Kathleen Kennedy is finally leaving Lucasfilm (for real this time), and during her exit interview, she was asked about the status of future projects and Rian Johnson’s possible return to “Star Wars.” Rian Johnson is best when he is doing his own thing and not when he’s in the middle of an established IP trilogy where he throws everything out like Luke Skywalker tosses a lightsaber.
Rian’s film “The Last Jedi” is pointed to by many as the catalyst that fractured a 40+ year fandom and was the start of “Star Wars” decline. To be fair, the constant Disney+ shows and bad decisions like making “Obi-Wan” about Leia did not help. Nor did Kennedy’s constant announcements for show runners and projects that would never be made.
But I digress.
Now Kennedy is saying that the reason Rian Johnson isn’t doing more “Star Wars” films is that he’s afraid to.
“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…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…”
What films was he supposed to do?
Back in November 2017, it was announced that Johnson would be making his own “Star Wars” trilogy about other characters outside the Skywalker family. Then “The Last Jedi” came out and after the fan reception, his trilogy was shelved.
But is Kennedy’s excuse about him being afraid true? I don’t think so.
Rian Johnson has not stopped begging for his trilogy to be made. It is brought up often, and he usually discusses how much he wants to do it. He’s been angling for it for a while, which isn’t the behavior of someone afraid.
If anything, it seemed like Kennedy was stalling him out,
“I have talked to Kathy [Kathleen Kennedy] about it and we’re still talking about it,” Johnson tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I had such an amazing experience making ‘The Last Jedi.’ It’s entirely a matter of scheduling. For me, putting this [‘Glass Onion’] out and making the next one of these…the answer is I don’t know.”
He also said
“I had the best experience of my life making and putting out the ‘Star Wars’ story I did….and I’m still talking to Kathy Kennedy and at some point in the future it’s my goal to be back there….to be back in that world, I love it so much.”
Not exactly the words of someone who is “spooked”.
He has been saying over and over again how much he wants to do his trilogy or come back to ‘Star Wars’ so I call BS on Kennedy.
Plus, he just posted this.
lol zero spooked, sorry https://t.co/1gWREzKxAO
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) January 17, 2026
Frankly, I don’t want Johnson or Kennedy near the franchise, but I don’t think it’s right to say someone is “spooked” when it was clearly her decision.
What do you think? Comment and let us know!
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