Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Reveals Star Wars Succession Strategy

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent speculation about her retirement plans, firmly denying any intention to step away from the film industry. Reports from Puck News suggested that Kennedy, a veteran film producer, was set to retire at the end of her contract in 2025, having previously considered stepping down in 2024. While Variety dismissed these claims as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter corroborated Puck's story.

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20 ImagesKennedy has now directly responded to these reports, stating to Deadline that she is actively collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan. Star Wars Rebels creator and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni is reportedly in a strong position to succeed her. However, Kennedy was emphatic in her statement: "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring."

She further emphasized her passion for filmmaking, 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."

Kennedy acknowledged that Lucasfilm will make an announcement about her succession "months or a year down the road," but she intends to continue her role at Lucasfilm. Her ongoing projects include producing a Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine.

While Kennedy admitted that plans are in place for her eventual departure from the presidency of Lucasfilm, she made it clear that she will not be leaving the company or the film industry entirely. "I’m not going to be here forever," she remarked, reflecting on her 13-year tenure that began when George Lucas asked her to take the helm. She highlighted the growth of Lucasfilm during her time, particularly the expansion into streaming and other new ventures.

Kathleen Kennedy at the launch of Disney+ Star Wars show the Acolyte. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.Kennedy also refuted any suggestions that she was being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," describing such claims as "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has produced the sequel trilogy (Star Wars Episodes 7-9) and launched the streaming era with 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 directly asked by Deadline if she would step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage," but assured that any decision would be "100% my decision." She remained non-committal about whether Filoni would take over her role.