Kathleen Kennedy, who has led Lucasfilm for more than a decade, is expected to exit her role as president at the end of 2025, according to reports. The longtime industry executive, who helped guide the “Star Wars” franchise through a new era under Disney, plans to retire when her current contract expires. However, a source close to Kennedy has dismissed this as “pure speculation,” saying no official decision has been made.
Kennedy took the helm of Lucasfilm in 2012, succeeding George Lucas after Disney acquired the company for $4 billion. Her tenure began with a surge of renewed interest in “Star Wars,” launching the sequel trilogy with 2015’s The Force Awakens. The film grossed over $2 billion worldwide and remains the highest-grossing domestic release of all time.
She also oversaw the critically acclaimed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and spearheaded the franchise’s shift to streaming with hit Disney+ series such as The Mandalorian and Andor. However, not all of Kennedy’s projects found success. The sequel trilogy suffered diminishing returns, with The Rise of Skywalker (2019) bringing in roughly half of The Force Awakens’ earnings. Meanwhile, 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story became the first Star Wars film to lose money, casting doubts over the franchise’s theatrical viability.
Beyond Star Wars, Kennedy also led the revival of Indiana Jones, culminating in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The film, meant to be Harrison Ford’s swan song as the character, struggled at the box office, losing an estimated $140 million.
Since The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm has struggled to bring Star Wars back to theaters. Multiple announced projects, including films from Patty Jenkins (Rogue Squadron), Kevin Feige, and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, were shelved. The studio’s next confirmed theatrical release, The Mandalorian & Grogu, is set for 2026, with a new trilogy reportedly in early development.
Kennedy’s potential departure marks a pivotal moment for Lucasfilm. Under her leadership, the studio expanded into new formats and reached new audiences, yet the franchise’s direction remains uncertain. If she does step down, Disney will face a critical decision: who will shape the future of Star Wars and Lucasfilm beyond 2025?
A Decade of Lucasfilm Under KennedyThe Future of Lucasfilm
