Kathleen Kennedy Denies Retirement, Reveals Star Wars Succession Plan

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has directly addressed recent speculation about her retirement, firmly stating that she has no intention of retiring from the film industry. Reports from Puck News suggested that Kennedy, a veteran in the film industry, was planning 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 the story. Now, Kennedy herself has clarified her stance to Deadline, emphasizing her commitment to filmmaking.

"I will never retire from movies," Kennedy asserted. "I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring." Despite this, she acknowledged ongoing discussions with Disney CEO Bob Iger about a succession plan, mentioning that Star Wars Rebels creator and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni is in a "strong position" to potentially take over. Kennedy confirmed that while Lucasfilm will announce a succession plan in the future, she remains committed to her role and is involved in upcoming projects such as a Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy.

Kennedy's comments suggest a planned transition from her current role as president, yet she emphasized she is not leaving Lucasfilm or the movie business. She reflected on her tenure, which began 13 years ago at the request of George Lucas, and noted the expansion of Lucasfilm's responsibilities, particularly with the advent of streaming services. "I’m not going to be here forever," she admitted, highlighting the internal talent ready to take over various aspects of the business and creative sides.

Addressing concerns about being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," Kennedy firmly denied these claims, stating they "could not be further from the truth." Her leadership has seen the release of the new sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9), and the launch of Star Wars' streaming ventures, including 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 about stepping down as Lucasfilm president this year, Kennedy remained non-committal, stating it would be "100% my decision" but did not confirm a timeline. She also declined to confirm whether Filoni would succeed her.

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