Dave Filoni and Kevin Feige Among Names Circling Lucasfilm’s President

With Kathleen Kennedy reportedly planning to step down as president of Lucasfilm by the end of 2025, speculation is running wild about who could take the reins of Star Wars.

Then again, conflicting reports suggest she’s not quite ready to leave yet. Regardless, The Hollywood Reporter has dug into the likely candidates.

An insider said: "One reason Kathy stuck around for so long is because there is no credible alternative," Kennedy, handpicked by George Lucas himself in 2012, has guided the franchise through the sequel trilogy and its expansion into Disney+ streaming content.

But as one producer familiar with Lucasfilm pointed out, "what people don’t understand is that it’s not a creative job. That’s about 10 percent. The rest of it is dealing with Disney, licensing, and fans."

Among the names being floated are Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. While Favreau played a massive role in launching The Mandalorian and directed the first two Iron Man movies, one source quickly shut down the idea: "He won’t want to be an executive."

That leaves Filoni and Feige as the two most viable contenders. THR confirms that Filoni, currently serving as Lucasfilm’s chief creative officer, is the frontrunner.

Filoni is George Lucas’ protégé and got his start on The Clone Wars and played in the world of Star Wars animation before co-leading Lucasfilm’s live-action streaming projects with Favreau.

He’s also knee-deep in Ahsoka Season 2 and set to direct his own Star Wars movie. The big question is, can he juggle both that creative workload and the high-pressure demands of running Lucasfilm like James Gunn has been doing with DC Studios?

THR’s sources seem to think so, noting, "Filoni is already Disney’s choice to succeed Kennedy and predicts his ascendancy will be announced at Star Wars Celebration in April."

Still, not everyone is convinced he’s the right choice. "He’s a great resource of knowledge, but he’s ultimately a TV guy. He’ll be killed by all sides," one insider said.

Then there’s Feige. Many in the industry believe the Marvel Studios boss is the best person to lead Lucasfilm forward, but the reality is he’s already stretched thin. "He’s the only one that makes sense, but he needs to focus on Marvel," another Disney insider told the outlet.

If THR’s reporting holds true, Filoni is the likeliest candidate, with an official announcement potentially coming at Star Wars Celebration. But, anything can happen, there could be a curveball and someone completely unexpected to fill the role of Lucasfilm President.

Who would you like to see lead Lucasfilm after Kennedy leaves?