The current mood at Lucasfilm may not be at its best. The highly anticipated film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, was expected to be one of the standout movies of the summer. With Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as one of the most beloved characters in cinema history, a reliable director in James Mangold, and a stellar supporting cast, all the ingredients for success seemed to be in place.
However, to everyone’s disappointment, Dial of Destiny failed to make a significant impact at the box office, thereby resulting in considerable losses for Disney. This turn of events now raises the question of whether a reassessment is necessary for Disney and Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars slate, which includes Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi.
A comprehensive and pessimistic post on r/StarWars argues that a shakeup behind the scenes is imperative. However, the blame is not being placed on James Mangold (as Dial of Destiny is, in fact, an entertaining movie) but on Kathleen Kennedy, the long-time head of Lucasfilm.
Although mentioning Kathleen Kennedy often attracts negative attention from fans, it is difficult to deny that her leadership has witnessed some significant challenges in the Star Wars universe. Projects like Solo and The Rise of Skywalker suffered due to executive interference, while the success of Disney Plus shows can be largely attributed to the oversight of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, rather than Kennedy.
The post concludes that now is the opportune moment to part ways with Kennedy. As we enter a new era of Star Wars, fresh perspectives are needed at the top of the company.
Some replies offer a more compassionate perspective, noting that 2023 has been a sluggish year for summer blockbusters, with an abundance of high-budget releases in June and July. Presently, audiences simply can’t afford to watch every major release, particularly considering the steep ticket prices. Moreover, those with a Disney Plus subscription know that the movie will eventually be available on the streaming service.
Others argue that Indiana Jones and Star Wars are not directly comparable. While Star Wars consistently reinvents itself, Dial of Destiny intentionally aims to recreate the excitement of the classic 1980s films and heavily relies on Harrison Ford’s star power. Additionally, younger audiences may not hold the same affection for Ford as older generations.
We suspect that Kennedy’s position is secure for the time being. It is important to acknowledge that, despite some major missteps, Star Wars has never been more popular, and Kennedy has successfully expanded the franchise beyond its traditional young male audience.
However, if a couple of the upcoming Star Wars movies suffer a similar fate as Dial of Destiny, Disney may grow concerned that one of their prized mega-franchises is not receiving the treatment it deserves.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
