Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has directly addressed recent speculation about her retirement, firmly stating that she has no plans to step away from the film industry. Reports from Puck News suggested that Kennedy was set to retire at the end of her contract in 2025, having previously considered retiring in 2024. While Variety dismissed these claims as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the story.
In response, Kennedy told Deadline that she is collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan, with Dave Filoni, the creator of Star Wars Rebels and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer, being a strong contender for her position. However, Kennedy emphasized, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring."
Kennedy passionately declared her commitment to the film industry, saying, "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." She acknowledged that Lucasfilm intends to announce a succession plan "months or a year down the road," but she will continue her role at Lucasfilm, including producing upcoming projects like the Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy.
Kennedy admitted that while she won't be in her current role forever, she is actively planning for her eventual departure. She reflected on the growth of Lucasfilm since she took over 13 years ago, noting the expansion into streaming and other new ventures. Kennedy firmly denied any notion of being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," describing such suggestions as "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth."
Her tenure at Lucasfilm has included overseeing the new sequel trilogy (Star Wars Episodes 7-9) and the launch of Star Wars' streaming era, which includes series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens were major successes, others, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, faced financial challenges.
When asked directly by Deadline if she would step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage," but affirmed that any decision to step down would be "100% my decision." She remained non-committal about whether Filoni would take over her role.
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Kathleen Kennedy at the launch of Disney+ Star Wars show the Acolyte. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Gett
