Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s recent remarks about her directorial role in the upcoming Rey solo Star Wars film have sparked criticism within the Star Wars community. In a CNN interview, Obaid-Chinoy boldly claimed, “I think it’s about time we had a woman come forward to shape the story in a galaxy far, far away.” However, these statements have been met with skepticism and a critical examination of their accuracy. These sentiments show Disney aims to continue their trend of “the force is female” under Kathleen Kennedy into the future.
Obaid-Chinoy’s assertion that she is the “first woman and first person of color to direct a Star Wars film” overlooks the previously announced Rogue Squadron film directed by Patty Jenkins. This film appears to have been scrapped, raising uncertainty about Obaid-Chinoy’s project and the narrative she aims to bring to the Star Wars universe as ratings have continued to plummet on the female-centric Star Wars projects on Disney+ over the last couple of years.
The filmmaker’s commitment to being a faux-trailblazer for women in Star Wars directorial roles has faced criticism, especially considering Kathleen Kennedy’s influential position as the President of Lucasfilm. Kennedy has been roundly criticized for feminizing Star Wars and abandoning continuity and even the tone of the prior films. It’s been so bad that South Park made an entire episode mocking her, to which the internet has made a meme of “put a chick in it and make it lame and gay.”
Obaid-Chinoy’s dedication to the Force is Female messaging aligns with broader industry efforts like Disney’s turning Marvel into the M-She-U. The studio executives push gender narratives which in every instance distract from the fundamental aspects of storytelling that define the Star Wars saga. Questions are raised about whether her focus on gender is more of a performative gesture to advance a narrative of oppression when the film inevitably fails to garner fan support.
As Obaid-Chinoy takes the helm of the Rey solo film, set to explore the rebuilding of the Jedi Order, concerns among fans are growing. There is apprehension that her approach may deviate from the essence of storytelling that has resonated with Star Wars enthusiasts for decades, much like the other recent installments from Disney. Anticipation for a new chapter is overshadowed by skepticism about potential retcons and a fear that gender-centric declarations may take precedence over the storytelling itself.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s entrance into the Star Wars is another example of Kathleen Kennedy’s pushes toward feminizing beloved franchises, and fans are not convinced that her narrative direction will resonate positively. Most fans were already burnt out on the Star Wars universe, and very few are asking for a Rey solo film to begin with, so adding a component of identity politics to the storyline can only harm the franchise further.
What do you think of Obaid-Chinoy’s upcoming Star Wars film? Is Kathleen Kennedy pushing too far? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Use the farce, Rey! Only you can star in a Star Wars movie so bad, it’ll kill the brand forever!
If the force were female, women wouldn’t touch it or even believe it exists, since it’s more powerful than any individual.