Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams say the Skywalker saga could continue after The Force Awakens opened in theaters.
Of late, The Rise of Skywalker's marketing has striven to really drive home the idea this is as much the finale to the last forty-two years of Star Wars as it is an ending to the previous two films in the franchise. Between TV spots featuring Watchmen's Doctor Manhattan, nothing ever (really) ends.
During an interview with latest Star Wars film - to which he replied "Of course it can go on. But there’s something bold about saying this is what the story should be.” Lucasfilm president Kennedy said something similar in the same article, noting the Skywalker saga "does have to end" with the movie before adding her intention is to "recognize and honor what it is that [George Lucas] created - and move on. I think we’re ready to move on."
It's worth pointing out this is not at all tantamount to Abrams and Kennedy back-tracking on the idea of The Rise of Skywalker being the end of the Skywalker saga. Rather, it's just their way of saying this is where they feel the story should end, not where it has to. All the same, The Rise of Skywalker ought to have a feeling of finality to it, much in the same way three year break after The Rise of Skywalker, giving Lucasfilm the time they need to figure out where exactly they want to take the franchise next.
In an era of pop culture where true conclusions are hard to find, it's refreshing to see Abrams and Kennedy put their foot down and commit to Star Wars' future as vaguely as possible for a little while longer.
Source: NYT
