Star Wars fans and conservatives have jumped on comments by the director of a new female-led film in the franchise, leading them to believe it will be another ‘woke’ flop from Disney.
Two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has declared ‘it’s about time’ a woman shaped a Star Wars film as she is set to become the first woman and the first person of color to direct a feature film for the franchise.
The film Star Wars: New Jedi Order is set after the most recent Star Wars sequel, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, and will be centered on Daisy Ridley’s character Rey.
However, many have unearthed comments made on a panel Obaid-Chinoy did with Meryl Streep and Jon Stewart that has provoked outrage over Disney prioritizing politics over good filmmaking.
‘I like to make men uncomfortable. I enjoy making men uncomfortable,’ she said during the panel, which she participated in after winning the Oscar for a documentary about acid attacks against Pakistani women.
Two-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has declared ‘it’s about time’ a woman shaped a Star Wars film as she is set to become the first woman and the first person of color to direct a feature film for the franchise
‘It is important to be able to look into the eyes of a man and say, I am here, and recognize that, and recognize that I am working to bring something that makes you uncomfortable, and it should make you uncomfortable,’ she added.
Immediately, people jumped on the repeated comments, in addition to Obaid-Chinoy saying ‘it’s about time’ for a female-led Star Wars film.
‘Here’s the feminist director of the next Star Wars film saying that her goal is to ‘make men uncomfortable,’ wrote commentator Matt Walsh.
‘This movie is destined to be Disney’s biggest flop yet.’
Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro aimed his ire at much-scrutinized LucasFilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy, calling her ‘legitimately the worst entertainment executive of my lifetime.
Another X user added: ‘As South Park recently parodied, fans worry that Disney & Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy are more concerned with ‘woke’ agendas than good stories.’
In one viral clip from an October South Park special, Eric Cartman is seen speaking to a therapist about how he believes ‘woke’ casting is leading to his own friends being replaced by more diverse versions of themselves in his nightmares before ranting about Kennedy.
‘I wanna scream and I’m like, ‘Why are they replacing every single character with someone who is diverse? But then Kenny’s like, ‘It’s not our fault it’s ’cause of Kathleen Kennedy,’ but then Kathleen Kennedy’s just like, ‘F— it, make it more lame!’
The film is set after the most recent Star Wars sequel, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, and will be centered on Daisy Ridley ‘s character Rey
However, many have unearthed comments made on a panel Obaid-Chinoy did with Meryl Streep and Jon Stewart that has provoked outrage over Disney prioritizing politics over good filmmaking
He later describes a nightmare where he says: ‘Disney stock just keeps going down and down and down and then Bob Iger is all like, ‘No! No! What’s going on with my stocks?”
Disney has long faced complaints, particularly from conservatives, at their attempts to try and cater to a more liberal audience by replacing characters from beloved movies and shows with more diverse options.
The new movie comes at a time of increased scrutiny at Disney, as even CEO Iger had admitted the studio has banked too much on franchises and sequels.
The Marvels had a net budget of $274.8 million and featured a star-studded cast including Academy-Awards winner Brie Larson Samuel L. Jackson – who is the ‘second-highest-grossing actor of all time’.
After premiering in Las Vegas on November 7, 2023, the movie had a disastrous reception and reached only $188.5 million globally – almost $100 million lower than its budget – with a mere $77 million domestically.
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger said the bust was because of a ‘lack of supervision’ because of pandemic set restrictions which made it difficult for studio executives to oversee the production.
The CEO admitted that Disney has ‘made too many’ sequels over the years – something the Marvel universe is guilty of as the series’ movie count climbs to 33.
Disney CEO claimed that The Marvels flopped at the box office because there was a lack of supervision on set due to COVID and the launch of Disney+ streaming
The Marvels had a net budget of $274.8 million and featured a star-studded cast including Academy-Awards winner Brie Larson
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger said the bust was because of a ‘lack of supervision’ because of pandemic set restrictions which made it difficult for studio executives to oversee the production
At The New York Times’ DealBook Summit – Iger said ‘I don’t want to apologize for making sequels.
