Kathleen Kennedy extends contract with Lucasfilm for three years (Exclusive)



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After the disappointment of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" at the box office, the studio plans to expand the universe with new characters introduced in movies and TV shows.

Kathleen Kennedy has relighted her lightsaber. The principal producer and architect of the Star wars The franchise renewed its contract to remain president of Lucasfilm for three years, until 2021, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

This decision is a vote of confidence in Kennedy, who took command of Lucasfilm after George Lucas' acquisition of $ 4 billion in 2012 and oversaw the relaunch of Star wars, one of the most revered cinematographic properties in the history of cinema. The four Disney news Star wars The movies brought in nearly $ 4.5 billion at the global box office. Accessories and merchandising brought billions more into the vaults of the studio.

But money has not always been easy. Kennedy had to replace the directors of two films in production or post-production. Chris Lord and Phil Miller were fired from Solo: A story of Star Wars June 20, 2017, less than a year before the release of the film. Kennedy has also effectively replaced Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards with director Tony Gilroy, although Edwards has retained his director credit. Last year, Colin Trevorrow, who was to lead Star Wars: Episode IX, was fired and replaced by the series & # 39; Episode VII Helmer, J.J. Abrams, a week later.

Kennedy's position is one of the most visible and most scrupulously scrutinized actions in Hollywood because of the immense popularity of Lucasfilm's franchises, which also include Indiana Jones. It should be noted that its renewal follows this summer Solo: A story of Star Wars, the first big-box box-office disappointment for the franchise, releasing "only" $ 392 million worldwide and leading analysts estimating the loss of the film between $ 50 and $ 80 million or more. (In contrast, the years 2017 The last Jedi and 2016 Thief A $ 1 billion worldwide and 2015 the force awakens exceeded $ 2 billion in revenue.)

The extension of the Kennedy Accord also follows a polarization reaction to Last Jedi – which accounts for 91% of new reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but has been overwhelmed with complaints from unusually angry fans on social media about key plot choices. The reaction to The last Jedi and Solo is a change in studio strategy, Disney plans to slow down the release of movies. "You can expect a slowdown," said Disney CEO Bob Iger. THR in an interview published on September 20, adding, "but that does not mean we will not make movies."

The only Star wars the current movie is Episode IX, currently shooting in London, and the release is scheduled for December 20, 2019. Sources say THR this Episode IX will be the final installment of the chapter, with Disney planning to present it as a selling point in the film's promotional campaign in the year prior to its release. Lucasfilm develops feature film projects The iron Throne creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, as well as a potential trilogy of Rian Johnson, the filmmaker behind The last Jedi. Johnson, however, is currently preparing to shoot a crime thriller starring Daniel Craig.

Sources say that the near future of Star wars Lucasfilm, directed by Kennedy, plans to develop the universe with new characters in this medium. The shows at this stage include a series of animated scenes directed by Jon Favreau (who is currently the cast) and the animated film Star Wars: The clone warDisney's untitled streaming service, scheduled for launch in the second half of 2019. In the meantime, another animated series, Resistance to Star Wars, premiere this month on The Disney Channel.

Lucasfilm is also developing a new Indiana Jones film, the fifth in a series starring Harrison Ford and directed by Spielberg, but this project has recently seen its release date boosted from July 10, 2020 to July 9, 2021. Scripting problems were the cause. The last Jones movie, 2008 The kingdom of the crystal skull, $ 786 million worldwide, adjusted for inflation.

Kennedy had her first vacation as assistant writer John Milius, then Steven Spielberg, becoming the co-founder of Amblin Entertainment. She established one of the most enviable producing careers in Hollywood, with credits on classic blockbusters like E.T. the extraterrestrial, Back to the future and Jurassic Park as well as critically acclaimed Spielberg dramas like Schindler's list, Munich, Battle horse and Lincoln.

In September, she was named recipient, along with her husband, director Frank Marshall, of the Irving G. Thalberg Award from the Academy of Arts and Film Science for a set. She will receive this honor at the 10th annual awards ceremony. Governors November 18.

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