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

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement in late 2025. Earlier this week, Puck News reported Kennedy planned to retire at the end of her contract, adding that she’d previously considered retirement in 2024. While Variety dismissed the story as speculation, The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the report.

Kennedy has now issued a statement clarifying the situation. According to Deadline, she's collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan after 13 years at the helm. Dave Filoni, creator of Star Wars Rebels and Lucasfilm's chief creative officer, is reportedly a strong contender for her position. However, Kennedy emphatically stated, “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies.”

While acknowledging Lucasfilm intends to announce a successor in the coming months or year, Kennedy confirmed her continued presence at Lucasfilm, including overseeing production of the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. She clarified that while she won't remain president forever, the decision to step down will be entirely hers. She also refuted suggestions of being pushed out, stating this was “absolutely not the case.”

Kennedy’s tenure has overseen the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), and the launch of the Star Wars streaming era, encompassing shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. Although some projects, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, achieved massive success, others have faced criticism, and some, like Solo: A Star Wars Story, were financially unsuccessful.

When directly asked by Deadline if she would relinquish her role as Lucasfilm president this year, Kennedy responded that she didn't know “at this stage,” but reiterated that the decision would be “100% my decision.” She declined to comment on Filoni's potential appointment.