Bye-Bye Kathleen, Hello Filoni!

So, it’s official! Kathleen Kennedy is packing up her lightsabers and stepping aside at Lucasfilm, making way for the dynamic duo of Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. But wait a second—should we be celebrating, or is this the start of a new, terrifying saga? Grab your popcorn, because how you answer that question might just depend on whether you grew up with the original trilogy or the prequels.

The Lucas Connection

To really understand this shakeup, we have to go back to the days of yore when Kathleen was first discovered by the legendary George Lucas, thanks to his buddy Steven Spielberg. They hit it off while working on the classic Indiana Jones flick, and the rest is history! Meanwhile, Filoni was also brought on by Lucas to spearhead the animated magic of the 2008 Clone Wars movie. Talk about a legacy!

Millennials vs. Gen X: The Battle of the Fanbases

If Kennedy was the nostalgic Gen Xer holding down the fort, then Filoni is the millennial knight ready to ride in on the coattails of the prequels. But will the millennials avoid repeating the mistakes of their predecessors? Who knows! Filoni came on board just as the Star Wars fandom was on the cusp of major transformation. The re-releases in the late ’90s had fans hyped, even if they weren’t totally on board with Lucas’ somersaulting edits.

Jar Jar: The Most Hated!

Then came The Phantom Menace—a movie that promised so much but served up a plate of disappointment instead. Dialogue that felt as stiff as an asthmatic droid and that awful Jar Jar Binks—what was Lucas thinking? I mean, who could forget that infamous “How rude?” from a character that had fans cringing in their seats? Even Attack of the Clones didn’t fare better, with its cringe-worthy sand monologues. But hey, at least everyone enjoyed laughing about it later!

Childhood Ruined?

The backlash was intense—George Lucas officially “ruined my childhood” became the rallying cry of disgruntled fans. Oh, the horror! Tim from Spaced incinerating his Star Wars memorabilia summed it up perfectly. The prequels weren’t their sacred Star Wars—you know, the one from their glory days. They felt like intruders in their beloved galaxy!

Younger Minds Rejoice!

However, for all the grumbling Gen Xers, there were kiddos who were introduced to the galaxy far, far away through the shiny lens of the prequels. Star Wars shifted back to being kid-friendly—yeah, it’s a sci-fi fairy tale! So what if the adults were having a meltdown? The new generation was all in! And they didn’t just enjoy the movies; they devoured everything from The Clone Wars to Rebels, discovering deeper themes about identity and resistance.

Welcome Back, Old Friends!

Fast forward to the present, and boom! The Mandalorian hits the scene like a Jedi on a caffeine buzz. Bo-Katan emerges to reclaim the spotlight, and suddenly the galaxy is getting crowded with familiar faces. Fans were howling with joy, and companies were frantically rebooting old favorites. Is it nostalgia? Or the return of a new era?

New Leaders, New Questions

As Filoni takes the reins at Lucasfilm along with Brennan, we have a new conundrum. Can they replicate the magic of Lucas and Kennedy’s eras? More importantly, can they cater to a whole new generation while keeping the millennials happy too? Will fans crave fresh faces like Kai and Nash from Young Jedi Adventures, or will they stick to their cherished OGs like Ahsoka and Ezra?

Millennials in Charge!

Here’s the kicker: millennials who took the franchise from the grip of the Gen Xers are now cracking their knuckles in charge. Will they finally give the fresh fans a shot at the galaxy, or will they hoard it like those they once wrested it from? You guys, it’s time to find out!