Kathleen Kennedy Stepping Down as Lucasfilm President, Dave Filoni Named President

Lynwen Brennan will serve as Co-President, effective immediately.

The Kathleen Kennedy era at Lucasfilm has officially come to an end. Kennedy will be stepping down from her role at Lucasfilm after nearly 14 years on the job and will be transitioning back to full-time producing, Disney announced on Thursday.

Dave Filoni, the company’s Chief Creative Officer, will serve as President and Chief Creative Officer, and Lynwen Brennan will be Co-President. Both have been in senior leadership roles at the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” studio for more than 15 years. They will report to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.

Puck reported in February of last year that Kennedy would be retiring by the end of 2025, something the studio denied at the time.

Under Kennedy’s tenure at Lucasfilm, we got a new trilogy of “Star Wars” films in the Skywalker Saga that were box office smashes, and “The Mandalorian” and “Andor” have become Disney+ streaming hits. But she also oversaw a series of lows with the likes of “Solo,” several other critically maligned “Star Wars” streaming series that have slowed the franchise, as well as a dearth of new “Star Wars” films since “The Rise of Skywalker” back in 2019.

Seven years removed from that film, Disney will finally be releasing “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a big-screen finale to the streaming series, and the studio is also currently at work on “Starfighter” starring Ryan Gosling, which will open in 2027. Several other prospective films however with a revolving door of talent have started and stopped over recent years.

As for where Lucasfilm heads now, Filoni has been with Lucasfilm since 2005 and has been working closely with George Lucas for years, helping establish Lucasfilm’s animation studio and leading the vision of shows like “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Rebels,” and “The Mandalorian.” He’s also currently the showrunner for “Ahsoka,” which is in production for its second season.

“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,” said Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”

“Kathleen Kennedy has been a tremendous force in the industry for 50 years, and it’s been our privilege to have her here at Disney leading Lucasfilm for nearly 14 of them,” said Bergman. “She has steered Star Wars to incredible box office heights and brought a new generation of fans into the fold. We appreciate having her on board to produce our next couple of films, and the studio remains in extraordinarily capable hands with Dave Filoni, who’s a brilliant storyteller, and Lynwen Brennan, an avid innovator and business leader. They are deeply passionate and experienced executives who will continue to drive the studio and Star Wars forward in exciting new directions.”

“When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” said Kennedy. “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.”

Kennedy has a career that stretches back 50 years and has seen her as the co-founder of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment produce classics like “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future,” “Schindler’s List,” “The Sixth Sense,” and “Lincoln.” In all her 70+ films have earned 25 Oscars and billions at the box office. She was honored with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2018 and the Producers Guild of America’s Milestone Award in 2022.

“My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas,” said Filoni. “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.”

Brennan has been with Lucasfilm since 1999, beginning at Industrial Light & Magic where she rose through the ranks to become its leader in 2009. She was appointed General Manager of Lucasfilm in 2015 and President & General Manager of Lucasfilm Business in 2024. During her tenure, she has guided the company through transformative technological shifts with a clear strategic vision and a commitment to innovation, and her industry leadership has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Visual Effects Society and the honor of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

“Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life,” said Brennan. “It’s a community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other, and I am honored to join Dave Filoni in leading us forward. I have been so fortunate to learn from George Lucas, Kathy Kennedy, and Alan Bergman and have unwavering faith in Dave’s creative vision for the next chapter in this storied studio’s legacy.”