Dave Filoni Deserves Some Blame For The State Of Star Wars

Dave Filoni Deserves Some Blame For The State Of Star Wars

Key Takeaways

  • Dave Filoni, Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, is key to Star Wars’ recent projects.
  • Despite Filoni’s long tenure and influence, he hasn’t faced criticism like Kathleen Kennedy.
  • Star Wars needs a creative overhaul focusing on storytelling, rather than relying on fan service. As Chief Creative Officer, that’s Filoni’s responsibility.

As a die-hard Star Wars fan with decades of fandom under my belt, I can’t help but notice the striking disparity between the criticism faced by Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer. While Kennedy has been relentlessly criticized for every misstep in the galaxy far, far away, Filoni seems to be cruising through the cosmos with nary a peep of complaint.


In relation to the Star Wars series, fans have never hesitated to express their concerns about upcoming projects. This dissatisfaction can be traced back to the prequels and continues today. Currently, much of the criticism is aimed at Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm. There are persistent rumors about her dismissal and frequent questions about her competence. Kennedy is often blamed for all the problems that Star Wars seems to be facing.

Kennedy may be a key player in Star Wars, but she isn’t solely responsible for its current state. In reality, Dave Filoni holds the position of Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, and he seems to avoid the same level of criticism as Kennedy. Given his significant role within the franchise, guiding new projects, it would be reasonable to expect some Star Wars critique directed towards him as well.

Dave Filoni’s Involvement with Star Wars

Dave Filoni Deserves Some Blame For The State Of Star Wars

Dave Filoni kicked off his professional journey as a director on the successful Nickelodeon series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” back in 2005. He departed from Nickelodeon when George Lucas presented him with an opportunity to create an animated “Star Wars” series, eventually leading to “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Although Filoni’s role was that of a director on “The Clone Wars,” it marked his initial step into the Star Wars universe. Subsequently, Filoni’s significant Star Wars endeavor would be “Star Wars: Rebels,” during which he took on roles as a director, executive producer, and writer. Filoni continued to work on animated Star Wars projects, including “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” before transitioning to live-action projects with “The Mandalorian” in 2019.

Ever since I was a part of the Star Wars universe, lending my skills as a producer and director to every fresh series, I’ve been hands-on with the latest Star Wars productions, particularly on the small screen. Last year, I was thrilled to step into the role of Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, working directly under Kathleen Kennedy. This new position not only allows me to be involved from the initial stages of a project but also gives me broader influence at Lucasfilm, extending beyond just the animated projects.

The news of Filoni’s recent promotion was warmly welcomed by fans, who are optimistic that the Star Wars franchise might regain its positive reputation soon. It’s worth mentioning that although Filoni was recently promoted, he has been a vital member of the Star Wars creative team for more than ten years now. He’s contributed significantly to almost every Disney+ series produced by Lucasfilm, including The Book of Boba Fett, which wasn’t well-received. However, compared to Kennedy, Filoni has faced far less criticism regarding the current state of Star Wars.

Why Kathleen Kennedy Doesn’t Deserve All the Blame

As a devoted Star Wars gamer, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the recent direction of our beloved galaxy far, far away. Although Kennedy holds the title of Lucasfilm’s president, it seems that the creative team, under the leadership of the Chief Creative Officer, is where the main issues lie.

It’s worth noting that Marvel Studios, another Disney brand, has encountered similar criticisms in recent times. However, the Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, hasn’t been held responsible for the lower-quality projects. In contrast, why does it seem like Filoni, who is more involved with Star Wars, escapes blame?

Moving ahead, Filoni should focus on addressing the core aspects of Star Wars that have made it a timeless franchise. Instead of relying on fan-pleasing moments as a crutch for weak storytelling, it would be beneficial to strive to recreate the original magic through compelling narratives. As Lucasfilm is currently working on The Mandalorian and Grogu, we’ll have to wait and see if the creative team has taken lessons from past errors.

Over the last several years, Lucasfilm has unveiled numerous Star Wars projects that haven’t been released yet. Considering the current status of the franchise, it’s crucial that those working on new projects, such as Filoni, carefully evaluate each project and determine if the story is solid enough to be told. Rushing to produce new content won’t benefit Star Wars or Filoni in helping the franchise transition successfully to its desired direction. Instead, there needs to be a significant overhaul of creativity, beginning at the developmental phase with talented individuals who can appreciate the power of a compelling narrative. As Filoni has had a long-standing relationship with Lucasfilm and Star Wars, it’s high time he takes responsibility for the state of the franchise as well.

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2024-09-07 03:04