Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm after 14 years at the helm of the studio behind the "Star Wars" franchise, one of Hollywood's highest-grossing series. The studio announced Thursday that Kennedy, hand-picked by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to lead the company in 2012 when Disney acquired Lucasfilm, will transition to a full-time producer role.
Kennedy's tenure saw both significant successes and notable setbacks for the franchise. She oversaw the reboot of the science-fiction series, including hits like "The Force Awakens," but also presided over "Solo: A Star Wars Story," the franchise's first box office flop, according to BBC Business.
Dave Filoni, who has worked extensively on the studio's animated shows, will now help steer the franchise, a move that is expected to be welcomed by fans eager to see his vision for the saga, BBC Business reported. The transition marks a new chapter for Lucasfilm as it continues to develop and expand the "Star Wars" universe.
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