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Howard Kazanjian served as a producer on two of the original threeStar Warsfilms. While Kazanjian went uncredited onStar Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, arguably one of the best in the franchise, he also worked on its sequelStar Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.
Having worked on the original trilogy makes Kazanjian a reliable source of critique on the widely divisive and polarizing sequel trilogy ofStar Warsfilms produced under Disney. When asked about the sequels Kazanjian had stern words for the films, and blasted them for their inconsistent storylines. Here is what the veteran producer had to say about theStar Warssequel trilogy.
OriginalStar WarsTrilogy Producer Howard Kazanjian Slams Sequel Trilogy With a Harsh Remark
A brainchild ofGeorge Lucas, theStar Warsfranchise is a major cinematic touchstone and one of the biggest media franchises of all time. The franchise was later acquired by Disney who produced their own sequel trilogy, taking off years after Lucas’ original trilogy ended. Despite being commercially successful, the sequels continue to polarize fans.
Howard Kazanjian, who worked alongside Lucas, on the original films, blasted the sequels in his memoirHoward Kazanjian: A Producer’s Life. In the book, Kazanjian criticized directors J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, who worked on the sequels.
“Generally speaking, I think that the filmmakers on The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi didn’t understand the story. They didn’t understand what a Jedi Knight was all about. That’s the simplest way to put it.”
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According to Kazanjian, the filmmakers did not understandthe fundamental nature of theStar Warssaga, particularly the role of the Skywalker family. Kazanjian implied that the sequels failed to capture the narrative’s essence and argued that fans knew more about its overarching storyline than the filmmakers who made the sequels.
Fans Resonate With Howard Kazanjian’s Comments AboutStar WarsSequel Trilogy
Howard Kazanjian’s criticism of the sequel trilogy in his book made its way onto social media. Fans came out in support of Kazanjian’s comments and agreed with the veteran producer that the sequels failed to understand the fundamental ideology behind the franchise, especially with the concept of Jedi Knights.
Here is how fans reacted to Kazanjian blasting the sequel trilogy ofStar Warson X (formerly Twitter).
he makes good points.
— Matt LaRock (@matt_larock)July 13, 2025
Exactly…Making the Jedi extremely numerous after Order 66 destroys their mystical idea of an ancient order being wiped out by the government which makes you wonder what really happened. Filoni ended that by creating thousands upon thousands of Jedi survivors😒
— Ed J (@FlightBaron3)July 20, 2025
So true. JJ Abrams only directed Episode VII and came back for IX because Lucasfilm wanted someone who was safe and controllable, and Rian Johnson directed Episode VIII because he shared Kathleen Kennedy’s SJW and Woke ideologies.
— Ben Bissett (@BenBissett8)July 18, 2025
Exactly. Disney SW made it a whole point to say it’s not Luke (wasn’t even in TFA) and that the Jedi we’re bad and must end (TLJ). They wanted it so anyone can be special, and ruined the whole mythology
— In a way, all of us has an El Guapo to face (@RBI_Studios)June 19, 2025
https://twitter.com/LanguageHearts7/status/1712970475066859819
As the tweets indicate, the fans were supportive of Kazanjian’s harsh comments against the sequels. Several fans pointed out that the concept of a Jedi Knight was mishandled in the sequel trilogy. On the other hand, other fans took an issue with the plot point of Rey’s parentage.
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The revelation of Rey’s connection to Emperor Palpatine, andher later adopting the Skywalker namehave been major points of frustration forStar Warsfans and have generated divisive reactions over the years. As a result, it is easy to understand why fans of the franchise resonated with Kazanjian’s criticism of the sequels.
You can stream the entirety of theStar Warsfranchise on Disney+.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1775
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
