In a move that marks the end of an era for one of Hollywood’s most influential studios, Kathleen Kennedy has stepped down as president of Lucasfilm, the production powerhouse behind the Star Wars franchise. After nearly 14 years at the helm, Kennedy will transition to a full-time producer role, Disney announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The change comes as Disney names Dave Filoni, a longtime Lucasfilm veteran and protégé of Star Wars creator George Lucas, as president and chief creative officer, with Lynwen Brennan taking on the role of co-president to oversee business operations.
Kennedy’s departure signals a significant leadership shift for Lucasfilm, a studio that has navigated both dazzling box office triumphs and turbulent fan debates during her tenure. She first took over the company when Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for approximately $4.05 billion, a move that brought the beloved “galaxy far, far away” into the Disney fold and set the stage for a new era of storytelling. According to Reuters, George Lucas hand-picked Kennedy for the role, entrusting her with the stewardship of his iconic universe.
Reflecting on her time at Lucasfilm, Kennedy stated, “When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead. 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.”
During Kennedy’s leadership, the studio produced three blockbuster sequels to the original Star Wars trilogy—The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019)—which collectively earned approximately $4.48 billion worldwide, as reported by The New York Times. The first of these, The Force Awakens, surpassed $2 billion in global ticket sales, underscoring the enduring appeal of the franchise. Kennedy also oversaw the spinoff film Rogue One, which was widely regarded as a high point amid a sometimes rocky cinematic journey.
However, not every project under Kennedy’s watch soared. The 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story was a box office disappointment, prompting Disney to put the film series on hiatus in 2019 and pivot toward live-action television. This strategic shift led to the launch of several high-profile streaming series on Disney+, including The Mandalorian, which became an instant hit with its debut in 2019, introducing audiences to Pedro Pascal’s bounty hunter and the now-iconic Baby Yoda (Grogu). Other series, like Ahsoka and Andor, expanded the universe further, though not all new ventures met with universal acclaim. The Acolyte, in particular, drew controversy and was ultimately canceled after one season due to inadequate viewership, according to The New York Times.
Kennedy’s approach was marked by an emphasis on diversity in casting and storytelling, a decision that placed her at the heart of ongoing culture-war debates. While some praised her for pushing Star Wars into more inclusive territory, others in the fan base—known for their passionate, sometimes toxic resistance to change—reacted with backlash. Kennedy herself became a lightning rod in these debates, even being lampooned in an episode of South Park. Despite the noise, she greenlit ambitious projects like Tony Gilroy’s Andor, which earned rave reviews and a dedicated following, showing that risk-taking could yield creative rewards.
Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged Kennedy’s impact, saying, “We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.” Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, also offered high praise, underscoring the respect Kennedy commands in Hollywood. Her producing career, which began in 1982 with classics such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Poltergeist, will continue as she remains a lead producer on upcoming Star Wars films, including The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), featuring Ryan Gosling.
Stepping into the spotlight, Dave Filoni brings a unique pedigree to Lucasfilm’s top job. Hired by George Lucas in 2005 to help build a Star Wars animation studio, Filoni was instrumental in creating the acclaimed animated series The Clone Wars and later co-created The Mandalorian. Filoni, often seen at fan events sporting his signature cowboy hat, is no stranger to the franchise’s lore or its passionate audience. In a statement, Filoni reflected, “My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas. 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.”
Lynwen Brennan, who began her Lucasfilm journey at Industrial Light & Magic in 1999 before becoming General Manager in 2015, joins Filoni as co-president. She expressed her excitement, saying, “Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life. 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.”
The leadership transition comes at a time when Lucasfilm faces mounting pressure from both Wall Street and the global fan community. The studio’s productions are notoriously expensive due to their reliance on cutting-edge visual effects, making every project a high-stakes venture. Meanwhile, the Star Wars franchise has generated more than $10.3 billion at the global box office, a testament to its enduring commercial power, according to Comscore and Reuters.
Yet, the path forward is anything but certain. While Filoni’s deep ties to the Star Wars animated universe and characters like Ahsoka Tano and Grand Admiral Thrawn have excited longtime fans, some critics argue that Lucasfilm must look beyond nostalgia to recapture the magic that made the original trilogy a cultural phenomenon. The challenge, as many observers note, will be to balance reverence for the past with the need for fresh, coherent storytelling that can win over both old and new audiences.
With Daisy Ridley, star of the recent sequel trilogy, set to return in a new Star Wars project, and major films like The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter on the horizon, the franchise stands at a crossroads. Whether the new leadership can steer the starship through the asteroid field of fan expectations and industry pressures remains to be seen. But with Kennedy’s legacy firmly in place and Filoni and Brennan at the controls, the next chapter of Star Wars promises to be anything but dull.