‘Some of them have done extraordinarily well and they’ve been good films, too,’ Iger said – adding that ‘you have to have a good story’ to make the films.
He also revealed that ‘often the story doesn’t hold up’ or ‘is not as strong as the original story’ which can be a problem.
He went on to say that there has to be a better reason than just money to make a sequel – and confessed that Disney has overdone it in recent years.
But Iger made clear that Disney is not going to stop making sequels – and revealed that the major media conglomerate had a number of them currently in the works.
‘We will only greenlight a sequel if we believe the story that the creators want to tell is worth telling,’ Iger said.
Iger also blames the launch of Disney+ – the company’s streaming service – which he claims also pulled attention away from the production.
Executives warned investors that the company’s products and political views may not align with what viewers want – and risk harming its bottom line.
Disney also took a strong position against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Parents’ ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill – actually called the Parents’ Bill of Rights – that bans sexual and gender curricula for public elementary school students. The company has since continued releasing agenda-driven content.
Back in January 2022, Disney debuted a new look for Minnie Mouse, which saw the beloved character abandoning her signature red polka-dot dress in favor of a ‘progressive’ blue pantsuit designed by Stella McCartney.
In March 2022, it was announced that staff members, as well recordings throughout the parks, would no longer include ‘gendered greetings’ like ‘boys and girls’ or ‘ladies and gentleman.’
Instead, they opted for gender neutral terms like, ‘Hello, everyone,’ or, ‘Hello, friends.’
Disney removed or changed things that were considered offensive while remaking its old movies.
The 1992 animated movie Aladdin contained a line in the opening song, Arabian Night, that many considered to be racist against Arabs.
Speaking to CNN on New Year’s Eve, Sharmeen said: ‘I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special.
‘We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.’
The film has been written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and it has been confirmed that Daisy Ridley will return to play Rey.
While it is unknown who else from the cast will be returning, such as John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Tran, the film is reportedly set 15 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
CNN reported the film is set to be released in 2026 after Sharmeen hinted filming will be beginning soon.
It was announced at a Star Wars Celebration event in London in April last year that Sharmeen would be taking the role as director.
Excitedly posting on Instagram she wrote: ‘It has been quite a day in London….The news is OUT! I am so very excited to be directing the next Star Wars movie and bringing @daisyridley back to the galaxy…
‘I have always been attracted to the heroes journey and the world definitely needs more heroes! – the blueprints of the heroes we see on screen are rooted in reality – I’ve spent my life meeting real life heroes, who have overcome the most oppressive empires and battled impossible odds and that to me is the heart of Star Wars…which is why I was attracted to the promise of a new Jedi Order …
Sharmeen, pictured with Daisy in April 2023, said: ‘What we’re about to create is something very special. We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward’
‘And why I’m particularly excited about being immersed inside a Jedi Academy with a powerful Jedi Master…’
Fans were delighted for Sharmeen as they took to the comments to share their support.
One wrote: ‘Huge Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy ‘May the Force be with You!’
Another added: ‘I am so excited to see what you cook up! Not just to see Rey again but also to see the kind of story you and the writers will tell! Super super excited!’
Another commented: ‘Congratulations @sharmeenobaidchinoy. A woman who has constantly been breaking barriers for women of Pakistan. What a proud moment !’
It was also announced that James Mangold will be directing a film based on the first Jedi to discover ‘the Force’, set 25,000 years before the original trilogy.
Dave Filoni, the director of the forthcoming Star Wars series Ahsoka who has been involved in numerous Star Wars projects, will be directing a new film set between episodes six and seven.
The movie will draw upon elements of the old Expanded Universe, and serve as the endpoint for story threads in several Star Wars series, including The Mandalorian.