It's a strange time to campaign for a man who already owns the kingdom.
But here we are — Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, is reportedly lobbying the Academy for Disney CEO Bob Iger to receive an Honorary Oscar. According to Variety, Kennedy has been quietly making the rounds, schmoozing the right folks inside AMPAS ahead of the 2025 Governors Awards, where the honorary statuettes are handed out. On the surface, it sounds like a well-earned tribute. Underneath? It's politics with lightsabers drawn.
Let's be clear: Iger has left fingerprints all over the modern entertainment industry. He bought Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm — and, eventually, the loyalty (or submission) of mainstream pop culture. Under his reign, Disney transformed from a nostalgia factory into a high-gloss IP machine. Theatrical windows shrank, streaming exploded, and Mickey Mouse became the face of creative monopoly. So… lifetime achievement? Maybe. But honorary Oscar? That's a different kind of crown — the symbolic kind.
And the symbolism here is rich.
The Force Behind the Curtain
Kennedy's pitch, if Variety's sourcing holds, isn't just about legacy. It's about leverage. Iger, allegedly unaware of her lobbying (sure), may find himself gifted with a golden consolation prize just as Disney begins negotiating a new Oscars broadcast deal — with ABC, the Disney-owned network that conveniently airs the Academy Awards.
That's the kind of coincidence that doesn't just raise eyebrows — it practically shouts across Hollywood corridors. And insiders are talking. Loudly.
Some interpret this as Kennedy pulling strings for the sake of loyalty or admiration. Others see a subtler strategy: a power play dressed up as tribute. She's long been a fixture of Hollywood royalty, but her Lucasfilm reign is… shaky at best. The last Star Wars film hit theaters in 2019. “The Mandalorian” and “Andor” kept the brand afloat on Disney+, but “Solo” bombed, “The Acolyte” is dividing fans, and the film slate remains frozen in carbonite. (Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling are apparently trying to thaw it out, but don't hold your breath.)
Rumors of her planned exit have swirled for months — 2025, they say. Or sooner. Or maybe not at all. Depends on the week.
So is this Kennedy's graceful curtain call? Or a final flex?
Honor, Politics, and the IP Godfather
There's no question that Bob Iger has reshaped the business of Hollywood. Whether that transformation was good for movies — you know, stories, risks, art — is up for debate. Under his leadership, Disney evolved into a precision machine of franchise churn: think of Marvel Phase Four fatigue, the Star Wars creative paralysis, the Disney+ overload. Think of the sameness.
He's the architect of modern synergy — and the man who, in chasing global dominance, might've helped gut theatrical creativity from the inside out.
So when Kathleen Kennedy asks the Academy to hand him a golden statue, we have to ask: What, exactly, are we celebrating?
The Real Awards Show Is Always Backstage
This isn't a smear piece. It's a Hollywood reality check.
The Governors Awards, set to announce their 2025 honorees soon, were never immune to behind-the-scenes gamesmanship. The honorary Oscar has long been a space for overdue recognition, makeup gifts, or quiet deals. But when one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood starts pushing for the most powerful executive in the industry — right as both face uncertain futures — it stops being background noise.
It becomes a narrative.
Kennedy may see this as her last big favor, a thank-you to the man who gave her Lucasfilm and backed her through every stumble. Or maybe it's legacy laundering — a way to attach herself to a chapter of Disney history just as the ink dries on the next one.
And Iger? If he accepts, it will cement his transformation from executive to icon — albeit one whose empire is creaking under its own weight.
So no, this isn't just about a trophy.
It's about timing. About power. About whether the Academy still has the spine to draw a line between respect and reward — especially when the person behind the ask is Kathleen Kennedy, and the man at the center of it is Bob Iger.
The lightsaber politics continue.
Relevant Dates:
- 2025 Governors Awards announcement: Expected soon (mid-2025, per Academy tradition)
- Bob Iger's current term as Disney CEO runs through 2026
- Kathleen Kennedy rumored to exit Lucasfilm by 2025
