Catering to Male Fans Not a Priority According to Lucasfilm President
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy continues George Lucas' legacy, handpicked by Lucas himself, and has helped to revive the Star Wars franchise into what looks to be a golden era of the space opera epic.
Some criticism has come from a few circles regarding a second female-led Star Wars film, with Daisy Ridley's Rey last year and now Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso in Rogue One, opening next month. Kennedy responded to that criticism, not phased by it.
"I have a responsibility to the company that I work with. I don't feel that I have a responsibility to cater in some way [to those particular fans]," Kennedy told the New York Times. "I would never just seize on saying, 'Well, this is a franchise that's appealed primarily to men for many, many years, and therefore I owe men something.'"
Jones also had her say, saying "we wanted the audience to relate to Jyn as a person, whether you're a boy or a girl, a man or a woman. Like all of us, she's trying to work out what the hell to do."
Recent stats have indicated that it is a 50/50 split for male and female Star Wars fans. Kennedy recently indicated that she was committed to finding female voices in the directors chair for future films. If Star Wars can help to increase the roles of female talent in the industry, then it can only be a good thing.
Source: Comicbook
