Star Wars Shake-Up: Franchise Reboot Leader Departs
After 14 years leading Lucasfilm, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy steps down after reshaping Star Wars with $5bn films and hit Disney+ shows.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down after 14 years at the helm of the studio behind Star Wars, one of the highest-grossing Hollywood franchises in history.
The studio announced on Thursday that Kennedy, who was handpicked by Star Wars creator George Lucas to lead the company, will now become a full-time producer.
Known for overseeing the reboot of the science-fiction series, Kennedy oversaw hit films like The Force Awakens, but she was also behind the franchise's first box office flop – Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Dave Filoni – who has worked on several of the studio's animated shows – will take over as president and chief creative officer, working alongside co-president Lynwen Brennan.
Filoni credited Kennedy with overseeing the "greatest expansion" in Star Wars storytelling.
Kennedy has led Lucasfilm since 2012, when entertainment giant Disney acquired the studio, which is home to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
She oversaw the relaunch of the Star Wars franchise with five feature films that together grossed more than $5 billion (£3.74 billion) worldwide. These included the sequel trilogy films starring Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, which broke box office records in the US.
During her time at the helm of Lucasfilm, Kennedy also oversaw the creation of shows for the Disney+ streaming platform, such as The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and the critically acclaimed Andor series.
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Kennedy also introduced more female leads and characters from diverse backgrounds. However, this approach was criticized by some fans who felt a social agenda was being injected into the Star Wars franchise. Lucasfilm's decision to create new shows that didn't adhere to the decades-old Star Wars lore established in novels and comics also drew criticism.
Kennedy will remain at the studio, continuing production on upcoming blockbusters such as The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, which will star Ryan Gosling.
“It has truly been a privilege to work alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm for over a decade,” Kennedy said on Thursday.
“I’m excited to continue making films and television with my longtime collaborators and with new voices who represent the future of storytelling.”
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