Part 2/11:
A central figure in the current controversy is Leslie Hedlund, attached to Star Wars projects amid mounting speculation about her role. Rumors suggest she might be part of a covert effort to reboot or ignore legacy episodes of the sequels, possibly to sidestep fan backlash or to implement a soft reboot of the sequel trilogy.
PR narratives have been heavily centered around Hedlund’s diversity credentials—her hiring being framed as a pivotal move to ensure representation. However, critics argue this move is more about political shield than authentic inclusion. The perception is that Disney and Lucasfilm are leveraging her diversity as a PR front, possibly shielding her from criticism or accountability if her projects falter.