Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan Offically Take The Helm at Lucasfilm as Kathleen Kennedy Shifts Back to Producing
After nearly 14 years guiding the ship, Kathleen Kennedy is officially stepping down as president of Lucasfilm this week. It’s a move that’s been a long time coming, even if the timing lands a bit sooner than many expected.
Kennedy isn’t leaving the galaxy behind entirely though. She’s staying on as a producer for the studio’s next two theatrical releases, The Mandalorian and Grogu, due out May 22, 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter, Shawn Levy’s upcoming feature set for May 28, 2027. After that, she’ll move on to pursue other producing projects independently.
Taking over Lucasfilm’s top leadership roles are two names that won’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention. Dave Filoni steps into the role of President and Chief Creative Officer, while Lynwen Brennan becomes Co-President. Both are longtime Lucasfilm veterans who’ve worked closely with Kennedy for years, and this transition has been in motion for about two years as Disney and Lucasfilm leadership planned for a smooth handoff.
Kennedy reflected on her time at the studio with a mix of pride and gratitude, saying, “When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead. It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm.
“Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”
CEO Bob Iger underscored just how pivotal Kennedy’s role has been since the studio’s acquisition. “When we acquired Lucasfilm more than a decade ago, we knew we were bringing into the Disney family not only one of the most beloved and enduring storytelling universes ever created, but also a team of extraordinary talent led by a visionary filmmaker – someone who had been handpicked by George Lucas himself, no less.
“We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”
For Filoni, the moment is personal as much as it is professional. His creative DNA is deeply tied to both Lucas and Kennedy, and he made that clear in his own statement.
“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. From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen.
“I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger, and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you.”
Kennedy’s departure closes the book on months of industry speculation. Earlier this year, she acknowledged that succession planning was underway but suggested the timeline might stretch further out. This confirmation sharpens that timeline considerably and brings clarity to what Lucasfilm leadership looks like heading into its next era.
That next era inherits a studio already deep into production mode. Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu wrapped filming in late 2024 and is positioned as Lucasfilm’s big theatrical return for Star Wars. Right behind it is Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, which is gearing up for a 2027 release. Keeping those projects on track while setting a clear creative direction forward will be one of Filoni and Brennan’s first major tests.
Kennedy leaves behind a legacy that’s as massive as it is debated. Handpicked by George Lucas in 2012, she oversaw Lucasfilm’s $4 billion acquisition by Disney and launched a new era of Star Wars storytelling.
The sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, collectively pulled in $4.47 billion worldwide and reintroduced the franchise to a new generation. The Force Awakens alone still stands as the biggest North American box office performer of all time with $936.5 million domestically.
Her biggest strategic win may have been the pivot to premium streaming. The Mandalorian became a cultural moment and anchored the launch of Disney+. It also gave the world Grogu, which alone probably justified the experiment.
That success was followed by the critically praised Andor, which proved the franchise could lean into more grounded, mature storytelling. Across live-action and animation, Lucasfilm racked up 85 Emmy nominations during her tenure.
Not every swing connected. Solo: A Star Wars Story, while good, became the first Star Wars film to lose money theatrically. Recent series like The Acolyte struggled to find a broad audience and were short-lived.
Outside the galaxy, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny landed with mixed reactions and fell short financially, and the Disney+ revival Willow didn’t last beyond one season. Several high-profile film announcements also stalled out quietly along the way.
Still, the scope of what Lucasfilm accomplished during this period is hard to ignore. Five theatrical Star Wars films grossed $5.9 billion globally. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story crossed $1 billion and spun off Andor. Animation thrived with Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, The Bad Batch, Tales of the Jedi, Young Jedi Adventures, and Visions.
The franchise expanded into theme parks with Galaxy’s Edge and into gaming through Lucasfilm Games, from Cal Kestis’ adventures to major integrations in Fortnite.
Filoni’s journey to this moment started back in 2005, when Lucas tapped him to help build Lucasfilm’s animation studio from scratch. He went on to create The Clone Wars and Rebels, then became a central creative force on The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, where he currently serves as showrunner while prepping its second season.
He’s also producing and co-writing The Mandalorian and Grogu, making his new role feel like a natural evolution for him.
Brennan’s path has been equally foundational, though less public-facing. She joined Industrial Light & Magic in 1999, rose to become ILM President in 2009, and later took on broader operational leadership across Lucasfilm. She’s overseen ILM’s global expansion and helped cement its status as the industry’s premier visual effects studio while steering Lucasfilm’s business strategy and production operations.
