The Star Wars franchise has taken significant steps forward with on-screen female representation in recent years, with Daisy Ridley's Rey at the center of last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and Felicity Jones (above) starring as Jyn Erso in the upcoming "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

One barrier that has not been crossed yet, though, is a woman directing a Star Wars film; part of a larger trend of women directors being underrepresented in major Hollywood productions. President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy addressed the subject in an interview published late last month by Variety, stating, "We want to make sure that when we bring a female director in to do 'Star Wars,' they’re set up for success. They're gigantic films, and you can't come into them with essentially no experience."

Kennedy's comments received criticism, stemming from an interpretation that she was stating there weren't currently women directors with the necessary experience for a Star Wars film. During Sunday's "Rogue One" press conference, she clarified her comments and her openness to hiring a female director.

"That quote was taken out of context," Kennedy told reporters in attendance, including CBR. "I, as you can imagine, have every intention of giving somebody an opportunity. If somebody actually moves through the process of making movies, and wants to make a Star Wars movie, and shows that they have actually stepped into the role on that level, of course we're going to consider a woman. That goes without saying."

When pressed by Erin Whitney of ScreenCrush to name a female director Kennedy thought had the potential to make a Star Wars movie, she responded, "I think there's many. And I've talked to most of them. There are many out there."

Historically, there have been very few women directors behind the camera in action and genre movies -- and in major Hollywood films in general -- an issue that's received increased attention in recent years. Patty Jenkins directed Warner Bros. "Wonder Woman," scheduled for release next year; her first feature film since 2003's "Monster." In an October interview with IGN, Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige said he thought it was "important" for Marvel to hire a woman director for 2019's "Captain Marvel," the studio's first film starring a solo female hero, but "not a requirement to make a great version of 'Captain Marvel.'" Thus far, every director reported to be in consideration for the job has been a woman.

The next entry in the Star Wars film franchise, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," is scheduled for release on Dec. 16.