Kathleen Kennedy Says Dave Filoni’s Rise to Lucasfilm Co-President Was a 10-Year Mentoring Process
A major leadership shift recently took place at Lucasfilm, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan stepping in as the company’s new co-presidents following Kathleen Kennedy’s departure earlier this year. While the announcement may have felt sudden to some fans, Kennedy says the transition has actually been years in the making.
According to Kennedy, she spent the better part of a decade preparing Filoni and Brennan to take the reins of the studio that oversees the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.
Kennedy took over Lucasfilm in 2012 after the company was acquired by Disney, and during her time leading the studio she helped guide the franchise through an enormous era of growth across film, television, and streaming.
Speaking with Variety at the Golden Reel Awards, she explained that Filoni’s rise into the role was the result of long-term planning and mentorship.
“It didn't just happen six months ago. I spent 10 years talking Dave into gradually stepping into live-action. He had so much experience in animation.
“He's so knowledgeable about Star Wars and loves it so much, it's really been a 10-year mentoring process for both of them. Lynwen came out of Industrial Light & Magic. She was my GM the entire time. I would argue that the transition has been really pretty seamless.”
Filoni’s journey through Lucasfilm has been a fascinating one for fans to watch. He built his reputation in animation, guiding beloved projects like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and co-creating Star Wars Rebels. He later helped expand the franchise into the streaming era as a creative force behind The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
Now he’s stepping into an even bigger leadership role while still remaining creatively involved with upcoming projects.
When Filoni officially accepted the position, he reflected on the surreal path that brought him there, crediting both Kennedy and George Lucas for shaping his career.
“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.”
Filoni isn’t just overseeing the franchise. He’s still actively building it. He’s currently a co-writer and producer on The Mandalorian and Grogu, the upcoming feature film directed by Jon Favreau that brings the hit Disney+ series to the big screen.
Filoni recently described The Mandalorian and Grogu as part of “a completely different era of Star Wars now”. He said:
“Episode VII was a completely different entity. I had dreams of Episode VII since I came out of Return of the Jedi. You were like, ‘After VI comes VII! Where’s VII?’ We’re in a completely different era of Star Wars now.”
Filoni is also expanding the darker corners of the galaxy with the upcoming series Maul – Shadow Lord, which he created and will help guide as the next major Star Wars project on Disney+.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see what comes next. Maul – Shadow Lord premieres on Disney+ on April 6, while The Mandalorian and Grogu lands in theaters on May 22.
For Filoni, the kid who grew up loving Star Wars and eventually worked side by side with George Lucas, the next chapter now involves steering the entire franchise forward.