When it comes to Star Wars storytelling since the departure of George Lucas, no one has done it better than Dave Filoni. Filoni got his start learning from the mind of Lucas with Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Through that process, he went on to create another fantastic show after Lucasfilm’s sell to Disney, with Star Wars: Rebels. His participation in the Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and his recent hit with Star Wars: Ahsoka, have finally convinced the executives at Disney to give him even more responsibility with Star Wars.
News is just now coming in thanks to Variety, that Lucasfilm has promoted Dave Filoni to Chief Creative Officer! This new position will ensure that Filoni has a say in everything Star Wars, going forward.
“Now I’m what’s called chief creative officer of Lucasfilm,” Filoni tells Vanity Fair, which places him into the development process much earlier and in a much more expansive capacity than his previous advisory duties. “In the past, in a lot of projects I would be brought into it, I would see it after it had already developed a good ways.”
So, what exactly will Filoni be doing in his new role?
“I’m not telling people what to do,” Filoni says. “But I do feel I’m trying to help them tell the best story that they want to tell. I need to be a help across the galaxy here, like a part of a Jedi Council almost.” He described his responsibilities as understanding the intent of the filmmakers and being a resource to them, based on his mentorship under Lucas himself, and his years spent steering The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Ahsoka. “Literally, hours now of Star Wars storytelling I have done,” he said, before pausing to rethink his syntax. “See…I even phrased that like Yoda.”
Filoni will continue developing his film, as well as exploring a possible second season of Ahsoka, while serving in his new position. “To truly help filmmakers, it was really important for me to experience it firsthand,” he says. “I can also lend a perspective on the challenges that telling these stories will present. I feel more capable of actually being helpful outside of just saying, ‘Well, Jedi are like this, and Sith are like this…’”
Kathleen Kennedy will continue leading Lucasfilm as President, while Carrie Beck’s role will involve recruiting other storytellers into the Star Wars fold, while Filoni weighs in on a narrative level.
What do you think of this news Star Wars fans? Of course, leave your thoughts in the appropriate places!
