The galaxy is about to get a new leader.
Via Puck News, Disney is reportedly set to confirm that longtime Star Wars creative Dave Filoni will take over Lucasfilm, as Kathleen Kennedy steps down from her role as president.
“In the next week or two, Disney will finally confirm what we’ve all known for months: Kathleen Kennedy is indeed stepping down as Lucasfilm president, and Dave Filoni, currently the chief creative officer of the Star Wars unit, will be elevated into the top job.”
Filoni will be joined by Lynwen Brennan, who will handle the business side of the company, while Filoni takes the lead on creative decisions across film, television, and other Star Wars media.
Filoni, who has long been seen as the natural successor to Kennedy, currently serves as Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer and is best known for his work on The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka.
Fans have credited him with restoring the spirit of George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars, and his elevation has been expected for months—especially after a series of creative missteps under Kennedy’s leadership.
While Filoni isn’t considered a traditional executive, Disney will pair him with Brennan, the current president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business, to balance out the creative and operational aspects of the company.
Kathleen Kennedy Stepping Down
Announced last February, Kennedy’s exit comes after more than a decade leading Lucasfilm, a tenure that saw both the highs of The Force Awakens and the lows of a divisive sequel trilogy and several abandoned projects.
According to the report, her longtime publicist is already preparing her media farewell tour, expected to be more polished than informative.
Kennedy’s departure and Filoni’s rise mark a major changing of the guard. With Disney’s focus now shifting toward rebuilding trust in the Star Wars brand, especially after underwhelming recent theatrical efforts and streaming fatigue, giving Filoni creative control could signal a return to basics—and to quality.
What’s Next?
Filoni’s takeover comes with the upcoming releases of Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026 release) and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027). Filoni also has Ahsoka Season 2 in development, expected to be released later this year on Disney+.
Whether he can turn around the franchise’s recent struggles remains to be seen, but fans will likely see this as long-overdue course correction.
Stay tuned for the official announcement, expected in the coming weeks.
