In “Star Wars,” the Force is a mysterious power that grants extraordinary abilities to a chosen few. Kathleen Kennedy, still clinging to her Lucasfilm throne, now seems to be using it to moonlight as Bob Iger’s personal Oscar campaign manager.
According to Variety, Kennedy has been working behind the scenes to secure an Honorary Oscar for Iger, the current CEO of Disney and architect of the company’s IP arms race. Yes, that Bob Iger — the man who spent billions scooping up Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, then squeezed them into the content grinder until they all started tasting the same.
Kennedy, Variety is told, has been personally schmoozing key figures inside the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, pitching Iger as a deserving recipient of the honorary prize handed out annually at the Governors Awards. One tiny wrinkle? Disney owns ABC — the very network that airs the Oscars. And the Academy just so happens to be in the middle of negotiating a new broadcast deal with them. Totally normal timing, nothing to see here.
While Iger reportedly didn’t request the honor and was blissfully unaware of Kennedy’s lobbying on his behalf (sure, Jan), Academy insiders are scratching their heads. Some suspect Kennedy may have motives beyond altruism — perhaps related to her increasingly wobbly footing at Lucasfilm.
After all, she’s had a rocky run. Under Kennedy’s stewardship, the Star Wars universe has seen highs (“The Mandalorian,” “Andor”) and embarrassing lows (“Solo,” and, “The Acolyte”). The theatrical side of the galaxy has been in freeze since 2019. No new films have made it to set, though Shawn Levy is apparently trying to drag one across the finish line with Ryan Gosling.
Meanwhile, Kennedy is said to be planning her own exit, maybe in 2025, maybe sooner, maybe never. Depends on the day.
As for Iger, whether or not he gets his golden participation trophy, no one’s denying his impact. The man turned Disney into an IP monopoly and reshaped the entertainment landscape. But let’s be honest: when the guy responsible for Disney+ bloat, theatrical contraction, and creatively bankrupt synergy gets floated for a lifetime achievement award, you start to wonder if the Academy has the balls to reject Kennedy’s campaigning.
The 2025 Honorary Oscar recipients are expected to be announced soon. Buckle up — the politics behind these awards are often more twisted than a Sith Lord’s origin story.