Longtime "Star Wars" Leader Steps Down in Lucasfilm Restructuring

Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down after 14 years of leadership at Lucasfilm, marking the end of an era for the production company. She will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, executive producer of "The Mandalorian," and Lynwen Brennan, who will serve as co-president.

Kennedy’s departure comes after a significant tenure that has shaped the Star Wars media universe into what it is today. The announcement was made on Thursday through a post on StarWars.com. In her new role, Kennedy will return to full-time producing, a career she began alongside Steven Spielberg in 1982. She later joined George Lucas in helping bring "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" to life in 1984.

Dave Filoni, known for his work on recent Star Wars projects like "The Mandalorian" and "Ahsoka," will take over as president and chief creative officer at Lucasfilm. Lynwen Brennan, who has served as general manager and executive vice-president for many years, will join Filoni as co-president.

Filoni expressed his admiration for Kennedy and George Lucas, stating, "My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas. I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them." He added, "From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen."

Brennan described the Lucasfilm team as a "community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other." She also shared her excitement about working with Filoni, saying, "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."

During her time at Lucasfilm, Kennedy oversaw major changes that transformed the production house, which was founded in 1971 by George Lucas, six years before he directed the first Star Wars film. Her background includes producing acclaimed films such as "E.T.," "The Bridges of Madison County," and "The Sixth Sense." She joined Lucasfilm as co-chair and was quickly promoted to president, just as Disney finalized its acquisition of the company.

Kennedy revitalized Lucasfilm for the modern age, overseeing the successful sequel trilogy, launching a new era of Star Wars television series, and bringing in talented filmmakers like J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson, and Filoni.

However, not all of Kennedy’s projects were successful. The 2018 film "Solo: A Star Wars Story" underperformed at the box office, and she faced criticism for shelving or abandoning projects like "Star Wars: Detours" and Johnson’s planned trilogy of films.

Filoni has been with Lucasfilm for over two decades and is a personal mentee of George Lucas. He has played a key role in some of the company’s most well-received projects, including Disney+’s "The Mandalorian." Brennan previously worked at Industrial Light & Magic, Lucas’ renowned effects house, for over two decades before joining Lucasfilm in 2015.

Looking ahead, Filoni and Brennan have several projects on their slate, including Jon Favreau’s "The Mandalorian and Grogu," set to release later this year, and "Star Wars: Starfighter," starring Ryan Gosling, scheduled for 2027.