Kathleen Kennedy to Depart Lucasfilm, Marking a New Era for Star Wars

Kathleen Kennedy, the longtime president of Lucasfilm, is reportedly set to step down from her role at the end of 2025. This anticipated departure is expected to trigger significant changes for the future of the Star Wars film and television franchise.

Kennedy, 72, has been at the helm of Lucasfilm since Disney's acquisition of Star Wars from George Lucas in 2012. Under her leadership, the studio released the Star Wars "Skywalker Saga" sequel trilogy, two standalone films in Rogue One and Solo, and six live-action Disney+ series, notably including The Mandalorian. The news of her impending retirement was initially reported by Matt Belloni of Puck News.

A Mixed Legacy

For some Star Wars fans, Kennedy's departure will likely be a welcome development. Many have felt that Lucasfilm lacked a clear, consistent direction under her guidance. While the sequel trilogy found box office success, it generally received mixed reviews from both critics and fans. The Alden Ehrenreich-led Solo film proved to be a major commercial disappointment and failed to kick off the Han Solo film trilogy Disney had envisioned. Furthermore, with the exception of The Mandalorian, most of Star Wars' Disney+ series have struggled to break through with a mainstream audience.

Beyond the projects that saw release, numerous Star Wars films and series announced during Kennedy's presidency were later scrapped, reportedly due to creative differences. These include Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron film and Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian movie. Consequently, no new Star Wars film has hit theaters since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.

Kennedy's oversight also extended to the Indiana Jones franchise, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This film was another box office disappointment that failed to rejuvenate the series as Disney had originally intended.