Did Kathleen Kennedy Get Fired From Lucasfilm? Everything We Know!
by Harini
Updated Jul 10, 2023
Did Kathleen Kennedy Get fired From Lucasfilm?
As of now, Kathleen Kennedy remains the president of Lucasfilm. Despite reports suggesting her position might be at risk due to the underperformance of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, there has been no official announcement of her firing by Lucasfilm.
Appointed by George Lucas in 2012, Kathleen Kennedy has been overseeing Lucasfilm's operations since its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company. She has played a crucial role in producing various Star Wars films, including the new Star Wars trilogy, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. While Kennedy has led the production of successful movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the reception of some projects has been mixed among fans.
The performance of Indiana Jones 5 at the box office will likely impact Kathleen Kennedy's future. Currently directed by James Mangold, the film has generated approximately $154 million in its first weekend of release. Considering the popularity of the Indiana Jones franchise, these results are less than optimal. With a reported production budget of $300 million, the movie's financial performance falls short of expectations.
In the coming weeks, the box office results of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will likely play a significant role in determining Kathleen Kennedy's future at Lucasfilm. The financial outcome of the film, coupled with projections for its overall success, will influence the decisions made by the studio. However, as of now, Kennedy remains an integral part of Lucasfilm.
While rumors and speculation have circulated regarding Kathleen Kennedy's potential departure from Lucasfilm, she is currently still serving as its president. The performance of Indiana Jones 5 will determine the studio's decision-making process regarding her future. Fans eagerly await updates on the situation, as Kennedy's tenure and the future of Star Wars content continue to be of great interest.
Is Kathleen Kennedy Still Working in Lucastflim?
Kathleen Kennedy's continued employment at Lucasfilm has been a subject of speculation, but it is important to clarify that she is indeed still working at the company, and there has been no official announcement regarding her departure or termination from her position.
Having assumed the role of president in 2012, Kennedy was personally chosen by George Lucas, the renowned creator of Star Wars, to lead Lucasfilm and oversee its operations following the acquisition by The Walt Disney Company.
Throughout her tenure, she has been instrumental in the production of numerous Star Wars films, including the new Star Wars trilogy, as well as standalone movies such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story. While some of these projects, notably Star Wars: The Force Awakens, achieved considerable success under Kennedy's guidance, fan reception to many of the recent endeavors has been mixed.
The latest addition to this mixed reception is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Directed by James Mangold, the film garnered $154 million in its opening weekend at the box office. Considering the popularity of the Indiana Jones franchise, these results are regarded as less than satisfactory. It is worth noting that the production budget for Indiana Jones 5 was reported to be around $300 million, further emphasizing the financial implications of its performance.
In conclusion, despite ongoing rumors and speculation, Kathleen Kennedy remains an active part of Lucasfilm. The outcome of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the box office will likely influence future decisions and assessments within the company. The mixed reception from fans, coupled with the financial considerations surrounding the film, may factor into discussions about the direction of future projects and Kennedy's continued role at Lucasfilm.
About Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, an American film and television production company, was established by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 in San Rafael, California. The majority of its operations were later relocated to San Francisco in 2005. Currently, Lucasfilm operates as a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, which falls under the umbrella of Disney Entertainment and is ultimately owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The studio is widely recognized for its creation and production of the immensely popular Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Furthermore, Lucasfilm has been at the forefront of advancements in special effects, sound engineering, and computer animation for the film industry.
Several films produced by Lucasfilm have achieved remarkable commercial success. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) are all included in the list of the 50 highest-grossing films of all time. Notably, Star Wars: The Force Awakens holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada.
The acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney took place on October 30, 2012. The transaction amounted to $4.05 billion, which was paid through a combination of cash and stock. The cash component accounted for $1.855 billion, while the remainder was in the form of Disney's stock.
Overall, Lucasfilm's enduring impact on the entertainment industry, particularly through its iconic franchises and pioneering advancements, has solidified its position as a significant player in the realm of film and television production.
Who is Kathleen Kennedy?
Kathleen Kennedy, born on June 5, 1953, is a prominent American film producer and the president of Lucasfilm. She co-founded Amblin Entertainment alongside Steven Spielberg and her husband, Frank Marshall, in 1981.
