Kathleen Kennedy Leaves Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni Takes Over Star Wars

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In a significant shift for Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy has decided to step down after over 13 years as president. The Walt Disney Company made the announcement on Thursday.

Dave Filoni will take on the role of president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm, tasked with steering the future direction of the Star Wars universe. Alongside him, Lynwen Brennan will serve as co-president, both reporting to Alan Bergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.

Appointed by Star Wars creator George Lucas himself, Kathleen Kennedy has led Lucasfilm since Disney's acquisition of the studio in 2012 for $4.05 billion. Under her leadership, the studio amassed over $5.6 billion at the global box office and significantly contributed to the rise of Disney+ as a streaming service.

Kennedy reflected on her tenure as a privilege, recognizing the collaborative efforts of the creative teams at Lucasfilm. Bob Iger, Disney's CEO, commended her as a "visionary filmmaker" who broadened the scope of Star Wars narratives across both films and streaming content.

Her tenure included monumental successes, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), which grossed more than $2 billion globally. Yet, divisive responses greeted later entries like The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). After 2019, the focus shifted from theatrical releases to streaming adaptations.

Noteworthy projects during this period included the acclaimed Disney+ series, The Mandalorian and Andor, along with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), which garnered significant praise.

Filoni, recognized for his contributions to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and as an executive producer on popular series like The Mandalorian, expressed gratitude towards Kennedy, Lucas, and Disney for the trust placed in him during this pivotal transition.

Looking ahead, the next installment in the Star Wars saga, titled “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” is slated for release in May 2026, marking a return to theaters. Additionally, projects initiated under Kennedy's direction, such as “Star Wars: Starfighter” starring Ryan Gosling set for 2027, are still on track.

Despite the change in leadership, Kathleen Kennedy's legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence future Star Wars developments under Dave Filoni's guidance.