Kathleen Kennedy Expected to Retire from Lucasfilm This Year
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly preparing to step away from the production company after over a decade of leading the charge.
According to a new report from Puck, Kennedy has informed associates of her plans to retire by the end of this year.
Neither Kennedy nor Lucasfilm has commented on the report, but if it’s true, it marks the end of a major era for Star Wars and Lucasfilm as a whole.
This news is sure to be met with mixed reactions from those who have been happy with what Kennedy has done at the stuido and those who have been waiting for the day that she finally leaves.
Kennedy took over as president of Lucasfilm in 2012, initially joining as co-chair alongside George Lucas before stepping into full leadership after Disney acquired the company for $4 billion.
Her tenure kicked off with in 2015 with The Force Awakens, which is the film that reignited the Star Wars franchise, raking in over $2 billion worldwide. That success led to a whirlwind of annual releases between 2015 and 2019. But, as you know the momentum didn’t last.
By the time The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters in 2019, the franchise was struggling, and the film pulled in only half of what The Force Awakens had earned.
Kennedy’s leadership wasn’t without controversy. She famously fired Phil Lord and Chris Miller from Solo: A Star Wars Story midway through production, replacing them with Ron Howard. Regardless how good the movie was, it was the first Star Wars movie to lose money at the box office.
Then there was Rogue One, where director Gareth Edwards was quietly sidelined in favor of Tony Gilroy, who took over the reshoots, though that film ultimately became a $1 billion hit.
Several other film projects were announced over the years but never materialized, including Rian Johnson’s much-discussed Star Wars trilogy and a series of films from Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff. Even Daisy Ridley’s highly anticipated return to the franchise, which was announced nearly two years ago, has yet to move forward in any meaningful way.
Other projects being developed that never materialized were being devloped by Taika Waititi, Kevin Feige, Patty Jenkins, and more.
While Star Wars struggled on the big screen, it found a new home on Disney+. The Mandalorian launched in 2019 by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, alongside the streaming service and became a massive success, leading to spinoffs like The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and the critically acclaimed Andor, which returns for its second season in April.
But, as you know, not every show hit the mark, and concerns over franchise fatigue have grown in recent years.
As for the next big-screen adventure, The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Favreau, is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026—marking Star Wars’ first theatrical release since The Rise of Skywalker. There are also film projects currently in development from Dave Filoni, Shawn Levy, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
Kennedy’s legacy isn’t just Star Wars. Her career spans decades, with an impressive filmography that includes Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, The Goonies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Jurassic Park, and the Indiana Jones franchise. In total, she’s produced over 70 films and earned eight Academy Award nominations.
If Kennedy does actually retire in 2025, it will close a significant chapter for Lucasfilm. The big question is… who takes the reins next, and what does the future of Star Wars look like under new leadership?