Lucasfilm Offered J.J. Abrams Kathleen Kennedy’s Job But He Didn’t Want It

There was a great disturbance on the Internet this week, as if millions of misogynists suddenly cried out in anger…

Surely you’ve heard by now, but Lucasfilm’s President, producer of the Star Wars franchise and constant target of online trolls, Kathleen Kennedy, was given an extension on her existing contract, which means she’s running Star Wars until at least 2021.

Though many see this as a public vote of confidence on Disney’s part in Kennedy and the direction in which she’s taking the franchise, apparently it’s not as clear cut as that. According to Grace Randolph of Beyond the Trailer who, admittedly has a so-so track record when it comes to scoops, part of the reason Kennedy got the extension was simply because no one else wanted the job.

“Again since JJ wouldn’t take it, and apparently no one else would either, Kathleen Kennedy has re-upped for 3 more years at Star Wars,” she wrote on Twitter.

Given that 2018 has been a pretty bumpy year for the franchise, with the high-profile flop of Solo: A Star Wars Story (a failure Kennedy had a direct hand in after firing Phil Lord and Chris Miller), some had been expecting her to step down in favor of fresh talent. Or, worse yet, many were claiming that the Mouse House was actively trying to get rid of her.

Whatever the case may be, it seems that the producer wasn’t kept on board out of necessity but rather, Disney just couldn’t find anyone to replace her and so, extended her contract a few more years until they can get someone else in there to take her spot. Or so says Grace Randolph.

Again, the tipster has a spotty track record at best, so take this all with a grain of salt. Regardless of the reason behind Kennedy’s extension though, if one thing’s for certain it’s that it’ll be fascinating to watch how the future of Star Wars unfolds under her watch over the next few years.