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 was planning to retire at the end of her contract, adding that she had previously considered retirement in 2024. While Variety dismissed the story as speculation, The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the initial report.

Kennedy herself has now responded, clarifying her intentions to Deadline. She is 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 current 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's intention to announce a successor in the coming months or year, Kennedy confirmed her continued involvement with Lucasfilm, including producing the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. She emphasized that her eventual 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.” She highlighted the significant growth of Lucasfilm since she assumed her role, citing the expansion into streaming and other new ventures.

Kennedy also refuted claims of being pushed out or needing replacement, stating this was "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." 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 acknowledging the varied reception of these projects, including the financial underperformance of Solo: A Star Wars Story, she maintains that any future transition will be entirely her decision. When directly asked if she would step down this year, she responded that she didn't know "at this stage," but that it would be "100% my decision." She declined to comment on whether Filoni was the frontrunner for the position.

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