star wars news

Kelly Marie Tran Calls Kathleen Kennedy’s Exit From Lucasfilm “Such a Loss”

Kelly Marie Tran and Kathleen Kennedy at a Star Wars and Lucasfilm event backdrop.

As Lucasfilm prepares for a new chapter, Kelly Marie Tran has shared her thoughts on Kathleen Kennedy stepping away from the company she led for more than a decade. Speaking in a recent interview, Tran described Kennedy’s departure as “such a loss,” while also expressing happiness for the personal changes Kennedy is making in her life. “Historic” leadership at Lucasfilm Tran emphasized the importance of Kennedy’s role not just as a producer, but as a long-standing leader in an industry where women at that level have historically been rare. She highlighted Kennedy’s career as both exceptional and historic, noting that her presence at the head of Lucasfilm represented more than a single executive position — it symbolized longevity, capability, and visibility in a space often dominated by men. For Tran, that context matters as much as the films themselves. A measured response, not a political one Notably, Tran’s comments were…

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Maul – Shadow Lord Shows a Galaxy Tightening Under Imperial Control

Darth Maul featured in Maul – Shadow Lord as the Empire tightens its control across the galaxy.

As Maul – Shadow Lord takes shape, new comments from executive producer Matt Michnovetz offer a clearer picture of the political and psychological landscape the series will explore. According to Michnovetz, the galaxy at this point in the timeline is not yet fully crushed by the Empire — but it’s well on its way. The Empire is expanding, quietly and relentlessly Rather than depicting a galaxy already living in open rebellion, Maul – Shadow Lord is set during a period of consolidation. The Empire is spreading outward from the core worlds, tightening its grip system by system. Many in the galaxy don’t yet fully understand what the Empire represents. Some see it as stability. Others view it as distant authority. That uncertainty is part of the tension the series aims to explore. Power is growing — but not always visibly. The Inquisitorius operates in the shadows A major element of…

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Sean Kiner and Deana Kiner Confirmed as Composers for Maul – Shadow Lord

Sean Kiner and Deana Kiner confirmed as composers for Maul – Shadow Lord, the upcoming Star Wars animated series.

Lucasfilm has confirmed that Sean Kiner and Deana Kiner are composing the score for Maul – Shadow Lord, the upcoming animated Star Wars series centered on Darth Maul. The announcement immediately signals a familiar musical direction for longtime fans of Star Wars animation, as the Kiners have been responsible for much of the franchise’s modern animated soundscape. A familiar musical signature for Star Wars animation Sean and Deana Kiner’s previous work spans nearly every major animated Star Wars project of the past decade. Their credits include: Across those series, the Kiners developed a musical identity that blends orchestral Star Wars tradition with darker, more modern textures — an approach that feels particularly well-suited to a Maul-centered story. Why the score matters for a Maul series Darth Maul has always been a character defined as much by mood as by action. From his silent menace in The Phantom Menace to his…

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Taika Waititi Wants His Star Wars Movie to Feel Fun Again — Like the Originals

Taika Waititi pictured alongside classic Star Wars space battle imagery, reflecting his vision for a fun, original trilogy–inspired Star Wars movie.

For years, Taika Waititi’s Star Wars project has existed in a strange limbo — officially announced, frequently mentioned, but rarely explained. Now, the director has offered one of his clearest statements yet about what he actually wants his film to feel like. And the key word is simple: fun. According to Waititi, the goal isn’t to reinvent Star Wars or push it into darker territory. Instead, he wants to recapture something that’s been easy to overlook in recent years — the playful, adventurous energy that defined the original films. Vis dette opslag på Instagram Et opslag delt af Variety (@variety) “Harness the fun from the original films” Waititi has described his approach as an attempt to reconnect with what made Star Wars click in the first place. Not the lore spreadsheets. Not the timeline debates. But the sense that these movies were, at their core, entertaining space adventures with heart….

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Walt Disney Studios at CinemaCon: Extended Look at The Mandalorian & Grogu Likely — Starfighter Less So

CinemaCon image teasing a possible extended look at The Mandalorian and Grogu movie

Walt Disney Studios has confirmed its presentation at CinemaCon on April 16, and Star Wars fans are already speculating about what Lucasfilm might reveal at the event. With The Mandalorian & Grogu now less than two months from its theatrical release, an extended look at the movie could be part of the showcase. The presentation comes at a key moment in Disney’s promotional calendar — CinemaCon is one of the first major film industry gatherings of the year, where studios often unveil new footage, extended trailers, and exclusive clips ahead of summer movie season. The Mandalorian & Grogu Is a Big Disney 2026 Release The Mandalorian & Grogu is already one of Lucasfilm’s most anticipated releases, scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 22, 2026. Directed by Jon Favreau and co-written with Dave Filoni, the movie brings the beloved characters from the Disney+ series to the big screen. So far,…

