Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down as Lucasfilm President; Filoni and Brennan to Lead
Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as Lucasfilm president after 14 years; Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will co-lead the studio while Kennedy returns to producing.
Overview
Kathleen Kennedy, who led Lucasfilm since Disney's 2012 acquisition, is stepping down as president after 14 years and will return to full-time producing.
Dave Filoni becomes Lucasfilm president and chief creative officer, and Lynwen Brennan will serve as co-president overseeing business and financial operations.
Under Kennedy, Star Wars delivered streaming hits like The Mandalorian and Andor and blockbuster revenue but also faced divisive films, production issues, and fan criticism.
Kennedy will produce upcoming theatrical films, including The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), retaining involvement in franchise projects.
Fans and commentators reacted strongly online—some celebrating, others warning it's premature—while Disney praises Kennedy's stewardship and seeks stability under new co-leadership.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally: they balance Kennedy's achievements (box-office totals, expansions like The Mandalorian, Filoni's praise) with factual critiques (Solo's flop, fan backlash over diversity and canon). Reporting relies on named quotes and concrete figures rather than loaded editorializing, offering multiple viewpoints without privileging one narrative.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Dave Filoni will lead as President and Chief Creative Officer, while Lynwen Brennan will serve as Co-President overseeing business and financial operations.
Key achievements include launching The Mandalorian, overseeing billion-dollar films like The Force Awakens, expanding Star Wars to TV with hits like Andor, and generating massive revenue from films, streaming, merchandise, and theme parks.
Criticisms include divisive films like The Last Jedi, production issues, fan backlash over creative decisions, uneven rollout of representation efforts, and a perceived lack of advocacy for filmmakers amid corporate pressures.
Yes, she will return to producing upcoming films including The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (2027).
Reactions are mixed: some fans celebrated the change, while others viewed it as premature or mourned her departure; online discourse highlighted both her successes and failures.
History
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