Kathleen Kennedy, the longtime president of Lucasfilm, is reportedly planning to step down at the end of 2025. According to a source familiar with her plans, she intends to retire after her current contract concludes. However, another source close to Kennedy has dismissed these reports as “pure speculation,” stating that no decision has been finalized.
Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012 as co-chair alongside “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. Shortly thereafter, Lucas departed his position as Disney acquired the company for $4 billion, elevating Kennedy to the role of president. She is widely credited with reviving the “Star Wars” franchise by launching the sequel trilogy, starting with 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and the critically acclaimed 2016 spinoff “Rogue One.”
Under her leadership, the franchise expanded into streaming with successful television series such as “The Mandalorian” and “Andor.” Despite these successes, Kennedy’s future with the studio has been the subject of ongoing speculation.
“The Force Awakens” remains the highest-grossing film in domestic box office history with $936 million ($2 billion globally), but subsequent films in the Skywalker saga saw diminishing returns. “Rise of Skywalker” ended the trilogy in 2019 with $1 billion, half of what “The Force Awakens” earned. This decline followed the financial failure of 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” marking the first “Star Wars” movie to lose money during its theatrical run.
At Lucasfilm, Kennedy also oversaw 2023’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the fifth installment in the Harrison Ford-led series. Despite its relaunch after 15 years, it was a catastrophic failure, generating $383 million globally against a $295 million budget and losing about $140 million for the studio.
The “Star Wars” franchise has struggled to return to the big screen since “Rise of Skywalker,” despite efforts from Lucasfilm. Several announced projects by filmmakers like James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover remain unrealized. Additionally, projects from “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, Marvel producer Kevin Feige, “The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnson, and “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have been shelved for various reasons.
Lucasfilm plans to reintroduce “Star Wars” to movie theaters with “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” a continuation of the Disney+ series, set for a 2026 theatrical release. Furthermore, “X-Men” alum Simon Kinberg is reportedly developing a new “Star Wars” trilogy, signaling ongoing efforts to reignite the franchise on the big screen.
