Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm after nearly 14 years, Disney announced Thursday. Her tenure, which began in 2012, was marked by both critical and commercial successes, including "The Mandalorian," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and "Andor," as well as projects that faced criticism, such as "Solo: A Star Wars Story." The period also saw considerable debate surrounding the direction of the Star Wars franchise.
Dave Filoni, currently Lucasfilm's chief creative officer, and Lynwen Brennan, the studio's business affairs and operations chief, will succeed Kennedy as president and co-president, respectively. Both appointments are effective immediately. Filoni, 51, will retain his role as chief creative officer while also serving as president. Brennan, 58, will serve as co-president.
Kennedy, 72, will return to producing, a career she began in 1982 with films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "Poltergeist." She is currently a lead producer for two upcoming Star Wars movies.
Disney executives offered praise for Kennedy's leadership. "Kathleen is a visionary," said Robert A. Iger, Disney's chief executive, in a statement. Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, also lauded her contributions.
Lucasfilm is responsible for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. The studio's productions are known for their high production costs and extensive use of visual effects. The studio has faced challenges in recent years navigating fan expectations and maintaining consistency across its various projects.
Filoni has been a key creative force at Lucasfilm for many years, known for his work on animated series such as "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels." Brennan has been with Lucasfilm for over two decades, overseeing business operations and strategy.
The transition in leadership comes as Lucasfilm continues to develop new Star Wars movies and television series. The studio's upcoming projects aim to expand the Star Wars universe while appealing to a broad audience. The leadership change signals a potential shift in creative direction and business strategy for the company.
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