Kathleen Kennedy faces some challenges. Many in fandom have the opinion that Star Wars was ruined on her watch, and that she took one of the biggest franchises on the planet and managed to run it into the ground.
To look at the silver lining, that is an impressive achievement. Imagine taking a franchise like Star Wars, which millions of people loved their entire lives, and you make them hate it.
That’s not easily done, but according to a big chunk of fans, she managed it.
Millions of voices on Alderaan (OK, the internet) have been crying out, asking, ‘How does Kennedy keep her job?’.
In any other industry in the world, if you had cost your employer literally billions of dollars you’d be at the bottom of a lake with cement shoes. That’s how business works, according to the movies I’ve seen.
I don’t like to use the word ‘hate’, but some people out there on the internet sure do hate what has been done to Star Wars.
Well, dear reader, that hate is about to get a lot worse.
Variety reported that Kennedy has been using the ‘Force’, which she calls ‘leverage’, to lobby to get her boss, Bob Iger, an Honorary Oscar. She “has been ardently lobbying members of the group (the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)” to get Iger the award.
The reason for Kennedy’s recommendation? She’s been saying that Iger is the man who secured Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm for Disney’s “war chest of intellectual properties”. He’s also responsible for selling billions of tickets in the process.
Use the Leverage Luke!
All branches of the Academy have been meeting new members recently, and Kennedy has been using The Force her leverage to schmooze on Iger’s behalf.
The members of the Academy are torn and have been reported as “squeamish over the optics”.
Why? Disney owns ABC, the long-time broadcaster of the Oscars. Some have said there’s a conflict of interest.
However, the Academy are in negotiations with the network to renew its licensing agreement in 2028. That’s the same year it will be celebrating it’s 100 year anniversary. Does this mean Kennedy has leverage at the moment, but not for much longer?
Again, according to reports, Iger has no knowledge of what Kennedy was planning. Sure, Bob, sure. Just like you didn’t give yourself a £26 million bonus last year.
We’re taking bets on Iger winning this. Whatever ‘leverage’ Kennedy has, it must be big, given her longevity in the face of howling fandom and financial headwinds across a lot of the Lucasfilm properties?
