Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm after 14 years leading the Star Wars franchise into its modern era, marking one of the most significant leadership changes in the studio’s history.
Lucasfilm confirmed that Kennedy will move away from day to day leadership while continuing as a producer on upcoming films, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, scheduled for release this year, and Star Wars: Starfighter, set for 2027.
Taking over the studio’s creative direction is longtime executive Dave Filoni, who has been named president and chief creative officer. Business operations will be led by Lynwen Brennan, who becomes co president. Both executives will report to Disney Entertainment co chairman Alan Bergman.
Filoni, a protégé of Star Wars creator George Lucas, rose through Lucasfilm’s animation division, overseeing The Clone Wars before helping launch live action series such as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Brennan joined Lucasfilm in 1999 and later led Industrial Light and Magic before assuming responsibility for Lucasfilm’s business operations in 2015.
Kennedy was selected by Lucas to lead the company shortly before Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 billion. Under her leadership, the franchise returned to theaters with The Force Awakens, which grossed more than $2 billion worldwide and became the highest grossing domestic film in history. The studio followed with Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker.
Her tenure also included high profile production challenges, creative reshuffles, and a pause in theatrical Star Wars releases after mixed reactions to the sequel trilogy. Several announced projects stalled, while others were quietly shelved as Disney reassessed the franchise’s release strategy.
Kennedy’s greatest commercial revival came on television. The Mandalorian became the flagship series for Disney+ and reintroduced Star Wars to a new generation of viewers. Andor later earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy awards, proving the franchise could succeed with more mature storytelling.
Overall, Star Wars series under Kennedy received more than 80 Emmy nominations, while upcoming projects include a second season of Ahsoka and the animated Maul: Shadow Lord series.
Kennedy said she is proud of the creative teams she worked with and is looking forward to developing new projects with both longtime collaborators and emerging voices in the industry.
Industry observers say the transition signals continuity rather than disruption. Both Filoni and Brennan have spent years inside Lucasfilm and are deeply embedded in its culture. While Filoni’s deep knowledge of Star Wars mythology has earned praise, some critics note his live action work has sometimes leaned too heavily on complex lore for casual audiences.
With two Star Wars films now back on the release calendar, Lucasfilm enters its next chapter with familiar leadership faces and renewed pressure to restore the franchise’s consistent box office and cultural dominance.
