- "Story, at the most basic level, is a fiction designed to unify people."
- ―Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy CBE is the President of Lucasfilm and a film producer since the 1980s. She succeeded Lucasfilm's founder, George Lucas, in 2012, having been a President of the Producers Guild of America. Kennedy served as executive producer for all three films of the Star Wars sequel trilogy as well as other Star Wars standalone films and television series. Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Steven Spielberg also co-founded Amblin Entertainment, a film production company behind many of the over seventy films that were produced or executive produced by Kennedy. The producer is a recipient of numerous film production awards and has been nominated eight times for an Academy Award, and she also sits on numerous boards, including chairing the American Film Institute's board of trustees.[2]
Biography
- "I racked my brain to figure out who do I trust and who do I know really well and is level-headed, who understands the business side of it but also understands the creative side of it. And finally I banged into it and said, 'Oh, my God, it's Kathy.'"
- ―George Lucas, on choosing someone to run Lucasfilm
When Kathleen Kennedy became President of Lucasfilm Ltd.[4] in 2012, she aimed to rejuvenate Star Wars with a new era of films after fans felt underwhelmed from the prequel trilogy.[5] Her position has her overseeing Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound. Kennedy was the producer of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, the first film in the new sequel trilogy. She also produced Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.[4]
By 2018, Lucasfilm Ltd. had begun developing a television series set before Rogue One which starred Cassian Andor and K-2SO.[6] Kennedy sent[7] the script[6] for one of the pilots to director Tony Gilroy and asked for his opinion.[7] Gilroy then wrote a forensic manifesto[6] for Kennedy[7] explaining why the idea would not work and what Lucasfilm should do instead.[6]
In early 2019, months before the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Kennedy announced that Lucasfilm would take a hiatus to regroup and rethink. Lucasfilm recognized that they needed to work together to create the architecture of the next chapter of the company. They learned that Star Wars needs filmmakers with a professional devotion. Disney wanted something as big as the films for the release of Disney+, so Kennedy first turned to filmmaker Jon Favreau who said he had an idea. After their meeting at Kennedy's office, Favreau started writing without a contract. His idea was about a Mandalorian, but Kennedy realized Dave Filoni's Star Wars: The Clone Wars series already focused on Mandalorians. She arranged a meeting between Favreau and Filoni in Los Angeles where they both combined their ideas for a Mandalorian show.[5] Kennedy was an executive producer for The Mandalorian.[4]
In October, 2019, Kennedy was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to the United Kingdom's film industry.[1] Kennedy worked as an executive producer for The Book of Boba Fett and the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series.[4] In January, 2020, she announced that an overhaul for the latter series was in order. She temporarily shut down production and hired writer Joby Harold to take over from Hossein Amini.[8] Moses Ingram, the actor who played the Third Sister, received her lightsaber as a gift from Kennedy.[9] Kennedy and the crew often talked about a possible extension because "everybody came together and had such an incredible time." She said they'd have to question why before making any extensions to the show.[8]
Kennedy, Gilroy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, and Michelle Rejwan served as executive producers for the Andor television series. Kennedy and the crew felt fortunate to have Luna reprise his role as Cassian Andor in the show. They all felt it was important to show how Andor's background defined his character.[4] Kennedy and Gilroy gave composer Nicholas Britell "total freedom" to imagine a unique soundscape for the series.[10] When Gilroy first heard Britell play his theme for the series, he called Kennedy and told her they had a theme. Kennedy was impressed by how production designer Luke Hull was able to make the Ferrix set look real and grounded as well as feel like Star Wars.[4] She was excited for the audience to discover how Star Wars can be different genres. In September, 2022, Kennedy attended the Andor launch event in Hollywood, California.[11]
Works
Filmography
| Year | Title | Series | Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens | Executive Producer | |
| 2016 | Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey | Herself | |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Executive Producer | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi | Executive Producer | |
| 2018 | Solo: A Star Wars Story | Executive Producer | |
| 2019 | "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 2: The Child" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 3: The Sin" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 4: Sanctuary" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 6: The Prisoner" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | "Chapter 7: The Reckoning" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker | Executive Producer | |
| 2019 | "Chapter 8: Redemption | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| Cancelled, set for release in 2020 | Untitled Boba Fett film | Producer | |
| 2020 | "Directing" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Legacy" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Cast" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Technology" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Practical" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Process" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Score" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Connections" | Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 9: The Marshal" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 10: The Passenger" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 11: The Heiress" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 12: The Siege" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 13: The Jedi" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 14: The Tragedy" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 15: The Believer" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | "Chapter 16: The Rescue" | The Mandalorian | Executive Producer |
| 2021 | "The Duel" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "Tatooine Rhapsody" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "THE TWINS" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "The Village Bride" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "The Ninth Jedi" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "T0-B1" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "The Elder" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "Lop & Ochō" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "Akakiri" | Star Wars: Visions | Lucasfilm Ltd. President |
| 2021 | "Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 3: The Streets of Mos Espa" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | "Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor" | The Book of Boba Fett | Executive Producer |
| 2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Executive Producer |
Bibliography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Cancelled, set for release in 2016 | The Making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Wrote the foreword |
| 2018 | Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy | Wrote the foreword |
Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy named Commander of the British Empire by Breznican, Anthony on Vanity Fair (October 18, 2019) (archived from the original on October 20, 2019)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
Kathleen Kennedy on Lucasfilm.com (backup link)
- ↑ How the Star Wars producer went from secretary to studio boss by Lev-ram, Michal on Fortune (September 10, 2015) (archived from the original on August 2, 2022)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5
ANDOR Production Brief V3 FINAL 8-04-22 by McIntyre, Gina on Getty Images (August 4, 2022) (backup link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: The Rebellion Will Be Televised by Breznican, Anthony on www.vanityfair.com (May 17, 2022) (backup link not verified!)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 How ‘Andor' Became the First ‘Star Wars' TV Series for Grown-Ups: ‘I Wanted to Do It About Real People' by Vary, Adam B on Variety (archived from the original on August 24, 2022)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 ‘Andor' Creator Tony Gilroy Urged His Team to Put Aside Their ‘Star Wars' Reverence by Davids, Brian on The Hollywood Reporter (September 23, 2022) (archived from the original on September 23, 2022)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Inside the 17-year journey to reunite Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen for Obi-Wan Kenobi by Ross, Dalton on Entertainment Weekly (March 10, 2022) (archived from the original on March 10, 2022)
- ↑ How Moses Ingram made a Star Wars Halloween character for Black girls on Obi-Wan Kenobi by Ross, Dalton on Entertainment Weekly (April 6, 2022) (archived from the original on April 6, 2022)
- ↑ ‘Andor' Composer Nicholas Britell Breaks Down His Score and Why He Incorporated Rustling Leaves by Burlingame, Jon on Variety (September 26, 2022) (archived from the original on September 26, 2022)
- ↑
Diego Luna and the Cast and Crew of Andor on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Micheline Chau - Executive Bio, Compensation History, and Contacts - Equilar Atlas on Equilar (December 23, 2013) (archived from the original)
- ↑ Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. by The Walt Disney Company on Yahoo! (October 30, 2012) (archived from the original on November 18, 2012)
