Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement in 2025, firmly stating that she has no intention of retiring from the film industry.
Earlier this week, Puck News reported that Kennedy, a veteran film producer, was planning to retire at the end of her contract this year, following a previous consideration to step down in 2024. While Variety labeled the story as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the report.
In response, Kennedy told Deadline that she is collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan after 13 years in her role. She highlighted Star Wars Rebels creator and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni as a strong contender for her position. However, Kennedy emphatically clarified her stance on retirement, saying, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring."
Kennedy confirmed that Lucasfilm will make an announcement about her succession "months or a year down the road," but she will continue her role at Lucasfilm. Her ongoing projects include producing the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy of Deadpool & Wolverine fame.
While plans for her to step down from her current position as president of Lucasfilm are in motion, Kennedy emphasized that she is not leaving the company or the movie business. "I’m not going to be here forever," she noted, reflecting on her 13-year tenure following George Lucas's request for her to take the helm. She pointed out the evolution of the job since she started, particularly with the advent of streaming services.
Kennedy also dismissed any notions of being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," asserting that such claims were "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has produced the sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9), launched the streaming era with series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens were commercial successes, others, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, faced financial losses.
When Deadline directly asked if she would step down as Lucasfilm boss this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage" but assured it would be "100% my decision." She remained non-committal about Filoni taking over her role.
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Kathleen Kennedy at the launch of Disney+ Star Wars show the Acolyte. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney.
