Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Responds to Retirement Reports, Confirms Star Wars Succession Plan

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement in late 2025. Earlier reports in Puck News claimed she planned to retire at the end of her contract this year, following a previous consideration in 2024. While Variety dismissed the story as speculation, The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the initial report.

Kennedy herself has now clarified the situation. According to Deadline, she's collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan after thirteen years at the helm. Dave Filoni, creator of Star Wars Rebels and Lucasfilm's chief creative officer, is reportedly a strong contender for her position. However, Kennedy emphatically stated, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies."

While acknowledging Lucasfilm intends to announce a succession plan in the coming months or year, Kennedy confirmed her continued employment at Lucasfilm, including overseeing production of the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. She emphasized that her departure is a planned transition, not a forced exit: "I’m not going to be here forever…George [Lucas] asked me 13 years ago to step in, and now I’m looking at who’s going to replace me. The job has grown since I stepped in. There was no streaming, there weren’t a lot of the things that we’re involved in right now."

Kennedy denied being pushed out or needing replacement, calling such suggestions untrue. Her tenure has overseen the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), and the launch of the successful Star Wars streaming era, encompassing shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some projects, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, faced financial setbacks, others like Star Wars: The Force Awakens achieved blockbuster success.

When directly questioned about stepping down this year, Kennedy responded that she didn't know at this stage, but the decision would be entirely hers. She declined to comment on whether Filoni would succeed her.

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