Kathleen Kennedy to Step Down as Lucasfilm President in Late 2025

Kathleen Kennedy to Leave Lucasfilm After 13 Years

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy plans to retire by the end of 2025, according to reports from Puck covered by industry media. The executive, who turns 72 in June, took over the studio in 2012 under George Lucas and became the sole leader trinc Disney's acquisition and the original creator's departure. Neither her team nor Lucasfilm has commented on the matter.

The announcement, still without official confirmation, points to the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, scheduled for mid-April, as the likely venue where the company will reveal its future plans. Sources indicate Kennedy originally planned to step down at the end of 2024 but agreed to extend her contract by one year. Signs pointing to her exit include the sale of her Malibu home and other valuable assets; her post-retirement plans reportedly involve closer collaboration with her husband, producer Frank Marshall.

A 13-Year Legacy: Three Films and a Shift to Streaming

Her tenure is defined by relaunching the franchise in theaters in 2015 with a new trilogy. The first installment was well-received; the second deeply divided audiences, and the third faced largely unanimous rejection. Simultaneously, in 2019, Star Wars launched its first live-action canon series: The Mandalorian, an unprecedented success for the company trinc by other productions, some well-received like Ahsoka or Andor, and others less so, such as The Acolyte or The Book of Boba Fett. This streaming strategy is credited to Kennedy.

Who Will Succeed Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm?

It remains unclear who might assume the presidency. Many fans advocate for Dave Filoni, the studio's current creative director, considered George Lucas's spiritual heir due to his knowledge and passion for Star Wars. Another view suggests splitting the role between Filoni and Jon Favreau, given their prior collaboration on The Mandalorian. Uncertainty is high.

Wear and Tear on a Multi-Billion Dollar Brand

The succession discussion arrives as the franchise shows evident fatigue among a significant portion of its audience. Some argue that Kennedy's era destroyed brand value and suggest resting it for years before attempting profitable projects; conversely, others note that without her push for streaming, the series currently sustaining Disney+'s catalog would not exist. Pessimistic estimates cite overall losses from the acquisition, while optimists highlight continued revenue from parks and merchandise.

The debate over canon remains another open front. Disney's decision to relegate the entire previous Expanded Universe—novels and comics published since 1978—to Legends status continues to sting long-time readers, who champion characters like Mara Jade, Kyle Katarn, or Darth Revan as the true history of Star Wars. For part of this fanbase, the break is definitive: the relationship with the franchise has become toxic, and leaving it behind is the only healthy option.

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Given these circumstances, it is reasonable to expect the Tokyo Star Wars Celebration to confirm the departure and perhaps introduce a successor. If Filoni is chosen, the franchise bets on creative continuity; if a tandem with Favreau emerges, it opts for the model that already worked in television. What remains unwritten is whether either name suffices to reconnect with an audience that has been disengaging for years.