Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down as Lucasfilm President, Filoni and Brennan Take Over
The Walt Disney Studios has announced a significant leadership change at Lucasfilm. Longtime president Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down and will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, who will serve as President and Chief Creative Officer, alongside Lynwen Brennan, who becomes Co-President.
George Lucas selected Kennedy to lead the company following its sale to Disney nearly 14 years ago. During her tenure, Lucasfilm released the Star Wars sequel trilogy, two standalone films, and an impressive slate of original Disney+ series that helped redefine the franchise.
Disney CEO Bob Iger paid tribute to Kennedy in a statement:
“When we acquired Lucasfilm more than a decade ago, we knew we were bringing into the Disney family not only one of the most beloved and enduring storytelling universes ever created, but also a team of extraordinary talent led by a visionary filmmaker – someone who had been handpicked by George Lucas himself, no less. We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”
Kennedy will now return to her roots as a producer. She co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall, the studio behind E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future. Her upcoming projects include The Mandalorian & Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter.
Filoni now steps into a co-leadership role at the company Lucas founded. A key figure in the creation of Lucasfilm Animation, Filoni worked closely with Lucas on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and later contributed to Star Wars Rebels and The Mandalorian. He currently serves as showrunner for Ahsoka and is collaborating with Jon Favreau on The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Brennan brings an impressive resumé to the role of Co-President. She began her career at Industrial Light & Magic, becoming president in 2009 before transitioning to Lucasfilm. In 2015, she was named General Manager, and in 2024, she took over Lucasfilm’s business operations.
Beyond films and television, Filoni and Brennan will also help guide the future of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios. That’s notable given Disneyland’s newly announced shift in Galaxy’s Edge’s timeline, now largely rooted in the era of Star Wars films I grew up with.
Which, for the record, means the 1970s.
Read more: John Williams’ Star Wars Music Is Finally Coming to Galaxy’s Edge
