Lucasfilm has been led by Kathleen Kennedy ever since Disney acquired the company. Of course, fans know that this era hasn’t been easy, with plenty of ups and downs between the studios and audiences. Now Kathleen Kennedy has broken the silence on some of these downs, specifically discussing the “terrifying” attacks against women Star Wars creators made by the franchise’s “male dominated” fanbase.
This was mentioned by Kathleen Kennedy while speaking in a recent interview about the upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte. The upcoming Disney Plus series will be exploring uncharted territory within the franchise by taking place prior to The Phantom Menace.
A number of women have become involved with the series both behind and in front of the camera, and Kennedy has given her thoughts on the backlash against them and other women involved with the franchise.
Here’s what she shared with The New York Times:
“My belief is that storytelling does need to be representative of all people,” she said. “That’s an easy decision for me.”
She then shared her thoughts on the hate received by the Disney Plus show’s creator, Leslye Headland, and how male fans of the franchise can be “quite personal” when attacking these creative individuals:
“Operating within these giant franchises now, with social media and the level of expectation — it’s terrifying,” Kennedy continued. “I think Leslye has struggled a little bit with it. I think a lot of the women who step into Star Wars struggle with this a bit more. Because of the fan base being so male dominated, they sometimes get attacked in ways that can be quite personal.”
Interestingly, Headland herself agrees with Star Wars fans that share valid criticisms until they tend to cross certain boundaries, By that point, she no longer considers them fans.
As a fan myself, I know how frustrating some Star Wars storytelling in the past has been,” Headland said. “I’ve felt it myself.”
“I stand by my empathy for ‘Star Wars’ fans,” she added. “But I want to be clear. Anyone who engages in bigotry, racism or hate speech … I don’t consider a fan.”
They each share valid points, especially at a time when toxicity on social media is at an all-time high. It’s okay to have criticisms and share them, but not to completely bully and attack other people. As for The Acolyte, fans will be able to see the series via Disney Plus on June 4, 2024.