Kennedy's career as a producer took off with her first film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, released in 1982. She went on to collaborate with Spielberg again in producing the highly successful Jurassic Park franchise, with the first two films ranking among the top ten highest-grossing movies of the 1990s. In 1992, Kennedy and Marshall established The Kennedy/Marshall Company together.
On October 30, 2012, Kennedy assumed the role of president of Lucasfilm following its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company for $4.2 billion. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in overseeing the development, production, and release of various notable projects. These include the Star Wars sequel trilogy consisting of The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Kennedy also produced standalone Star Wars films like Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018). Additionally, she oversaw the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones series, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, set to release in 2023. Furthermore, Kennedy has been involved in producing acclaimed Star Wars series for Disney+ such as The Mandalorian (2019–present), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), and Andor (2022–present).
Kennedy's contributions as a producer have earned tremendous success, particularly through her collaborations with Steven Spielberg. The films they worked on together have collectively generated over $11 billion in worldwide box office revenue, including five entries among the fifty highest-grossing movies in film history. Her achievements have garnered her eight Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards.
In recognition of her remarkable contributions to the film industry, Kathleen Kennedy was honored with the Irving G. Thalberg Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.
Name
Kennedy
Born
June 5, 1953 (age 70)
Birthplace
Berkeley, California, U.S
Occupation
Film Producer
Years Active
1979-present
Employer
Lucasfilm(2012-present)
Title
President, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Spouse
Frank Marshall (m. 1987)
Children
2
Kathleen Kennedy career
From 1978 to 2011, Kathleen Kennedy's career in the film industry flourished, marked by her involvement in various notable projects. After working at KCST, she transitioned to producing a local talk show called You're On for four years before relocating to Los Angeles. It was in Los Angeles that she secured her first film production position, serving as an assistant to John Milius, the executive producer of Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979).
During her time working under Milius on 1941, Kennedy captured Spielberg's attention. In Spielberg's own words, he was impressed by her organization skills, although he humorously noted that she was not particularly adept at taking notes. Instead, she possessed the talent of interrupting conversations with creative ideas.
This led Spielberg to invite Kennedy to become his secretary, and over time, she gradually assumed more significant roles in the moviemaking process. She received an associate producer credit on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and then served as an associate producer on Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist (1982), a Spielberg production.
Kennedy's producer credit alongside Spielberg began with the immensely successful film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), which marked the beginning of a prolific three-decade collaboration. In 1982, she co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Spielberg and her future husband, Frank Marshall.
Alongside Spielberg, Kennedy produced films such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), the Back to the Future trilogy, and movies directed by notable filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, and Clint Eastwood. During this period, she also produced non-Spielberg films, including The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Twister (1996), and The Sixth Sense (1999).
Kennedy's collaboration with Spielberg extended to films like War of the Worlds and Munich (both 2005), the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She and Marshall served as producers for the US versions of two Studio Ghibli animated features, Ponyo (2009) and The Secret World of Arrietty (2012). Additionally, she produced Spielberg's Lincoln (2012), which garnered numerous award nominations.
In May 2012, Kennedy made the decision to step down from Kennedy/Marshall, leaving Frank Marshall as the sole principal of their film company. However, the following month, she assumed the position of co-chair of Lucasfilm Ltd., alongside George Lucas. When Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney on October 30, 2012, Kennedy was promoted to the role of president. In 2018, her contract as president of Lucasfilm was extended for an additional three years, keeping her in the position until October 30, 2021.
Did Kathleen Kennedy Get Fired From Lucasfilm? FAQ
No, as of now, Kathleen Kennedy has not been fired from her position as the president of Lucasfilm. There has been no official announcement of her departure from the company.
Kathleen Kennedy remains employed as the president of Lucasfilm, and there has been no indication of her being fired from the company.
The speculation about Kathleen Kennedy being fired from Lucasfilm stemmed from the underperformance of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but no official statement or announcement has been made regarding her dismissal.
Kathleen Kennedy assumed the role of president of Lucasfilm on October 30, 2012, following the acquisition of the company by The Walt Disney Company.
Kathleen Kennedy has been involved in producing various successful projects, including the Star Wars sequel trilogy, films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park, and series like The Mandalorian.