Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement in late 2025. Earlier reports in Puck News claimed she planned to retire at the end of her contract, adding that she had previously considered retirement in 2024. While Variety dismissed the story as speculation, The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the initial report.
Kennedy herself has now responded, clarifying her position to Deadline. She confirmed working with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan, noting Dave Filoni, creator of Star Wars Rebels and Lucasfilm's chief creative officer, is a strong contender. However, she emphatically stated, “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring.” She added, "I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies."
While acknowledging Lucasfilm will announce a succession plan in the coming months or year, Kennedy confirmed her continued involvement at Lucasfilm, including producing the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. She emphasized that her eventual departure would be her decision alone, stating, "I’m not going to be here forever… it would be 100% my decision." She also refuted suggestions she was being pushed out, calling such claims "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth."
Kennedy’s tenure has overseen the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), the launch of the successful Star Wars streaming era (including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte), and blockbuster hits like Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, some projects have faced mixed reception, and others, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, were financially unsuccessful. While she wouldn't confirm Filoni as her successor, she did state that Lucasfilm has "a bench of people internally to handle the business, the creative side."
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