## Rian Johnson’s potential Return to *Star Wars* Delayed by Netflix Deal and Online Negativity
The future of a potential *Star Wars* trilogy helmed by Rian Johnson has been in limbo since the release of *The Last Jedi* in 2017 [[1]].Lucasfilm initially announced the trilogy, but the divisive reaction to Johnson’s *The Last Jedi* sparked a culture war that continues to impact the franchise [[2]].
Outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, in a recent exit interview with *Deadline*, revealed that Johnson’s subsequent commitments to Netflix – specifically the *Knives Out* films and *Stranger Things* through Shawn Levy’s involvement – significantly occupied his time [[3]]. Though, Kennedy also candidly admitted that Johnson “got spooked by the online negativity” following the backlash to *The Last Jedi* [[4]]. she stated that despite believing Johnson made “one of the best *Star Wars* movies,” he was frightened by the reaction, a sentiment she says is common among those entering the *Star wars* universe [[5]].
