The spin is in overdrive as Kathleen Kennedy officially comments about her exit from Lucasfilm in a huge shill interview with Deadline.
She actually fires back at reports that she is retiring but does confirm details that an announcement about her successor will be made within the next couple of months or sometime later this year.
In Deadline‘s article, they go so far as to state that Kennedy should “own her own narrative” about how she exits Lucasfilm. Well, the truth doesn’t matter, right? It only matters what Kennedy wants to put out there because she’s had such a “great” career, especially when it has come to Star Wars? Talk about BS spin and shilling. It’s PR cover. And that’s how your Hollywood news works, folks!
Succession and Future Announcement
So Puck News broke the story in their article titled “Kathleen Kennedy to Step Down at Lucasfilm.” The article is behind a paywall, but adds, “After a mixed 13-year run, the legendary movie producer has informed Disney, as well as friends and associates, that she will exit as Lucasfilm president by the end of the year.” Their article says, “It’s happening: After years of speculation, and polite urging from observers like me, Kathleen Kennedy has informed Disney, as well as friends and associates, that she will exit as Lucasfilm president by the end of the year, per three sources. Disney and Kennedy’s personal publicist declined to comment.”
So what does Kennedy say? She tells Deadline, who goes so far as to scold Puck News for their reporting, (bold my own emphasis):
What’s happening at Lucasfilm is I have been talking for quite some time with both Bob and Alan about what eventual succession might look like. We have an amazing bench of people here, and we have every intention of making an announcement months or a year down the road. We are in lockstep as to what that’s going to be… looking very thoughtfully with Bob and Alan as to who’s stepping in.
She adds in an answer to another question:
We’ll probably make an announcement months or a year out
According to what the trades previously reported (most of whom are monopolized by Penske Media which owns Deadline, THR, Variety, etc.), the announcement is expected in April at Star Wars Celebration Tokyo — which is months away — and Kennedy is expected to step down by year’s end.
Who is replacing Kathleen Kennedy?
Deadline throws out Dave Filoni’s name but Kennedy won’t say who is going to replace her as president of Lucasfilm:
I can’t say who it is because there’s just an internal process that goes on inside a large corporation and a publicly held company, as to how we go about making deals, finalizing decisions and making announcements. There’s nothing unusual about that, and we’re in that process.
Kathleen Kennedy not retiring
The rest of the article is basically just spin to cover the leak, but Kennedy does says she isn’t going to retire. She says she will remain onboard to work on upcoming Star Wars projects (that she is already locked in by contract) and will help her successor. So that means she’ll still be involved as a producer (but how actively involved, remains to be seen):
The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring… I am continuing. I’m producing the Mandalorian movie right now, and I’m also producing Shawn Levy’s movie, which is after that. So I’m continuing to stay at Lucasfilm and looking very thoughtfully with Bob and Alan as to who’s stepping in. So that is all underway, and we have every right to make that announcement when we want to make it.
She also says:
I have every intention of sticking around to help that person be successful. I’m already producing the Mandalorian movie, and Shawn Levy’s is after that.
Decision is hers
To throw it in the face of the reports about her retiring, Deadline makes a point of highlighting that she could still be involved in Star Wars for the next decade, Kennedy responds:
I don’t know if I’m going to say that, but yeah, it’s possible.
Deadline also flat out asks if she is stepping down this year; Kennedy responds:
We really don’t know at this stage. There’s so much going on, Mike. I don’t know.
Kennedy also says the decision is up to her:
Me. It’s my decision. This is 100 percent my decision.
Change in the guard at Disney
While not touched upon in the article, Bob Iger also steps down in 2026 as CEO of Disney. Iger has also mandated that Lucasfilm put out less Star Wars content (likewise to Feige and Marvel) following all the backlash and Disney losing billions on streaming (Kennedy’s The Acolyte bombed big time on Disney+, and Skeleton Crew is the first Star Wars series not to make the Nielsen ratings charts).
We can also add that with Donald Trump back in office, Hollywood is reversing its progressive DEI policies, which includes Disney now reversing course. Under Kennedy, her DEI approach to Star Wars has backfired, alienating longtime fans, many of whom have lost interest or become apathetic toward the brand. And the “new audience” she targeted with her DEI approach never showed up.
What’s next for Star Wars?
Two projects are on the official release date slate with Andor Season 2 premiering April 22, 2025 on Disney+. Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu gets released on May 22, 2026. Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka Season 2 is in the works but has no release date. No new Disney+ shows have been announced.
Everything else is considered in development. Kennedy gives “updates” in that announced projects are being written, etc. (Levy, Mangold, Waititi, however, no mention of the Rey movies) — which is something we’ve heard from her for years and obviously we all know a lot of them haven’t come to pass.
