With Kathleen Kennedy‘s era on the verge of concluding, Dave Filoni will be taking over the reins as the president and chief creative officer at Lucasfilm. Moreover, it appears Disney has adopted a DCU-inspired model with Lynwen Brennan set to oversee the business side of things. And given the Ahsoka creator’s stature within the Star Wars community, this decision has been largely welcomed by the fans.
However, a recent report from The Wrap has raised concerns about the creative direction for the franchise, as one unnamed source alleged Filoni wasn’t a fan of Andor. The report read:
The series, a stark spy thriller about how tyranny takes root, is unquestionably the greatest creative triumph of the [Kathleen Kennedy] era. It was also, according to an individual who worked inside Lucasfilm, a series that Filoni disliked.
Although there’s no way to confirm this, if this report does indeed have some weight, it could be a while before any other show or movie like Andor, arguably the best Star Wars media in years, sees the light of day.
ShowIMDbTomatometer | PopcornmeterAndor8.696% | 89%
What Dave Filoni’s Thoughts on Andor Could Signal for Star Wars
For all the issues that plagued the Kennedy-driven era, which mostly stemmed from Disney’s push for more TV shows for its streaming service, she didn’t shy away from taking bold decisions, even if not all of them landed. And the credit for Andor very much goes to her, as even after Tony Gilroy entertained the prospect of parting ways with the project, Kennedy allowed them full creative freedom and pushed for the series to get made.
Credit: Image by Josh Hallett, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What makes Andor stand out is that it carved its own identity by focusing on political espionage and presenting a more adult-oriented tone, reminiscent of Gilroy’s work on the Bourne franchise. The show’s prominence also comes from its exploration of themes like fascism, bureaucracy, and rebellion, issues that feel more relevant than ever in the current socio-political climate.
On a broader level, Andor doesn’t exactly fit the criteria for a typical Star Wars show, and had it not been for Kennedy, the series likely wouldn’t have seen the light of day. And if the report is true, Filoni’s creative leadership could lead to a more streamlined structure with little room for projects that break the mold, similar to Kevin Feige‘s handling of the MCU.
Star Wars Under Dave Filoni Should Avoid Repeating the MCU Problem
It’s too early to pass judgment on Filoni’s prowess as a studio head. However, given his knack for fan service, there is a risk that this could become the norm under his stewardship. And his approach to tell an interconnected story could risk a default house style like the MCU, potentially robbing future projects of their individuality.
A still from Avengers: Endgame | Credit: Marvel Studios
Speaking of his new role at Lucasfilm, the Ahsoka creator compared it to serving on the Jedi Council, expressing that he’ll serve as a guide and help others tell the best stories possible (via Variety).
I’m not telling people what to do. But I do feel I’m trying to help them tell the best story that they want to tell. I need to be a help across the galaxy here, like a part of a Jedi Council almost
With Kennedy-era projects, including Starfighter and The Mandalorian movie set to be the next major projects in the franchise, it remains to be seen how this change in regime translates for the IP’s future.
Share your thoughts on the new regime below!
Andor is streaming on Disney+ (USA).
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
