Star Wars Shakeup Has Kathleen Kennedy Handing Over Lucasfilm to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan
After 14 years of overseeing iconic properties like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm. The reigns will be handed over to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan.
Kathleen Kennedy is officially parting ways with the galaxy far, far away.
After nearly 15 years as the head of Lucasfilm, Kennedy has decided to step away from the iconic production banner comprising such brands as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Willow, the company announced Jan. 15. The top position will be filled by Dave Filoni (Clone Wars creator and Lucasfilm's Chief Creative Officer) and Lucasfilm Business President and General Manager Lynwen Brennan.
Filoni and Brennan have been with the company since 2005 and 1999, respectively.
Kathleen Kennedy officially exiting Lucasfilm after 14 years as president
“When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” Kennedy said in a statement. “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. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”
The transition marks the end of a somewhat polarizing period, considering how Kennedy's handling of beloved legacy IP raised some eyebrows among fans ever since Disney purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucasfilm in 2012 for over $4 billion. Before taking over as president, Kennedy was a longtime producer for Steven Spielberg alongside her husband, Frank Marshall.
A quick overview of Kathleen Kennedy's time as president of Lucasfilm
Kennedy's tenure at Lucasfilm included a fifth Indiana Jones movie, Dial of Destiny, and a Willow sequel series.
Her main focus, however, revolved around the Star Wars mythos with a brand-new trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker), two film projects set before the events of A New Hope—Rogue One and Solo—and an ambitious expansion into the world of streaming television with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ashoka, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew.
Upcoming releases green-lit during the Kennedy era include Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian and Grogu (opening May 22), Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter (set for a May 2027 debut), New Jedi Order (a post-Rise of Skywalker adventure for Daisy Ridley's Rey from director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy), and a number of on-hold or canceled pitches from James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson, Donald Glover, and Steven Soderbergh.
Kennedy reflected on the litany of unrealized efforts during a recent interview with Deadline, stating that, "Anything’s a possibility if somebody’s willing to take a risk."
"Everything I just reeled off to you is taking a bit of a chance because none of those filmmakers are just walking in trying to do same old, same old," she continued. "I’m excited by that, but the studio’s nervous about that, and that’s kind of where it sits at the moment."
Disney and Lucasfilm bid farewell to Kathleen Kennedy
Disney CEO Bob Iger thanked Kennedy for her dedicated service in a statement of his own, saying, "We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”
Disney Co-Chair Alan Bergman, meanwhile, described the outgoing president as "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. She has steered Star Wars to incredible box office heights and brought a new generation of fans into the fold. We appreciate having her on board to produce our next couple of films."
Bergman went on to add that "the studio remains in extraordinarily capable hands with Dave Filoni, who’s a brilliant storyteller, and Lynwen Brennan, an avid innovator and business leader. They are deeply passionate and experienced executives who will continue to drive the studio and Star Wars forward in exciting new directions.”
As for Filnoi, he has nothing but respect for his predecessor.
“My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas,” he said. “I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them. From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen 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.”A
Added Brennan: “Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life. It’s a community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other, and I am honored to join Dave Filoni in leading us forward. I have been so fortunate to learn from George Lucas, Kathy Kennedy, and Alan Bergman and have unwavering faith in Dave’s creative vision for the next chapter in this storied studio’s legacy.”
