Kathleen Kennedy is leaving her position as president of Lucasfilm after 14 years
16 january 2026 в 21:13
President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy has announced her departure from the company after 14 years of service. The leadership change appears to have been inevitable, despite Kennedy leading the «Star Wars» franchise to tremendous success. Why did she decide to leave Lucasfilm?
«It has been a true privilege for me to work with the outstanding talents at Lucasfilm for over a decade», - Kennedy stated in a public announcement in January 2026. «Their creativity and dedication have inspired me, and I am proud of what we have achieved together. I look forward to continuing to develop films and television projects with both long-time partners and new voices representing the future of storytelling».
Here’s what we know about Kennedy’s departure and what it means for the company moving forward.
Kennedy, who has no relation to the late former president John F. Kennedy and his family, is a producer. She is a co-founder of Amblin Entertainment, the production company of Steven Spielberg, and gained fame for her work as a producer on Spielberg’s blockbuster «E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial».
As head of Lucasfilm, Kennedy oversaw the production of several successful «Star Wars» films, including the sequel trilogy, «Rogue One», - «Solo: A Star Wars Story», - «The Mandalorian», - «The Book of Boba Fett», - «Obi-Wan Kenobi», - «Andor», - «Ahsoka», - and «The Acolyte».
Kennedy did not specify the reason for her departure, although the process has been in preparation for quite some time. In an interview with Deadline in February 2025, the producer clarified that she is «not retiring» from the film industry but is discussing «future succession» with Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman.
«The truth is, and I want to say this loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never leave the film industry. I will die making movies», - Kennedy said at that time. «That's the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring. What’s happening at Lucasfilm is that I have been discussing with Bob and Alan for quite a while how future succession might look».
Adding that there is a «wonderful team of people» at Lucasfilm, Kennedy noted that they «have every intention of making an announcement in a few months or a year».
«We are on the same page about what that will be, and I continue», - she concluded.
Although Kennedy will no longer be president of Lucasfilm, she will continue to work as a producer on the company’s next two projects: «The Mandalorian» and «Grogu and Star Wars: Starship».
Kennedy will be succeeded by two leaders at Lucasfilm: Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni and President and CEO Lynwen Brennan
«It has been a true privilege for me to work with the outstanding talents at Lucasfilm for over a decade», - Kennedy stated in a public announcement in January 2026. «Their creativity and dedication have inspired me, and I am proud of what we have achieved together. I look forward to continuing to develop films and television projects with both long-time partners and new voices representing the future of storytelling».
Here’s what we know about Kennedy’s departure and what it means for the company moving forward.
Kennedy, who has no relation to the late former president John F. Kennedy and his family, is a producer. She is a co-founder of Amblin Entertainment, the production company of Steven Spielberg, and gained fame for her work as a producer on Spielberg’s blockbuster «E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial».
As head of Lucasfilm, Kennedy oversaw the production of several successful «Star Wars» films, including the sequel trilogy, «Rogue One», - «Solo: A Star Wars Story», - «The Mandalorian», - «The Book of Boba Fett», - «Obi-Wan Kenobi», - «Andor», - «Ahsoka», - and «The Acolyte».
Kennedy did not specify the reason for her departure, although the process has been in preparation for quite some time. In an interview with Deadline in February 2025, the producer clarified that she is «not retiring» from the film industry but is discussing «future succession» with Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman.
«The truth is, and I want to say this loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never leave the film industry. I will die making movies», - Kennedy said at that time. «That's the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring. What’s happening at Lucasfilm is that I have been discussing with Bob and Alan for quite a while how future succession might look».
Adding that there is a «wonderful team of people» at Lucasfilm, Kennedy noted that they «have every intention of making an announcement in a few months or a year».
«We are on the same page about what that will be, and I continue», - she concluded.
Although Kennedy will no longer be president of Lucasfilm, she will continue to work as a producer on the company’s next two projects: «The Mandalorian» and «Grogu and Star Wars: Starship».
Kennedy will be succeeded by two leaders at Lucasfilm: Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni and President and CEO Lynwen Brennan
© Smirnova Olga