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Star Wars: Propaganda and Truth — What the Video Breaks Down

Star Wars Propaganda and Truth video analysis image exploring power and information in the galaxy

A new cinematic video titled “Star Wars: Propaganda and Truth” examines how the Star Wars saga portrays the forces of persuasion, power, and information — and how those in charge shape reality to control the galaxy. The video isn’t a plot recap — it’s more of a montage and thematic exploration, pulling together scenes from across Star Wars to show how messages are shaped, narratives are controlled, and truth becomes a weapon in its own right. “Propaganda” as a Storytelling Device in Star Wars At its core, Star Wars is as much a story about information and influence as it is about lightsabers and space battles. Whether it’s the messaging used by the Galactic Republic, the Republic’s enemies, the Empire, or the Rebel Alliance, the way the saga frames truth and persuasion is a recurring theme that the video highlights: In Star Wars, such narrative battles complement physical ones: winning…

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Sam Witwer Confirmed for Washington State Summer Con (June 19–21, 2026)

Sam Witwer guest announcement image for Washington State Summer Con June 19–21 2026

If you’re anywhere near the Pacific Northwest next summer, this is a Star Wars guest announcement worth circling on the calendar. Sam Witwer has been confirmed as an attending guest at Washington State Summer Con, taking place June 19–21, 2026 at the Washington State Fair and Events Center in Puyallup, Washington. And yes — that’s the Sam Witwer Star Wars fans instantly recognize. Why This Is a Big Star Wars Guest Booking Witwer is one of the most beloved multi-era Star Wars performers, known for: With MAUL – SHADOW LORD arriving in 2026, his con appearances are about to get even more attention than usual. Vis dette opslag på Instagram Et opslag delt af Washington State Summer Con (@wasummercon) Event Details: Washington State Summer Con 2026 Here’s what’s confirmed: The convention is known for bringing in genre guests across sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture — and Star Wars names tend…

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Disney+ Has Turned May the 4th Into a Star Wars Release Tradition (Now 6 Years Running)

Star Wars Disney+ May the 4th release streak collage showing Clone Wars, Visions, Tales, and Maul finale eras

May the 4th used to be mostly about memes, marathons, and people posting the same Vader GIF like it was brand-new information. Now? It’s basically a release date. Because 2026 marks the 6th year in a row where Disney+ debuts a new Star Wars project on May the 4th — and at this point, it’s clearly not an accident. 6 Years of Star Wars Releases on May the 4th (Disney+) Here’s the streak: That’s six straight years where May 4th wasn’t just “Star Wars Day.” It was also content drop day. Why This Matters (Even If It Sounds Like a Fun Little Trivia Fact) This isn’t just a cute calendar coincidence. It says something pretty obvious about Disney’s current Star Wars strategy: May the 4th is now a marketing anchor Disney+ doesn’t need to explain May 4th releases anymore. The date sells itself. Animation is carrying the tradition Notice the…

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Rey Isn’t Gone Yet: Daisy Ridley Reportedly Has a Major Role in Simon Kinberg’s New Star Wars Trilogy

Rey in Star Wars, used for article about Daisy Ridley reportedly having a major role in Simon Kinberg’s upcoming trilogy

Rey Skywalker might not be done with the galaxy after all. According to a new report from scooper Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK), Daisy Ridley’s Rey will reportedly have a major role in Simon Kinberg’s upcoming Star Wars trilogy — but (and this is the important part) the movies won’t actually be “about Rey.” Instead, the new trilogy is said to focus primarily on brand-new lead characters, with Rey positioned as a major supporting presence rather than the central protagonist. And honestly? That’s probably the smartest possible version of “bringing Rey back.” The Rumor: Rey Returns, But She’s Not the Main Character Here’s what’s being claimed: That’s a very specific kind of return — not a “Sequel Trilogy 2.0,” but more like a passing of the torch. It also lines up with something that’s been floating around for a while: Lucasfilm wanting Rey to remain important in canon, without asking the audience…

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LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum Is Closing Soon — Last Chance to Visit

LEGO Star Wars exhibition display featuring a brick-built Darth Maul bust and LEGO lightsaber duel

