New Report Says Kathleen Kennedy Is Not Leaving Lucasfilm Yet

The rumor mill has been churning once again about Kathleen Kennedy’s potential exit from Lucasfilm, but a new report suggests that talk of her retirement may be premature.

Puck News recently reported that Kennedy, who has led Lucasfilm since 2012, was preparing to step down by the end of the year. According to Belloni, she had originally intended to leave in 2024.

An unnamed source told Belloni: “Kathy [Kathleen] was actually planning to leave last year, I’m told, and had even set up an exit interview with a journalist, but she decided to stay for one more year.”

However, CNN is now countering that claim as a “source familiar with the matter” told them that Kennedy’s retirement isn’t a done deal—far from it. “There’s nothing there right now” regarding her stepping down.

The report adds: “Any announcement of Kennedy’s retirement, if indeed there’s anything to announce, will be made ‘public’ when ‘actual decisions are made.’”

For now, Lucasfilm and Disney are keeping quiet. Both declined to comment on the situation when approached by CNN.

Kennedy has overseen Lucasfilm during one of the most eventful eras in the Star Wars franchise, delivering a new film every year between 2015 and 2019—including The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo, and The Rise of Skywalker. While theatrical releases have slowed down, she has also helped shepherd the brand’s expansion into streaming, bringing audiences shows like The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, Andor, and The Book of Boba Fett.

The next Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, is set to arrive in 2026, but whether Kennedy will still be leading Lucasfilm at that point remains to be seen.