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Post by : Badri Ariffin
After an impressive tenure of over 13 years at the helm of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy has officially resigned as president of the iconic studio that brought Star Wars to life. The announcement was made on Thursday by The Walt Disney Company.
In her place, Disney has elevated Dave Filoni to the role of president and chief creative officer of Lucasfilm, tasking him with guiding the future direction of the Star Wars universe. Lynwen Brennan, currently president and general manager of Lucasfilm’s business operations, will join him as co-president. They will both report to Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.
Chosen by Star Wars creator George Lucas himself, Kathleen Kennedy took over Lucasfilm following Disney's acquisition of the company in 2012 for $4.05 billion. Under her leadership, the studio generated over $5.6 billion at the global box office while playing a significant role in the rise of Disney+ as a streaming platform.
In her statement, Kennedy expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm and collaborate with its talented teams. Disney CEO Bob Iger lauded her as a “visionary filmmaker” who broadened the storytelling horizons of Star Wars through both films and streaming channels.
Kennedy's era produced significant hits like Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), which grossed over $2 billion. Still, later entries like The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) sparked mixed reactions among fans and critics. After 2019, Star Wars productions pivoted away from theatrical releases, focusing instead on streaming content.
Highlighted successes during this time include critically acclaimed Disney+ series such as The Mandalorian and Andor. Notably, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) emerged as the only film that gained widespread acclaim under Kennedy's leadership.
Dave Filoni, recognized for his influential work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and as an executive producer on various successful series like The Mandalorian, has close ties to George Lucas and is considered a visionary leader among devoted fans.
Filoni expressed his gratitude towards Kennedy, Lucas, and Disney's leadership for entrusting him with this important role, noting that he is excited to lead Star Wars into its next chapter.
The upcoming Star Wars film, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” is scheduled for release in May 2026, marking the franchise's return to theaters after a lengthy hiatus. Additionally, other projects greenlit under Kennedy, such as “Star Wars: Starfighter” featuring Ryan Gosling, are currently in the pipeline with a planned launch in May 2027.
While a new leadership era begins with Dave Filoni at the forefront, Kathleen Kennedy's impact will undeniably continue to influence future Star Wars adventures.
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