If you’ve been meaning to check out LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum… this is your final warning from the galaxy. The massive brick-built Star Wars experience is now in its final days, with the exhibition scheduled to close on January 26, 2026. So if you’re in Melbourne (or even thinking about making the trip), this is officially the “go now or regret it forever” moment. What Is LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition? This isn’t a regular “some LEGO in glass cases” museum display. LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition is an immersive, large-scale experience featuring: It’s a full-on Star Wars celebration — just made out of bricks instead of beskar. The exhibition was created using over 8 million LEGO bricks, built in Melbourne by Ryan “Brickman” McNaught and team, and took more than 25,000 hours to complete. When Does It Close? According to Melbourne Museum’s official listing, LEGO®…

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First Look at MAUL: SHADOW LORD — and It’s Recreating Obi-Wan vs Maul’s Rebels Duel

Silhouette duel on red background with headline MAUL: SHADOW LORD trailer drops tomorrow

Star Wars animation is about to get dangerous again. The first official promotional material for MAUL: SHADOW LORD is now out in the wild — and it’s already doing something that instantly grabbed fans by the collar: It appears to recreate the iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Darth Maul duel from Star Wars Rebels. And here’s the kicker: The official trailer debuts tomorrow. So yeah… the hype window is open, and it’s not subtle. The Teaser Image Is a Direct Callback to “Twin Suns” If you’ve seen Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Episode 20 (Twin Suns), you already know why this matters. That duel wasn’t just “fan service.” It was: It’s brief, almost blink-and-you-miss-it — but that’s what makes it powerful. This first MAUL: SHADOW LORD promo image clearly echoes that exact vibe: two silhouettes, tension, motion frozen at the moment before impact. It’s not just a reference. It feels like…

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Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland Is Closing Temporarily for an Original Trilogy-Themed Refurb

Oga’s Cantina entrance at Disneyland with headline about temporary closure for Original Trilogy-themed refurbishment

If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge anytime soon, here’s a heads-up Star Wars fans actually need to know: Oga’s Cantina is set to temporarily close for a refurbishment — and the theme is reportedly shifting toward the Original Trilogy era. So yes… your favorite place to sip a weird green drink while DJ R-3X does his thing is about to get a little makeover. And if the rumors are true, it’s going to lean more into the classic Star Wars vibe. Oga’s Cantina: Still One of Galaxy’s Edge’s Best Experiences Oga’s Cantina is one of the most “Star Wars” places you can visit without stepping onto a movie set. It’s loud, chaotic, packed, and borderline illegal-feeling — which is exactly what a real cantina should be. For years, the setting has been locked into the sequel trilogy era, consistent with the original Galaxy’s Edge concept: But lately,…

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Disney Is Expected to Name Its Next CEO Next Month — Here’s What That Could Mean for Lucasfilm and Star Wars

Disney boardroom meeting image with headline about naming the next CEO and what it could mean for Star Wars

Disney is reportedly preparing to make one of its biggest leadership decisions in years. According to the Los Angeles Times, Disney is expected to name its next CEO next month, as Bob Iger’s contract continues toward its scheduled end. For most Disney fans, this is obviously a massive corporate story. But for Star Wars fans (and anyone watching Lucasfilm closely), it’s also something else: A reminder that Star Wars doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it’s tied directly to Disney’s broader leadership strategy, budgets, and long-term priorities. Disney Has Been Here Before — and It Didn’t Go Smoothly The LA Times notes that Disney can’t afford another “succession implosion,” referencing the previous transition plan that backfired and led to Iger returning. That context matters, because the next CEO decision won’t just be about: It’s also about how Disney manages its crown jewel IP, including Star Wars and Marvel. Four Internal…

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Andor Broke the Star Wars Template — and Filoni Wasn’t Involved

Split image showing a Dave Filoni silhouette and gritty rebel scene with headline about Andor having zero Filoni input

Whether you think Andor is the best Star Wars Disney+ series ever made, or just “not your vibe,” one thing is hard to argue: It doesn’t feel like the rest of modern Star Wars. And according to The Wrap, there may be a very specific reason why. In a recent explainer, The Wrap reports that Andor was one of the rare live-action Star Wars projects to have “zero input” from Dave Filoni. That’s not a knock on Filoni. But it is a fascinating insight — because Andor is also one of the rare Star Wars shows that felt like it came from a totally different creative universe. Filoni’s Fingerprints Are Everywhere — Except Here For the last decade, Filoni’s presence inside Star Wars has only grown. If a Star Wars project involves: …there’s usually a Filoni silhouette somewhere behind it. So when you hear that Andor had no Filoni involvement…

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Genndy Tartakovsky Turned Down a Lucasfilm Leadership Role in 2005 — and That’s How Dave Filoni Got His Shot

Genndy Tartakovsky at a drawing desk next to Clone Wars animation still with headline about Dave Filoni joining Lucasfilm

