Kathleen Kennedy may be ceding the high ground at Lucasfilm. After 13 years as president, the prolific film exec is stepping down from her post, Puck News reports. While her rep declined to comment, three sources told the outlet that she had already broken the news to Disney, friends, and colleagues. She reportedly plans to retire by the end of 2025.
Kennedy first joined Lucasfilm in 2012 alongside George Lucas himself, but took over as the ship’s captain a few months later when Disney bought the company for $4 billion and Lucas departed. She’s presided over every modern Star War since, from franchise re-invigorator Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 to to the rather less loved Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. She also presided over now-beloved shows like Andor and The Mandalorian (which is set to become a movie directed by Jon Favreau next year) and cancelled series like The Acolyte and Rangers Of The New Republic.
In addition to Andor season two and The Mandalorian And Grogu, future Star Wars projects include James Mangold’s Dawn Of The Jedi and Donald Glover’s “fun” Lando Calrissian movie.
Of course, Kennedy hasn’t spent her entire career in the galaxy far, far away. She’s also worked extensively with Steven Spielberg and her husband Frank Marshall on some films you may have heard of like Raiders Of The Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Gremlins, The Color Purple, The Goonies, Empire Of The Sun, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future trilogy, and the Indiana Jones films. Per The Hollywood Reporter, she has produced or executive produced more than 70 films overall, and been nominated for eight Oscars through her career. May the force be with her wherever she goes next.