Disney Studios boss Alan Bergman summed up the moment in an internal email, praising Kennedy’s five decades in the industry and formally announcing the new leadership structure.
He highlighted Filoni’s deep connection to Star Wars mythology and Brennan’s steady hand through massive technological shifts, framing the transition as one built on continuity rather than disruption. I included that below for you to read.
With Kennedy continuing to produce, Filoni guiding the creative vision, and Brennan steering the business side, Lucasfilm enters its next chapter with familiar hands and a full slate ahead.
New projects like the animated Maul: Shadow Lord and more Ahsoka are already lined up, and the big-screen return of Star Wars is finally in sight. The Force isn’t changing direction, it’s just got a new pilot in the cockpit, and I’m excited for what the future of the franchise will hold!
Here’s Brennan’s e-mail via: Deadline:
“I’m writing today to share the news that after nearly 14 phenomenal years, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role as President of Lucasfilm. She’ll remain part of the Star Wars family as a producer on our next two films, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter.
“With this transition, I’m pleased to announce that Dave Filoni will become President and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, and Lynwen Brennan will serve as Co-President. As many of you know, Dave and Lynwen are longtime members of the Lucasfilm team who have been integral to its success both creatively and commercially. Both will now report to me.
“Kathy has been a tremendous force in the industry for 50 years, and it’s been our privilege to have her here at Disney. George Lucas asked her to join him to lead Lucasfilm in 2012, shortly before it became part of Disney. She immediately got to work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which shattered box office records around the world and still stands as the biggest movie of all time in the U.S.
“It marked the start of a new era for Star Wars, and within the span of four years, Kathy and the Lucasfilm team delivered four of the biggest films in history with a box office total of nearly $6B, along with the launch of the incredibly popular The Mandalorian series, Star Wars’ first foray into live-action series, which anchored the debut of Disney+.
“During her tenure, Kathy oversaw a significant expansion of Star Wars storytelling with the bold and instantly beloved blockbuster Rogue One and the Emmy-winning prequel series Andor. In addition, she launched the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka live-action series, championed new animated series for fans of all kinds from The Bad Batch to Star Wars: Visions, and helped bring the galaxy to real life through the immersive Galaxy’s Edge lands in Disneyland and Disney World.
“Throughout it all, she has driven Lucasfilm’s legacy of innovation forward – ensuring ILM remains the industry’s preeminent VFX house with five studios around the world as it continues to revolutionize production technology with cutting-edge tools like StageCraft.
”What Kathy has accomplished at Lucasfilm is remarkable on its own, but of course she has been shaping the landscape of film and entertainment from the very first film she produced, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, ultimately becoming one of the most successful producers of all time. She has had a hand in so many unforgettable films, from Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, and Jurassic Park to The Goonies, Poltergeist, and The Sixth Sense to Schindler’s List, The Color Purple, and Lincoln.
“The list goes on, and the 70+ films she has produced have earned a collective 25 Academy Awards and more than 120 nominations, including eight Best Picture contenders. For her countless contributions to the industry, she was honored with the Academy’s prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award and the PGA’s Milestone Award, among others. There are few who are more deserving, and I’m thankful for her leadership through the years.
”I am also excited that we have another visionary storyteller ready to lead the studio. Dave joined Lucasfilm in 2005 and worked closely with George Lucas on the creative side, including building the animation studio from the ground up.
“He is deeply connected to the franchise’s mythology and has helped steadily expand it to exciting new corners of the galaxy, from The Clone Wars and Rebels to The Mandalorian, earning numerous Emmy wins and nominations along the way. He is currently the showrunner on Ahsoka, which is now in production for its second season, and is working with Jon Favreau to finish up this summer’s The Mandalorian and Grogu.
“Lynwen has over 26 years with the company, rising through ILM to become its leader in 2009 and later General Manager of all of Lucasfilm in 2015, before being named President & General Manager, Lucasfilm Business in 2024.
“Lynwen’s ability to drive innovation with a clear strategic vision has kept the company on the leading edge during a period of massive technology shifts. Her leadership in the industry has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Visual Effects Society as well as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
“With Dave at the creative helm, Lynwen leading the business, Kathy continuing to produce, and the stellar teams at Lucasfilm, ILM, and Skywalker Sound behind it all, audiences can look forward to iconic Star Wars storytelling – and beyond – for a long time to come.”
Alan
What do you think about this Lucasfilm shake-up!?