Star Wars history is full of “what if?” moments. But this one might be one of the biggest, because it quietly shaped everything that came next — from The Clone Wars to Ahsoka to the entire Disney+ era. According to an explainer from The Wrap, Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars) was offered a leadership role at Lucasfilm in 2005 — and he turned it down. That decision reportedly led George Lucas to bring in someone else instead. That person? Dave Filoni. And yeah… the rest is basically Star Wars TV history. The Clone Wars Before Filoni: Genndy’s 2003 Series Was the Prototype Before The Clone Wars became a full CG series with seasons, arcs, and a fanbase that fights like Mandalorians in comment sections… There was Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2D animated microseries, Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–2005). It was fast, stylish, and aggressively iconic — and…

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Tom Hardy Says He’s “Up For Doing More Star Wars” After His Last Jedi Cameo

Tom Hardy silhouette facing a stormtrooper helmet with headline about doing more Star Wars

Every once in a while, Star Wars drops one of those weird little crossover facts that feels like it should be bigger news. This week’s version: Tom Hardy says he’d love to do more Star Wars — and yes, he already technically has… thanks to his stormtrooper cameo in The Last Jedi. In a recent interview, Hardy didn’t just say he likes the franchise. He said he’d be “well up” for returning — and even revealed his all-time favorite character. “I love Star Wars. My favourite character is Han Solo… I’ve always wanted to be in a Star Wars film. So playing a stormtrooper was fantastic.” Honestly? Extremely relatable. Tom Hardy’s Star Wars Cameo Was Real (But It Was Cut) If you didn’t remember Hardy showing up in The Last Jedi, don’t worry — you didn’t miss him. His cameo was filmed but did not make the theatrical cut, later…

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Rick Famuyiwa Had a Star Wars Disney+ Series in Development — Now It’s Reportedly “In Limbo”

Rick Famuyiwa with headline about his Star Wars Disney+ series being in limbo

Star Wars is never short on projects. But it is short on projects that actually make it out alive. According to The Wrap, Rick Famuyiwa was developing a Star Wars series for Disney+ — and it’s now reportedly “in limbo.” And if that name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, it should. Famuyiwa isn’t some random new hire. He’s been a quiet but consistent force in modern Star Wars, directing: So if a Famuyiwa-led Star Wars series is stuck in limbo, that’s not just a trivia detail. That’s a real “what happened here?” moment. Why Famuyiwa Matters to Modern Star Wars Famuyiwa has become one of the most trusted directors in the current Lucasfilm TV era. And The Believer isn’t just a fan favorite — it’s the kind of episode that proved Star Wars could still do something rare: character-driven tension without relying on lightsabers and nostalgia buttons. So when a…

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Dave Filoni Says He Doesn’t Lead Star Wars With a “Rule Book” — He Wants Artists to Surprise Us

Dave Filoni speaking on stage with headline about not using a Star Wars rule book

Dave Filoni has become one of the most talked-about names in Star Wars over the past few years — not just as a writer/director, but as someone increasingly seen as the franchise’s creative compass. And according to Filoni himself, that job doesn’t look like what people assume. In a recent quote shared by ScreenRant, Filoni explained that creators sometimes expect to meet him and get handed some kind of canon compliance checklist. But that’s not how he works. “People get worried that they talk to me and I’m gonna have some Star Wars rule book. I know a lot of things about how things have been done, but I’m always curious about… what have you got? What do you want to do?… The biggest thing you want is to get artists to be expressive and express themselves in this time in ways that surprise us. Even if we’re using franchises…

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Someone Digitally Remastered Princess Leia’s “A Day To Celebrate” — And Somehow It Feels Like 2026 Needed This

Princess Leia singing “A Day To Celebrate” from the Star Wars Holiday Special in a remastered banner image

There are many things the Star Wars fandom will do in the name of history. We will preserve rare toys.We will archive deleted trailers.We will analyze blurry set photos like they’re CIA documents. But nothing — nothing — fully prepares you for the fact that in the year 2026, someone has decided the world urgently needed a digitally remastered version of Princess Leia singing “A Day To Celebrate” from the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. And… honestly? They were right. 👉 Watch it here: Because if there’s one thing Star Wars fans love more than lightsabers and lore debates, it’s resurrecting cursed media and polishing it until it sparkles. The Holiday Special: the galaxy’s most haunted VHS tape The Star Wars Holiday Special holds a unique place in pop culture. It’s not just “bad.” It’s the kind of bad that becomes folklore. Like a ghost story that people swear they’ve…

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George Lucas Donated $1 Million to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial — and His Message Still Hits Hard Today

