Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Confirms Star Wars Future

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement from the company in late 2025. Earlier reports in Puck News claimed Kennedy was planning to retire at the end of her current contract. While Variety dismissed the story as speculation, The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the report.

Kennedy herself has now clarified the situation. According to Deadline, she's collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan after thirteen years at Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni, creator of Star Wars Rebels and Lucasfilm's current chief creative officer, is reportedly a strong contender to succeed her. However, Kennedy emphatically stated, “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring.” She added, "I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies."

While Kennedy confirmed discussions about a future leadership transition at Lucasfilm—with an announcement expected months or a year from now—she intends to remain with the company, overseeing projects including the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy.

Kennedy acknowledged the eventual need for a successor, explaining that the role has significantly expanded since she took over, encompassing the growth of streaming and other new ventures. She refuted suggestions that she's being pushed out, stating that this is "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Her tenure has overseen the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), and the launch of the successful Star Wars streaming series, including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte.

When directly asked by Deadline if she will step down this year, Kennedy responded that she doesn't know "at this stage," but emphasized that the decision would be "100% my decision." She declined to comment on whether Filoni is the frontrunner for the president role.