaction to The Last Jedi took a real toll.
"And then I do believe he got spooked by the online negativity. I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies. He's a brilliant filmmaker and he got spooked. This is the rough part. When people come into this space, I have every filmmaker and actors say to me, 'What's going to happen?' They're a little scared."
The backlash surrounding The Last Jedi was intense, it’s often framed as a clash between bold storytelling choices and fan expectations. Kennedy stands by the film and its director, though, while also acknowledging how brutal the online environment can be, especially for newcomers.
When asked how she prepares talent for that reality, Kennedy was candid about her approach, particularly with women joining the franchise.
"I'm honest, especially with the women that come into this space because they unfairly get targeted. I don't try to sugarcoat it. And I emphasize that it's a very small group of people, with loud megaphones. I truly do not believe that it's the majority of the fans. And I think we're also in this weird world of where bots can affect things."
For Kennedy, resilience is part of the job description in modern fandom, even if it shouldn’t be.
"You have to develop a tough skin," she continued. "That is exactly right. That's what you have to do. You can't make it go away. All we can do is put our heads down and do the work and believe that we're doing the best we can, telling the best story we can.
“And if somebody gets really nervous about it and doesn’t want to do it, I say, then don't do it because I can't tell you this won’t happen."
Kennedy recently stepped aside after 14 years at Lucasfilm, passing leadership of Star Wars to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. Her comments arrive at a moment when the franchise is trying to reset and move forward, while still reckoning with the creative risks and cultural flashpoints of its recent past.
Whether fans loved or hated The Last Jedi, Kennedy’s words underline one undeniable truth. The conversation around Star Wars can shape careers just as much as box office numbers or critical reviews.