After 14 years at the helm of one of Hollywood’s most iconic franchises, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm.
Her departure, effective this week, marks a profound shift for Star Wars and signals the beginning of a new chapter under fresh leadership.
Kennedy’s tenure saw unprecedented expansion of the galaxy far, far away—but not without significant turbulence along the way.
What does this transition mean for the future of Star Wars, and who will guide the franchise through its next evolution?
From Lucas’s Protégé to Disney’s Commander
Kennedy wasn’t new to blockbuster filmmaking when she joined Lucasfilm in 2012. She’d already produced cultural touchstones like E.T. and Indiana Jones over her decades-long career.
George Lucas himself handpicked her as co-chair before Disney’s historic $4 billion acquisition. Within months, she became sole president after Lucas exited.
She won’t vanish from the Star Wars universe immediately, though. Kennedy will continue producing two upcoming Lucasfilm films: The Mandalorian and Grogu, arriving May 22, and 2027’s Star Wars: Starfighter.
The New Guard Takes Command
Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan now assume control of Lucasfilm in a split-leadership structure familiar to Disney operations.
Filoni, promoted to president and chief creative officer, will oversee creative direction. Brennan takes the co-president role, managing business operations.
This mirrors Disney’s approach with Pixar and Walt Disney Animation, where creative and business leadership operate in tandem.
It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together.
Kennedy added she’s excited to continue developing projects with both longtime collaborators and fresh storytelling voices.
Filoni’s Journey From Animation to Live-Action Empire
Filoni earned his Star Wars credentials through animation, mentored directly by Lucas himself. He helmed beloved series like The Clone Wars before partnering with Jon Favreau on groundbreaking live-action shows.
The Mandalorian and Ahsoka became cultural phenomena under their collaboration, though not without creative challenges.
Brennan brings institutional knowledge, having joined Lucasfilm in 1999. She climbed to president of Industrial Light & Magic before assuming her current position in 2015, overseeing all business operations.
Kennedy’s Box Office Rollercoaster
Kennedy arrived with eight Oscar nominations for best picture on films like The Sixth Sense and Lincoln. She moved swiftly to launch modern Star Wars cinema.
Recruiting J.J. Abrams to direct The Force Awakens proved masterful. The 2015 film grossed $2 billion globally and captured $936.6 million domestically—making it the highest-grossing movie ever at American box offices.
Subsequent releases delivered impressive numbers:
- Rogue One: $1 billion worldwide
- The Last Jedi: $1.33 billion
- The Rise of Skywalker: $1 billion
But Solo: A Star Wars Story stumbled catastrophically, earning just $392.9 million and becoming the first Star Wars film to lose money theatrically.
Creative Chaos and Director Drama
Kennedy’s leadership wasn’t always smooth hyperspace travel. She fired directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller mid-production on Solo, replacing them with Ron Howard.
During Rogue One, she sidelined director Gareth Edwards, bringing Tony Gilroy in for extensive overhauls. Despite doomsday predictions, the gamble paid off spectacularly.
Rogue One became a critical and financial triumph. Gilroy later created Andor, the Emmy-winning Disney+ prequel series that earned five statuettes and 22 nominations.
The Feature Film Drought
Following The Rise of Skywalker’s mixed reception, Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged producing too many Star Wars films too quickly. Movies went on indefinite pause.
Lucasfilm cycled through false starts and abandoned projects from high-profile creators:
- Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss
- The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson
- Director Taika Waititi
A film starring Daisy Ridley has languished in development since its 2023 announcement.
Only two movies currently have confirmed dates: The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter arriving May 28, 2027.
Baby Yoda Saves Everything
While theatrical releases faltered, Kennedy’s decision to bring Jon Favreau aboard for the first live-action Star Wars TV series became a cultural supernova.
The Mandalorian launched Baby Yoda—officially Grogu—into mainstream consciousness. Initial seasons restored Star Wars to golden status and became Disney+’s flagship series at its late 2019 launch.
Subsequent series produced mixed results. The Acolyte faced outright rejection from certain fan factions in 2024.
Andor demonstrated Star Wars could tackle sophisticated political themes. It showcased exceptional performances and concluded with five Emmy wins from 22 nominations.
Overall, Star Wars series under Kennedy accumulated 85 Emmy nominations.
Questions About the New Era
Filoni’s deep franchise knowledge served him brilliantly in animation but proved less accessible in live-action. Season three of The Mandalorian and season one of Ahsoka dove into intricate interclan rivalries and Jedi lore that alienated casual viewers.
His planned live-action directorial debut—combining characters from multiple series—was shelved. Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu now opens this spring instead.
Some observers note that Filoni and Brennan may continue many Kennedy-era practices and priorities. Both are Lucasfilm veterans, deeply embedded in institutional culture.
Others suggest Lucasfilm essentially idled last year while Kennedy negotiated her exit and succession planning unfolded. With leadership settled, development could accelerate dramatically.
Disney’s Farewell Tribute
Disney executives honored Kennedy’s departure Thursday. CEO Bob Iger reflected on the 2012 acquisition:
When we acquired Lucasfilm more than a decade ago, we knew we were bringing into the Disney family not only one of the most beloved and enduring storytelling universes ever created, but also a team of extraordinary talent led by a visionary filmmaker – someone who had been handpicked by George Lucas himself, no less.
Co-chairman Alan Bergman added his appreciation:
Kathleen Kennedy has been a tremendous force in the industry for 50 years, and it’s been our privilege to have her here at Disney leading Lucasfilm for nearly 14 of them.
Kennedy leaves behind a complicated legacy—box office billions mixed with creative controversies, streaming triumphs alongside theatrical missteps. Whether Filoni and Brennan can navigate these competing forces while recapturing fan enthusiasm remains the central question facing Lucasfilm’s future.