Despite reports of Kevin Feige developing a Star Wars movie leading to speculation he will take over Lucasfilm from Kathleen Kennedy, that is reportedly not the plan. Over the past decade, Feige has lead the Marvel Cinematic Universe to massive success, with multiple films earning more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Meanwhile, since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the Mouse House has relaunched George Lucas' beloved sci-fi franchise to - mostly - resounding success. This December, the Skywalker Saga will conclude with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which is expected to be another massive hit.
However, much of the future beyond The Rise of Skywalker, at least in the theatrical space, is unknown. Although Lucasfilm had two separate film series in the works, one from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and another from Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, the former was recently cancelled as the creative duo exited the project. That said, Johnson's movies are still in production, and Feige is also developing a Star Wars movie. Marvel's Feige being involved in Star Wars lead to speculation among fans that Disney was bringing in the executive to help the Star Wars franchise as a whole.
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According to a new report from Variety, though, that's not the case. Variety reports insiders say there's no plan to give Feige a larger role in the Star Wars franchise or Lucasfilm than the movie he's currently developing. Further, Variety cites analysts who predict Star Wars is a strong enough brand to withstand any behind-the-scenes issues, which means Feige may not be needed to right any ship. After all, aside from Solo: A Star Wars Story, each of Disney's Star Wars movies have grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, with The Force Awakens earning $2 billion.
After Solo performed below expectations, despite mostly positive reviews from fans and critics alike, there were rumors that Kennedy would exit Lucasfilm. Similarly, the number of director firings - including Benioff and Weiss as well as Solo's Phil Lord and Chris Miller - and cases of Lucasfilm needing to step in, like with Rogue One's reshoots, have fueled the speculation about Kennedy's future at Lucasfilm. The announcement of Feige developing a Star Wars movie only added further fuel to the fire. However, it appears those at Disney and Lucasfilm are much less concerned; Kennedy even extended her Lucasfilm contract last year. So Feige's involvement in a Star Wars project does not signal a shift in the branch's leadership.
In terms of what's next for the Star Wars movie franchise following The Rise of Skywalker, that remains to be seen. Lucasfilm still has a 2022 release date set aside for Star Wars, and there's time for the studio to figure out what will hit theaters in that window - if they haven't already. It seems unlikely that Feige's Star Wars movie will release in 2022 considering he's plenty busy with the MCU, especially now that the X-Men and Fantastic Four are under his control. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a few years at least before Feige's Star Wars movie hits theaters.
Next: Star Wars Would Be Worse Off If Kevin Feige Took Over
Source: Variety
