Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is getting ready to step down from her place by the top of 2025, as reported by Puck. The veteran producer, who has overseen the Star Wars franchise since Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, has not publicly introduced the choice, and representatives for each Kennedy and Disney have declined to touch upon her future plans.
Kennedy’s potential departure comes after greater than a decade of guiding the enduring sci-fi franchise by way of its Disney period. At 71, she stands as considered one of Hollywood’s most completed producers, with a profession spanning collaborations with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas lengthy earlier than taking the Lucasfilm presidency. Her tenure has seen the launch of a brand new trilogy, a number of spin-off motion pictures, and the franchise’s growth into streaming tv on Disney Plus.
Kathleen Kennedy’s Legacy at Lucasfilm
The timing of Kennedy’s reported exit aligns with Lucasfilm’s shifting focus towards revitalizing the Star Wars movie franchise. After a five-year hiatus from theaters following 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the studio introduced The Mandalorian and Grogu for a 2026 launch. This timeline would enable a successor to shepherd the franchise’s theatrical return whereas Kennedy departs after finishing tasks just like the second season of the critically acclaimed Disney Plus sequence Andor.
Kennedy’s management has produced combined outcomes, with streaming successes like The Mandalorian contrasting with inventive challenges in different tasks. Her tenure noticed field workplace successes however confronted criticism over narrative course within the sequel trilogy. A number of introduced movie tasks — together with trilogies from Rian Johnson and Sport of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss — have been introduced however by no means materialized, elevating questions concerning the studio’s growth course of.
As hypothesis builds concerning Kennedy’s successor, consideration has turned to executives with expertise within the Star Wars universe. Dave Filoni, who rose from animation to develop into a key inventive power throughout Lucasfilm tasks, has emerged as a possible candidate with robust fan assist. Jon Favreau, who developed The Mandalorian alongside Filoni, represents one other chance, however it will be shocking to see him stepping away from his profitable directing profession.
Keep tuned for the newest information concerning the way forward for Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise!