After serving as the principal leader of Lucasfilm for more than 13 years, Kathleen Kennedy has announced her departure from the company famously known as the home of the 'Star Wars' saga, initially established by George Lucas. This leadership transition was made public by The Walt Disney Company on Thursday, revealing that Dave Filoni will assume the roles of president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm. In this capacity, Filoni is charged with steering the 'Star Wars' franchise as it progresses through its sixth decade and beyond. He will work alongside Lynwen Brennan, who holds the position of president and general manager of Lucasfilm’s business operations and will serve as co-president.
In reflecting on her tenure, Kennedy stated, “When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead. It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm.” Appointed by Lucas himself, Kennedy managed the expansion and development of the expansive 'Star Wars' universe following Disney’s acquisition of the franchise in 2012. Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Kennedy, calling her “a visionary filmmaker.”
Throughout Kennedy’s oversight, the 'Star Wars' brand experienced substantial financial success, accumulating over $5.6 billion in box office revenue and becoming integral in establishing Disney+ as a key streaming platform with series such as "The Mandalorian" and "Andor." However, her period at the helm was also marked by creative controversies and increasing dissatisfaction among long-time followers of the franchise.
The record includes a blockbuster new trilogy and popular streaming spin-offs, yet frustrations about storyline and character development persisted. Notably, the theatrical release schedule under Kennedy encountered setbacks, including the controversial reception of films like "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker". These productions generated polarized responses and contributed to a complex dynamic between Lucasfilm leadership and the franchise’s dedicated fanbase.
Transitioning leadership to Dave Filoni comes with his extensive background in 'Star Wars' television projects. Filoni first entered the franchise with the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and later took on executive production roles in acclaimed series including "The Mandalorian," "The Book of Boba Fett," and "Skeleton Crew." While the Disney+ series "Ahsoka" received a lukewarm reception, Filoni has developed a reputation for deep franchise knowledge and creative involvement, including collaboration with George Lucas on animation projects such as "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Both he and Lynwen Brennan will report directly to Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
Filoni expressed gratitude for the new opportunity and the mentoring he received, saying, “From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling on-screen that we have ever seen. I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger, and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you.”
Before her work at Lucasfilm, Kennedy was known as one of Hollywood's most successful producers, co-founding Amblin Entertainment alongside Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall in 1981. Her production credits include legendary films such as "E.T.", "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Jurassic Park," and the "Back to the Future" trilogy.
Within the 'Star Wars' narrative, Kennedy’s highest grossing success was the 2015 release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," directed by J.J. Abrams, which topped $2 billion globally. Nonetheless, sequels such as Rian Johnson's "The Last Jedi" in 2017 divided audiences, and "The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019, again with Abrams directing, faced widespread critical and fan disappointment.
Following the conclusion of the sequel trilogy, the franchise paused major theatrical releases despite announced projects. This hiatus is scheduled to end with Jon Favreau’s "The Mandalorian & Grogu," set for release in May. Meanwhile, the franchise's streaming endeavors, such as "The Mandalorian" and "Andor," have seen considerable success, though the overall direction of 'Star Wars' has embodied a state of uncertainty marked by internal disputes over tone and creative vision.
Instances such as the production troubles during the making of the 2018 Han Solo spin-off "Solo: A Star Wars Story," where directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were replaced by Ron Howard, contributed to mixed critical and audience receptions. A notable development under Kennedy’s tenure also included the shelved project featuring Adam Driver as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The film, explored with director Steven Soderbergh and supported by Kennedy and Lucasfilm, was ultimately canceled by Disney CEO Bob Iger, prompting strong fan reactions including a banner flown over Disney's Burbank studios demanding the project's preservation.
Among Kennedy’s produced films, "Rogue One" (2016), directed by Gareth Edwards, stands out as the only one that achieved consistent favorable reception from fans and critics alike. Despite undergoing reshoots overseen by Tony Gilroy, the creator of "Andor," "Rogue One" succeeded in honoring the traditional tone of the space saga while expanding its narrative boundaries.
Kennedy’s influence will continue to shape the 'Star Wars' franchise with upcoming projects that she helped initiate, including Shawn Levy’s “Star Wars: Starfighter,” featuring Ryan Gosling and slated for a May 2027 release, among several other productions in various stages of development.