Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Reveals Star Wars Succession Strategy

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has directly addressed recent reports suggesting she plans to retire in 2025. Earlier this week, Puck News claimed that the veteran film producer was set to step down at the end of her contract this year, having previously considered retiring in 2024 but choosing to delay the decision. While Variety labeled these claims as "pure speculation" based on a source close to Kennedy, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the report.

In response, Kennedy herself has spoken out, clarifying her stance on retirement. According to Deadline, she is currently collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan after 13 years in her role. Star Wars Rebels creator and Lucasfilm's current chief creative officer, Dave Filoni, is reportedly in a strong position to succeed her. Despite this, Kennedy firmly stated, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring."

She emphasized her passion for filmmaking, asserting, "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 intends to make an announcement about her eventual successor "months or a year down the road," but she will continue her role at Lucasfilm. This includes producing upcoming projects like the Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy of Deadpool & Wolverine fame.

Kennedy's comments suggest that while she is planning her eventual departure from her current position as president, she has no intention of leaving the film industry or Lucasfilm entirely. She noted, "I’m not going to be here forever," reflecting on her 13-year tenure that began at George Lucas's request. She highlighted the growth of Lucasfilm's scope since her arrival, particularly the advent of streaming services and new projects.

Addressing speculation about being pushed out or needing replacement, Kennedy firmly denied these claims, stating it was "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Her leadership has seen the release of the Star Wars sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9) and the expansion into the streaming space 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 have been major successes, others such as Solo: A Star Wars Story faced financial losses and mixed reception.

When directly questioned by Deadline about stepping down this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage" but affirmed that any decision to step down would be "100% my decision." She remained non-committal about whether Filoni would take over her role.

Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show

20 Images

Kathleen Kennedy at the launch of Disney+ Star Wars show the Acolyte. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.