Many Star Wars diehards know the name Dave Filoni by now, and for good reason. He's the mind behind hit animated series like The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and the latest entry The Bad Batch. That's not even to mention his involvement with cultural phenomenon The Mandalorian. So it should come as no surprise that he's finally gotten a fancy promotion with Lucasfilm, though some fans might already be reading a little too much into it.
Last summer, Lucasfilm promoted Filoni to the position of Executive Creative Director for the whole company, which certainly seems fitting for someone as influential in the Star Wars franchise as him. However, that title change wasn't officially announced until just recently, and as a result, he's been getting a slew of congratulations from fans and colleagues alike in response to the "news."
That's not a bad thing, of course. It's simply a delayed reaction to a much-deserved new title. But as with most things relating to Star Wars, a few devotees from the more intense sectors of the fandom have been interpreting this update as something more than it is. True, Filoni was given more responsibilities and creative control last summer, and now that change is confirmed to the public. It's also true that this will likely affect certain aspects of the mainline Star Wars properties in some way. The untrue part is the ever persisting notion that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is somehow being forced out of the company.
A number of the more vocally critical Star Wars fans tend to blame Kennedy for every major and minor gripe they have with the recent entries in the franchise, while disregarding her role in the elements they enjoy. As a result, they seem to assume that, since they personally don't like certain aspects, that means most people agree with them, and that Kennedy will soon be fired as a result. This mindset also ignores the fact that Kennedy is responsible for the majority of recent decisions that have made Star Wars as popular as it is today, up to and including Filoni's promotion.
Filoni's new title is sure to pave the way for plenty of exciting new developments in the Star Wars franchise. Upcoming series like The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka have already excited the minds of countless fans, and knowing that the creative force behind some of the most universally well-received projects in the series will have a wider influence on these shows and others can only serve to increase that excitement.
The fact is, Lucasfilm as a whole will benefit the most from keeping its most promising people around, and that includes both Filoni and Kennedy as well as a great number of others involved in the process. So be hopeful for the future, and keep looking to the stars.
Source:Â Variety