Reports suggest Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy plans to step down by the end of 2025. According to Puck News, Kennedy intends to retire upon the expiration of her current contract. While Puck News initially reported this, Variety cited a source close to Kennedy who dismissed the report as "pure speculation." However, The Hollywood Reporter subsequently corroborated Puck's claim.
Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012, initially serving as co-chair alongside George Lucas. Following Lucas' departure, she assumed the presidency, overseeing the Star Wars franchise's subsequent development.
20 Images
Her leadership encompassed the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX) and the expansion of the Star Wars universe into streaming with series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Key. While some projects, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, achieved significant box office success, others, like Solo: A Star Wars Story, faced financial setbacks.
Kennedy's potential departure raises questions about the future of several announced and rumored projects, including films by James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover, as well as the previously announced, but currently delayed, Rey film. Upcoming projects include The Mandalorian & Grogu and a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg.
Before joining Lucasfilm, Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall, producing numerous iconic films including E.T., Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future. Her contributions have garnered eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture.