Kathleen Kennedy, who led Lucasfilm for over 13 years, is stepping down from her position overseeing the iconic Star Wars franchise. The Walt Disney Co. has announced that Dave Filoni will now take the reins as president and chief creative officer of Star Wars. Filoni, previously Lucasfilm’s chief commercial officer, will lead the franchise alongside Lynwen Brennan, who will serve as co-president.
Kennedy, handpicked by George Lucas as his successor, guided the Star Wars universe through a period of significant growth since Disney’s acquisition in 2012. Under her leadership, Star Wars saw both commercial success and creative challenges, with acclaimed projects like The Mandalorian and Andor, along with some fan discontent.
While Kennedy’s tenure saw the franchise amass over $5.6 billion at the box office and contribute to Disney+, she faced criticism for not capturing the original trilogy’s magic. Filoni, known for his work on animated series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm into the future.
Before joining Lucasfilm, Kennedy had a successful career as a producer, co-founding Amblin Entertainment and producing hits like E.T. and Jurassic Park. Her tenure at Lucasfilm was highlighted by the success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but subsequent films like The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker received mixed reviews.
The future of Star Wars remains uncertain, with streaming successes like The Mandalorian offsetting challenges on the big screen. Kennedy’s legacy will continue to influence upcoming projects, including Star Wars: Starfighter with Ryan Gosling set for release in May 2027, and several other developments in the works.
