Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Responds to Retirement Reports, Confirms Star Wars Succession Plan

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has firmly addressed recent speculation about her retirement, asserting that she is not stepping away from the film industry. Reports from Puck News suggested that Kennedy, a veteran film producer, was set to retire at the end of her contract in 2025, following a previous consideration to retire in 2024. However, while Variety labeled these claims as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the report.

In response, Kennedy spoke to Deadline, clarifying her position and emphasizing her ongoing commitment to filmmaking. "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring," she stated. She further elaborated, "I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring."

Despite these firm statements, Kennedy acknowledged working with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan. Star Wars Rebels creator and Lucasfilm's current chief creative officer, Dave Filoni, is reportedly in a "strong position" to succeed her. Kennedy mentioned that Lucasfilm intends to make an announcement about her eventual successor "months or a year down the road," but she will continue her role at Lucasfilm, working on projects like the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy.

Kennedy emphasized that while she is planning for the future, she is not leaving the company or retiring from the film industry. "I’m not going to be here forever," she admitted, reflecting on her 13-year tenure at Lucasfilm, which began at the request of George Lucas. She noted the growth of the company since her arrival, particularly with the advent of streaming services and other new ventures.

Addressing any rumors of being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," Kennedy dismissed these claims outright, stating they were "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has produced the sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9), launched the streaming era with shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte, and navigated the mixed reception of films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

When directly asked by Deadline if she would step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage," but assured that any decision to step down would be "100% my decision." She refrained from confirming whether Filoni was lined up to take over her role.

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