George Lucas and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. with headline about  million donation

Star Wars is usually where people go to escape the real world. But every once in a while, the galaxy far, far away loops back into something very real — and very human. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a story has been resurfacing online that feels especially worth remembering: George Lucas donated $1 million to help build the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C. And the quote Lucas shared about Dr. King back then?It still lands like a brick. The Lucas Donation: $1 Million Toward the MLK Memorial The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. wasn’t just built through government funding — it relied heavily on private donors. And among the names on that donor list is George Lucas, who contributed $1 million to the memorial project. This isn’t one of those “internet factoids” with no source, either — it was covered at the…

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Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm Era Was Polarizing — But the Awards History Is Hard to Ignore

Awards trophies on a table with headline about Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm era awards history

Kathleen Kennedy’s time as president of Lucasfilm will probably be debated forever — mostly on the internet, mostly loudly, and mostly with way too much confidence. But there’s one angle that cuts through the noise: Awards. Real ones. Industry ones. The kind you don’t win by having a loud fandom. And according to a new breakdown, the Kathleen Kennedy era at Lucasfilm has built a pretty serious awards track record — across Star Wars films, Disney+ series, and Lucasfilm’s broader output. So whether you view her as the architect of modern Star Wars or the reason your group chat still argues about The Last Jedi… This is what the awards history actually looks like. ✅ TV Shows — Total Awards Wins & Nominations (all award bodies) Here’s the scoreboard — total award wins and nominations across all major bodies during the Kathleen Kennedy era: TV Show Total Awards Wins Total…

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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Echoes of the Empire Comic Announced, Bringing Luke, Leia & Chewie to Batuu

Galaxy’s Edge Echoes of the Empire comic banner featuring Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader cover art

Galaxy’s Edge is about to get a lot more… canonical. A new five-issue comic series titled STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE – ECHOES OF THE EMPIRE has been announced, and it’s not just another tie-in that stays safely in the background. This one brings Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca to Batuu — where they stumble upon a dangerous relic that pulls them into a direct collision course with the Empire. In other words: Galaxy’s Edge is getting the full Original Trilogy treatment. Why this matters now Batuu has been part of the Star Wars ecosystem for years, but it often lives in a strange space: extremely detailed, massively popular… and slightly disconnected from the main saga. This comic changes that dynamic. Putting Luke, Leia and Chewie in the middle of a Galaxy’s Edge story makes the theme park planet feel less like an “experience setting,” and more like a real…

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Hollywood Reporter Says a “Sequel-Sequel Trilogy” Feels Inevitable — and Honestly, They Might Be Right

Concept-style Star Wars top banner with headline about Episodes X–XII being discussed as the next trilogy

For years, Lucasfilm has treated the post-Rise of Skywalker future like an awkward family dinner conversation. Everyone knows it’s going to come up. Nobody wants to be the first to bring it up. But now The Hollywood Reporter is doing something the Star Wars industry press rarely does: saying the quiet part out loud. A “sequel-sequel trilogy” — basically Episodes X, XI and XII — doesn’t just feel possible. It feels inevitable. And while that idea isn’t confirmed by Lucasfilm, it’s suddenly the kind of “obvious next step” that’s getting harder to ignore. Why this matters now Star Wars is entering a strange new phase. Not because there’s a shortage of projects — but because there’s a shortage of certainty. Some movies are reportedly on hold. Some are being reworked. The Disney+ side continues to expand, but theatrical Star Wars still lacks what Marvel has always had: A clear flagship…

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Kathleen Kennedy Says Casting Han Solo Was “An Impossible Situation” for Alden Ehrenreich

Top banner showing Alden Ehrenreich and Harrison Ford as Han Solo with headline about Kathleen Kennedy saying the casting was an impossible situation

Kathleen Kennedy has spent years defending Lucasfilm’s big swings — and to be fair, Star Wars requires big swings. But in her latest Deadline exit interview, the outgoing Lucasfilm president offered a rare moment of direct, personal reflection on one of the most debated choices of the Disney era: asking Alden Ehrenreich to replace Harrison Ford as Han Solo. And Kennedy doesn’t sugarcoat it. Why this matters now With Kennedy stepping away from Lucasfilm leadership, these interviews aren’t just PR. They’re the closest thing we’ll get to an official post-mortem on modern Star Wars decision-making. And Solo: A Star Wars Story has always been one of the most interesting case studies: So Kennedy acknowledging regret here isn’t small. It’s a signal that Lucasfilm knows exactly what went wrong conceptually, even if the movie itself has aged better for many viewers. What Kathleen Kennedy said Kennedy praised Ehrenreich directly, but admitted…

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