Did online negativity really scare away the director of The Last Jedi from making more Star Wars films? That's the question sparking debate after Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy's recent comments. But, is there more to the story? Let's dive in!
In a recent interview, Kennedy suggested that Rian Johnson, the director of The Last Jedi, was hesitant to continue with his planned Star Wars trilogy because of the backlash he received online. But, Johnson quickly responded to the news on social media, with a simple, yet pointed, "lol zero spooked, sorry."
Kennedy's remarks, made during her exit interview with Deadline, painted a picture of Johnson being "spooked" by the intense criticism of The Last Jedi. She also mentioned that Johnson's commitment to the Knives Out films and a deal with Netflix had taken up much of his time. "I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies. He's a brilliant filmmaker and he got spooked," she said. This raises an interesting point: Is it fair to say that online negativity can influence creative decisions in such a significant way?
This isn't the first time Johnson has discussed the challenges he faced with Star Wars. Back in December 2025, he expressed his desire to shake things up with The Last Jedi, aiming to challenge fan expectations rather than playing it safe. He told Polygon, "Having grown up a Star Wars fan, I know that thing where something challenges it, and I know the recoil against that… But I also know that the worst sin is to handle it with kid gloves."
But here's where it gets controversial... Kennedy also revealed the abandonment of plans for a Ben Solo movie starring Adam Driver.
Looking ahead, the Star Wars universe has exciting projects on the horizon. 2026 will bring us The Mandalorian and Grogu, a movie spun off from the popular Disney+ series. And in 20217, we can look forward to Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling.
What do you think? Did the online criticism truly deter Johnson, or were other factors at play? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
