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During her exit interview with Deadline, Kennedy, who has now officially stepped down as Lucasfilm president, addressed the status of multiple Star Wars movies. Sadly, Dawn of the Jedi has been placed on the back burner. “Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon wrote an incredible script, but it is definitely breaking the mold and it’s on hold,” she said. Kennedy did not indicate when Dawn of the Jedi could start up again.
Lucasfilm’s New Leadership Should Make Dawn of the Jedi a Reality
It’s disappointing to hear that Dawn of the Jedi is on hold. Of all the Star Wars movies on the docket, this is arguably the one with the most fascinating potential. Taking place thousands of years before the events of the Skywalker Saga, Mangold’s film is envisioned as a biblical epic that explores the origins of the Force and the Jedi Order. It’s an opportunity for Lucasfilm to do something radically different with its prized franchise, exploring an uncharted area of the Star Wars timeline and telling stories about a whole new group of characters. It could also be a way for the studio to provide compelling answers to some of the mysteries fans have wondered about since A New Hope premiered, such as who discovered the Force.
Kennedy describing the Dawn of the Jedi script as “breaking the mold” is exciting. As Lucasfilm begins a new era, this is the kind of approach they need to embrace. Star Wars has been around for nearly 50 years and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In order for the franchise to remain interesting, evolution is a necessity. Filmmakers need to be able to come in and challenge the notion of what a “Star Wars movie” can be. In the past, Lucasfilm has been guilty of being too safe, leaning more on nostalgia and fan service than bold reinvention. Pushing the franchise in a new direction takes advantage of the breadth of storytelling possibilities available to you in a mythology as rich and expansive as Star Wars.
