Star Wars: Kathleen Kennedy 'expected to retire' this year

Kathleen Kennedy plans to retire as Lucasfilm president by 2025 after nearly a decade of shaping Star Wars. Her tenure saw massive successes, controversies, and a franchise revival on Disney+.

In Short

• Kathleen Kennedy to retire from Lucasfilm by 2025
• Joined Lucasfilm in 2012; oversaw Star Wars resurgence
• Faced challenges like director changes and project cancellations

After nearly a decade in the Star Wars Universe, Kathleen Kennedy reportedly plans to step down as president of Lucasfilm. As per a Puck report, Kennedy has told her inner circle that she has decided to retire by the end of 2025. Neither she nor Lucasfilm has made an official announcement.

Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012 as co-chair with Star Wars creator George Lucas. Later that year, Disney purchased the company for $4 billion, and Lucas departed, leaving Kennedy at the helm. Star Wars experienced a grand resurgence with her, beginning with J.J. Abrams's The Force Awakens (2015). The movie grossed over $2 billion at the global box office and cemented the franchise's dominance at the box office.

A career full of challenges and triumphs

Kennedy frequently made headlines throughout her tenure at Lucasfilm. She made difficult choices, including replacing directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller during the production of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which ended up being the first Star Wars film to lose money. She also benched Rogue One director Gareth Edwards and hired Tony Gilroy for reshoots, although the movie earned more than $1 billion.

Various Star Wars projects were announced but did not go into production, including director Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi trilogy and another by Game of Thrones creators D.B. Benioff and David Weiss.

Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley's much-hyped back Rey was unveiled two years ago and is still in production.

Star Wars finds new life on Disney+

Where the franchise flailed at the cinema, it rose again on Disney+. When it debuted simultaneously with the new streaming platform in 2019, the Mandalorian became an instant cultural icon, giving way to spinoff series such as The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.

Kennedy's lasting legacy in Hollywood

Outside of Star Wars, Kennedy has enjoyed a remarkable career. She collaborated with iconic director Steven Spielberg and her husband, producer Frank Marshall. She has delivered some great classics such as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Back to the Future (1985-1990), The Goonies (1985), and the Indiana Jones franchise.

Kennedy's Hollywood influence is undeniable, boasting over 70 film productions and eight Academy Award nominations.