Kathleen Kennedy, one of Hollywood’s most influential producers and the longtime steward of the Star Wars universe, is stepping down from her leadership role at Lucasfilm after more than 13 years guiding the iconic franchise.
The Walt Disney Co. announced Thursday that Dave Filoni will take over as president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm, steering Star Wars into its next chapter. Filoni will share leadership responsibilities with Lynwen Brennan, the company’s president and general manager, who will serve as co-president overseeing business operations. Both will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman.
Kennedy, who was personally chosen by Star Wars creator George Lucas to succeed him, has led Lucasfilm since Disney acquired the company in 2012 for $4.05 billion. During her tenure, the franchise expanded dramatically across films, television and streaming, becoming a cornerstone of Disney’s global entertainment strategy.
“When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm, I couldn’t have imagined the journey ahead,” Kennedy said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to work alongside the extraordinary artists and storytellers who have brought these worlds to life.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Kennedy as a “visionary filmmaker,” crediting her with overseeing a period that generated more than $5.6 billion in global box office revenue and helped establish Disney+ as a major streaming platform.
A tenure of success — and controversy
Kennedy’s era at Lucasfilm delivered massive commercial success but also sparked persistent debate among fans. The sequel trilogy launched with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, directed by J.J. Abrams, which grossed more than $2 billion worldwide and reignited global enthusiasm for the franchise.
However, subsequent films proved divisive. Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi (2017) split audiences sharply, and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) struggled to unite critics or longtime fans. After 2019, Star Wars largely disappeared from theaters, even as numerous film projects were announced and later delayed or reworked.
At the same time, Kennedy presided over some of the franchise’s most critically acclaimed expansions on television. Series such as The Mandalorian and Andor were widely praised for revitalizing the brand and deepening its storytelling, particularly on Disney+.
Filoni steps into a larger role
Dave Filoni, a longtime Lucasfilm creative figure, has been deeply involved in shaping modern Star Wars storytelling, particularly in animation and streaming series. He rose through the franchise with Star Wars: The Clone Wars and later served as an executive producer on The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Skeleton Crew. He also created the live-action series Ahsoka.
In a statement, Filoni credited Kennedy for expanding the scope of Star Wars across generations and platforms, saying he was honored to take on the responsibility of guiding the franchise forward.
An industry heavyweight
Before Lucasfilm, Kennedy built one of the most successful producing careers in Hollywood history. She co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall and helped produce landmark films including E.T., Jurassic Park, Back to the Future and the Indiana Jones series.
Though stepping away from day-to-day leadership, Kennedy’s influence will remain embedded in Lucasfilm’s future slate. Several upcoming projects were developed under her oversight, including The Mandalorian & Grogu, set for release in May, and Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, scheduled for 2027.
As Lucasfilm enters a new phase under Filoni’s creative leadership, Kennedy’s departure marks the end of a consequential — and often contentious — chapter in Star Wars history, one that reshaped the franchise for the streaming age and left an enduring imprint on modern blockbuster filmmaking.
