Kathleen Kennedy, Pioneering Force Behind Star Wars, Steps Down as Lucasfilm Steward
In a move that marks a new era for one of cinema's most beloved franchises, Kathleen Kennedy, the long-time steward of Star Wars under The Walt Disney Company, has announced her departure from Lucasfilm. After nearly 13 years at the helm, Kennedy will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, who will take on the role of President and Chief Creative Officer.
Kennedy, a visionary filmmaker and one of Hollywood's most successful producers, had been instrumental in shaping the Star Wars universe since Disney acquired it in 2012. Her tenure has seen both critical and commercial success, with blockbuster franchises like The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Mandalorian showcasing her creative vision. However, her relationship with longtime fans has also been a subject of contention, as she navigated the challenges of expanding the Star Wars universe while staying true to its core spirit.
Filoni's appointment is seen as an opportunity to reboot the franchise and explore new storytelling avenues. With his extensive experience in creating animated series like The Clone Wars and Ahsoka, Filoni brings a unique perspective to the role. As President and Chief Creative Officer, he will work closely with Lynwen Brennan, who will serve as Co-President alongside him.
Kennedy's departure comes at a time when the Star Wars franchise is facing increased scrutiny from fans, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the series' creative direction. Her legacy, however, remains indelible in the world of science fiction, and her contributions to the franchise will be felt for years to come.
"From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling on-screen that we have ever seen," Filoni said in a statement, praising Kennedy's vision and trust. "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."
As Filoni assumes his new role, he inherits a complex legacy that includes both critical and commercial successes, as well as controversies and criticisms. With her departure, Kennedy's fingerprints will remain on many upcoming Star Wars projects, including Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, set for release in May 2027.
The future of the franchise now rests with Filoni, who must navigate the challenges of balancing creative vision with fan expectations. As he embarks on this new chapter, one thing is certain – the journey ahead will be shaped by his unique perspective and creative genius.
In a move that marks a new era for one of cinema's most beloved franchises, Kathleen Kennedy, the long-time steward of Star Wars under The Walt Disney Company, has announced her departure from Lucasfilm. After nearly 13 years at the helm, Kennedy will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, who will take on the role of President and Chief Creative Officer.
Kennedy, a visionary filmmaker and one of Hollywood's most successful producers, had been instrumental in shaping the Star Wars universe since Disney acquired it in 2012. Her tenure has seen both critical and commercial success, with blockbuster franchises like The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Mandalorian showcasing her creative vision. However, her relationship with longtime fans has also been a subject of contention, as she navigated the challenges of expanding the Star Wars universe while staying true to its core spirit.
Filoni's appointment is seen as an opportunity to reboot the franchise and explore new storytelling avenues. With his extensive experience in creating animated series like The Clone Wars and Ahsoka, Filoni brings a unique perspective to the role. As President and Chief Creative Officer, he will work closely with Lynwen Brennan, who will serve as Co-President alongside him.
Kennedy's departure comes at a time when the Star Wars franchise is facing increased scrutiny from fans, who have grown increasingly frustrated with the series' creative direction. Her legacy, however, remains indelible in the world of science fiction, and her contributions to the franchise will be felt for years to come.
"From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling on-screen that we have ever seen," Filoni said in a statement, praising Kennedy's vision and trust. "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."
As Filoni assumes his new role, he inherits a complex legacy that includes both critical and commercial successes, as well as controversies and criticisms. With her departure, Kennedy's fingerprints will remain on many upcoming Star Wars projects, including Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, set for release in May 2027.
The future of the franchise now rests with Filoni, who must navigate the challenges of balancing creative vision with fan expectations. As he embarks on this new chapter, one thing is certain – the journey ahead will be shaped by his unique perspective and creative genius.
. Dave Filoni is taking over now and I'm curious to see how he'll shape the franchise. What's cool is that he's got a lot of experience under his belt, having worked on The Clone Wars and Ahsoka. It's all about finding that balance between staying true to the core spirit of Star Wars while still innovating and taking risks.
She's been such an important part of Star Wars for so long! I know some fans have had issues with her decisions, but I think she's done an amazing job expanding the universe 
Dave Filoni is in good hands though - he's got that cool animation background and I've loved The Clone Wars and Ahsoka series 
Fingers crossed he can keep the magic alive for future fans! 
. But at the same time, Dave Filoni seems like the perfect guy to take over, you know? I mean, The Clone Wars is an amazing show and he's got experience in creating these epic stories... but what if he messes up? 
And what about all the fans who are gonna be super disappointed with him? I kinda trust his vision, but I also hope he doesn't ruin Star Wars for me 
. Anyway, I'm curious to see how this whole thing plays out... might just have to watch some Star Wars: Starfighter or whatever that new movie is 
.
so what's up with kathleen kennedy leaving lucasfilm? i mean she was like a legend in star wars land for years 
is it true that filoni's like a master of animation? 
can't wait to see what kind of new stuff they're gonna make for star wars now 
[sad face] 
[thinking face] 
. Can't wait to see what he does next! 
she was always under so much pressure to make star wars cool again for old fans and attract new ones at the same time 
but her legacy is still gonna live on and that's something to celebrate 
... I mean, she's been a total game-changer for Star Wars and I love how she's pushed the franchise in new directions 
maybe this means we'll get to see more of those awesome animated series like the clone wars 
i mean we've seen his work on the clone wars and ahsoka so yeah he's got some experience under his belt. hopefully he'll be able to bring in some fresh ideas without alienating the fans too much 
. but at the same time, i think dave filoni is in a great position to bring some fresh ideas to the table 
. he's got so much experience with animated series and it'll be interesting to see how he balances creative vision with fan expectations 
.
, all that critical acclaim and commercial success... she must be getting a little too comfortable 
, on the other hand, filoni's appointment feels super promising 
, but can we just say kathleen kennedy was kinda being a buzzkill for fans w/ her super strict approach to staying true to the core spirit 
, might just be the spark disney needs 
. Her legacy is gonna be super hard to live up to now that Dave Filoni takes the reins