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Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Reveals Star Wars Succession Strategy

By Emery: May 13,2025

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent speculation about her retirement, firmly stating that she has no plans to retire from the film industry. Earlier reports from Puck News suggested that Kennedy, who has been at the helm of Lucasfilm for 13 years, might retire at the end of her contract in 2025. These claims were met with mixed responses, with Variety dismissing the story as "pure speculation," while The Hollywood Reporter confirmed it.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Kennedy clarified her stance. She is currently working with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan, with Star Wars Rebels creator and Lucasfilm's chief creative officer Dave Filoni being a strong contender for her position. Despite this, Kennedy emphasized, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring." She further stated, "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 confirmed that Lucasfilm plans to announce a succession plan in the coming months or a year, but she will continue her role at the company. She is set to produce upcoming projects such as the Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. Kennedy acknowledged the evolving nature of her job, noting the growth of streaming and other initiatives since she joined Lucasfilm.

Addressing rumors of being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," Kennedy firmly denied these claims, stating they were "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has produced the sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9), launched the streaming era with series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte, and faced both commercial successes and challenges.

When asked directly by Deadline if she would step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, Kennedy said she didn't know "at this stage," but affirmed that any decision to step down would be "100% my decision." She did not confirm whether Filoni would take over her role.