John Phillips/Getty Images
After the ‘Ahsoka’ panel at the Star Wars Celebration in London, Variety spoke with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy about some of the franchise’s future installments.
Kennedy wanted to talk about bringing back Daisy Ridley’s Rey for a new “Star Wars” movie, which was announced during a panel on April 7.
“It was a very simple phone call,” he said. “I started by just saying, ‘Hey, I think we’re getting close to being ready.’ We were talking a lot about what we’re doing film-wise, and I said, “I think we’re getting close to being ready. How would you like to go to Celebration?’ That was really the beginning. She was out of her mind excited.”
Kennedy also offered an update on Lucasfilm’s partnership with Rian Johnson, who is possibly working on a new “Star Wars” trilogy.
“Rian and I talk all the time,” she said. “He’s incredibly busy. So we’re not actively involved in anything right now because he’s doing another one of those ‘Glass Onion’ movies and then God knows what else. But he really wants to get back into the field. It’s a big time commitment, so this is really his.”
Taika Waititi is also working on a standalone movie set in the “Star Wars” universe. Kennedy gave an update on that as well.
“Taika is still working away,” he said. “He writes the script himself. He doesn’t really want to bring others into this process and I don’t blame him. She has a very, very unique voice. So we want to protect it and it does. But we will one day.”
Kennedy also made an inquiry about a possible second season of the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series. Some fans have been pushing for a sequel adventure for Ewan McGregor’s iconic Jedi.
“It’s not an active development,” he said. “But I never say never, because there’s always the possibility. That show was so well received and [director] Deborah Chow did such a spectacular job. Ewan McGregor really wants to do something else. Everyone is on board with what we’re doing right now, as you can see from what we’ve shown everyone [at the Celebration]. We’ll turn our attention back to that maybe down the road.”
“Falls down a lot. Unapologetic alcohol guru. Travel specialist. Amateur beer trailblazer. Award-winning tv advocate. Hipster-friendly twitter aficionado”