Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down From Lucasfilm

There are changes brewing in a galaxy far, far away and in one really close by. Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as the president of Lucasfilm after 14 years, the company confirmed on January 15. She’ll still be a part of the company, producing films like The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter. Kennedy became president of Lucasfilm in 2012 when Disney bought the company; she previously co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg before leading the next generation of Star Wars fans. “When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” Kennedy shared. “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.”

As for who will replace Kennedy as the company’s fearless leader, Disney has promoted Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan to steer the ship. Filoni, who worked with George Lucas to develop the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and with Jon Favreau on The Mandalorian, is now the president and chief creative officer; Brennan, who joined Lucasfilm in 1999, is the co-president, leading the business side of the company. Their first order of business? It should be how to integrate Grogu into Galaxy’s Edge, even if the Skywalkers are going to be roaming around now.