The Magic of Indiana Jones

Host Kristin Baver welcomes Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy to the Star Wars Celebration LIVE! stage. The crowd erupts as Kennedy takes her seat. Baver immediately asks about Indiana Jones, noting Kennedy’s involvement with the franchise from the very beginning [01:27]. Kennedy reflects on the emotional weight of a journey spanning over 40 years, referencing Harrison Ford’s recent emotional response to the upcoming film. She promises the crowd that “the minute this movie starts you’re going to feel like you were thrown right back in time,” adding that the new film is 100 percent an Indiana Jones movie [01:58].

Creating a Great Star Wars Story

Transitioning to Star Wars, Baver asks what exactly makes a great story within the galaxy far, far away [02:25]. Kennedy explains that George Lucas left behind an amazing, expansive mythology. The key piece of advice Lucas gave her was that whatever she did, she needed to “make sure it has meaning” [02:55]. Kennedy states that the goal is always to make the audience feel something by creating characters they can deeply relate to and connect with.

Developing New Talent

Baver asks how Kennedy evaluates new talent when bringing filmmakers into the Star Wars fold [03:33]. Kennedy reveals that her very first question is, “What do you have to say?” [03:46]. While loving the franchise is important, she looks for storytellers who bring their personal experiences to their characters. She points to Dave Filoni as a prime example, noting how he brings his personal connection and experiences from The Clone Wars into the new Ahsoka series. “I think that that’s the most important thing with any of the filmmakers we’re working with is to try to excavate that,” she explains [04:20].

The Joy of Celebration

When asked about her favorite moments at Lucasfilm, Kennedy points directly to Star Wars Celebration [04:44]. She recalls her first Celebration in Essen, Germany. When she first started her job, George Lucas told her she was in for a treat, and she confirms that the experience was absolutely surreal [05:21]. It has since become an event she looks forward to immensely.

Returning to the Big Screen

Baver highlights the massive news from the previous day’s Lucasfilm Showcase panel, which announced a return to movie theaters and featured a surprise appearance by Daisy Ridley [06:19]. Kennedy explains that the initial pivot to Disney+ streaming was a bit of an unknown, especially during the pandemic, but it provided an amazing opportunity to experiment and explore stories outside of the main Skywalker Saga [07:15]. Now, with a rich landscape of new characters developed on television, Lucasfilm is ready to thoughtfully transition back to films. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of making these upcoming films feel like true cinematic events. “Isn’t that the most important thing in the movie theater?” she asks the cheering crowd. “You want to feel like they’re seeing something huge, so that’s what we want to do and we’re as excited as you are to be heading back to the big screen” [07:57].