After a turbulent 13-year tenure, Kathleen Kennedy has told Disney, along with friends and colleagues, that she plans to step down as Lucasfilm president by year’s end.
Update: Kennedy officially responds and confirms her exit but says she is not retiring.
Kathleen Kennedy’s Departure from Lucasfilm
Kennedy’s exit aligns with Disney CEO Bob Iger’s planned departure in 2026.
Puck News reports that the 71-year-old executive initially intended to leave in 2024 but extended her tenure for another year. The major trades corroborate the report, adding that Kennedy has told people she plans to retire. However, neither Disney, Lucasfilm, nor Kennedy herself have officially confirmed the news.
Update: In Variety‘s report, the outlet states: “A separate source close to Kennedy, however, dismissed the initial report by Puck as “pure speculation” and said nothing has been decided.”
Update #2: CNN says more of the same and that the reports may be jumping the gun.
Who Will Take Over Lucasfilm and Star Wars?
With the news breaking, Disney has not announced Kennedy’s successor. However, speculation is already swirling about potential candidates to lead Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise.
Possible Replacements
- Jon Favreau – Favreau played a key role in revitalizing Star Wars with The Mandalorian and is currently working on The Mandalorian & Grogu, set for release next year.
- Dave Filoni – A longtime Star Wars creative, Filoni has been instrumental in shaping the franchise through The Clone Wars, Rebels, Ahsoka, and more. Recently promoted to Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, he now oversees all Star Wars storytelling and is developing a feature film.
- Simon Kinberg – The X-Men producer is reportedly developing a new Star Wars trilogy. Additionally, one of his longtime team members, Derek Hoffman, recently became Lucasfilm’s VP of Development, replacing a Kennedy appointee.
- Kevin Feige – Rumors offer the head of Marvel is a contender
What’s Next for Star Wars?
Kennedy’s planned departure comes just months before Star Wars Celebration Tokyo in April 2025. Reports suggest that major announcements about Lucasfilm’s future—including a potential successor—could be made at the event.
Andor Season 2 also premiers on April 22, 2025, and Ahsoka Season 2 is in the works.
For now, Star Wars fans await official confirmation and more details on what lies ahead for the franchise.
Star Wars under Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy was George Lucas’ choice to take over Lucasfilm and Star Wars.
J.J. Abrams was brought on board for the new Disney Star Wars trilogy. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was released in 2015 and brought in over $2 billion at the box office.
However, the franchise would struggle thereafter. Rian Johnson directed The Last Jedi, and coupled with Kennedy’s “The Force Is Female” narrative and push, Star Wars went downhill. Solo: A Star Wars Story brought in less than $400 million. Many of Kennedy’s announced Star Wars projects would never come to fruition. Under Kennedy, a new Star Wars movie also hasn’t been released since 2019.
Lucasfilm’s Willow series would also be canceled after one season and removed from the Disney+ streaming service. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny also lost Disney more than $134 million, at least, amid expensive reshoots and rewrites.
Recently saw The Acolyte canceled after one season, and for the first time, a Star Wars series didn’t make the Nielsen charts with Skeleton Crew.
