Kathleen Kennedy Exits Lucasfilm After 14 Years – Here’s Who Will Take Over

Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as the head of Lucasfilm after 14 years, and Disney has announced that two executives will take over her role. Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, will become president and chief creative officer, while Lynwen Brennan will serve as co-president, overseeing the company’s business and production operations. Together, they will guide the studio behind “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” as it navigates the future of the franchises.

Filoni’s promotion had been expected given his long history with Lucasfilm, but Brennan’s elevation comes as a surprise. Disney appears to have paired a strong creative leader with someone experienced in managing budgets and operations. Both will report to Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.

Kennedy will continue to work with Lucasfilm as a producer on the studio’s next two theatrical releases, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in 2026 and “Star Wars: Starfighter” in 2027, while also pursuing independent projects. Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Kennedy’s leadership, saying, “We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”

Kennedy’s tenure has been marked by both major successes and notable setbacks. She helped bring “Star Wars” back to theaters with J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens, which earned over $2 billion globally. Other hits include The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, and the spinoff Rogue One. However, films like Solo: A Star Wars Story and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny struggled at the box office, and several announced Star Wars projects, including films from Patty Jenkins, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Taika Waititi, were ultimately canceled due to creative differences.

Kennedy also helped expand the Star Wars universe into streaming with hits like The Mandalorian and critically praised series such as Andor, although some shows, including The Acolyte, were canceled after one season.

Filoni is a longtime Lucasfilm veteran, selected by George Lucas in 2005 to lead the studio’s animation division. He created Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels and has worked as executive producer, director, and writer on live-action series such as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Brennan joined Industrial Light & Magic in 1999, later becoming president of ILM, and then Lucasfilm’s president and general manager in 2024. She has overseen the company’s business and production operations and guided ILM’s growth.

This leadership change could bring fresh energy to Lucasfilm. Pairing Filoni’s creative vision with Brennan’s operational expertise seems smart, especially as the company balances ambitious new projects with fan expectations. It will be interesting to see how the next era of Star Wars films and series develops under their guidance. What do you think about this new leadership team? Share your thoughts in the comments.