Kathleen Kennedy’s replacements named as she steps down from Star Wars’ Lucasfilm

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Kathleen Kennedy is leaving her position as president of Lucasfilm in a surprising move that will significantly impact the company.

While many knew Kennedy was considering leaving, the news of her retirement still came as a surprise, happening sooner than anticipated. The Hollywood Reporter announced that her last day with the company will be at the end of this week.

Two people with deep knowledge of Star Wars are taking on leadership roles at Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni, a fan favorite expected to lead the creative direction, will become President and Chief Creative Officer. Lynwen Brennan, currently in charge of Lucasfilm’s business operations, will serve as co-president, focusing on the business side.

Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 – Photocall | Dave Benett/GettyImages

Dave Filoni has been a key figure in Star Wars for many years, but he’s particularly known for leading the franchise’s recent move to television with the Disney Plus shows, often referred to as the ‘Mando-Verse.’ His work on The Mandalorian, which premiered in 2019, revitalized Star Wars after the Skywalker Saga ended by successfully bringing the story to the small screen. This success then led to spin-off series like The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew, all of which Filoni helped create.

This year, fans can look forward to seeing the world of The Mandalorian on the big screen with the upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to release this summer. Even though Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm, she’ll still be a producer on this movie, as well as another Star Wars film, Starfighter, planned for 2027.

Let’s be clear: don’t hold your breath waiting for Kennedy to be back running Lucasfilm. I was reading a new interview she gave to Deadline about leaving, and she brought up the whole Bob Iger situation at Disney – you remember, when he stepped down, then came back? – and it really shed some light on her decision.

Things aren’t working out here. I let everyone know I’d stay a little longer, but I’m really eager to start making more films. I’m hoping to direct a variety of different movies again, like I did in the past.

Kathleen Kennedy will continue to oversee current and future Star Wars films as she returns to producing. She’s optimistic about the franchise’s future and doesn’t dwell on past mistakes, though she admits the film Solo: A Star Wars Story may have been released too early, potentially setting Alden Ehrenreich up for a difficult challenge.

No matter where Star Wars goes from here, Kathleen Kennedy’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter. She’s been a key leader for nearly 15 years, and it will be very difficult to replace her. We’re sending our best wishes to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan as they take on the future of the franchise.

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2026-01-16 02:22