Following more than 13 years as the head of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping aside from the iconic Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas.
On Thursday, The Walt Disney Co. revealed that Dave Filoni will now lead Star Wars as president and chief creative officer, guiding it into its sixth decade and beyond. Filoni, previously Lucasfilm’s chief commercial officer, will take charge of the renowned franchise, alongside Lynwen Brennan, president and general manager of Lucasfilm’s businesses, who will serve as co-president.
“When George Lucas tasked me with taking over Lucasfilm after his retirement, I could not have envisioned the journey ahead,” said Kennedy.
“It has been an honor to work alongside the exceptional talent at Lucasfilm for over a decade.”
Directed the Expansion of Star Wars Universe
As Lucas’s chosen successor, Kennedy oversaw the continuous growth of the science-fiction realm of Star Wars following Disney’s acquisition in 2012. Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Co., referred to her as “a visionary filmmaker” when announcing Thursday’s developments.
During Kennedy’s tenure, Star Wars saw a period of significant financial success but also faced criticism from long-time fans. This era produced a successful trilogy and well-received streaming spinoffs like The Mandalorian and Andor, contributing to over $5.6 billion US in box office revenue for Lucasfilm and solidifying Disney+ as a prominent streaming platform, justifying Disney’s $4.05 billion US investment in the company.
However, Kennedy encountered challenges in replicating the cinematic magic of Lucas’s original trilogy from the late 1970s and early 1980s, leading to strained relations with loyal Star Wars enthusiasts.
Filoni’s contributions have primarily been on television, starting with the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and creating the Disney+ series Ahsoka, which received mixed reviews. Filoni, whose collaboration with Lucas began with Avatar: The Last Airbender, has also been involved in producing The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
Both Filoni and Brennan will report to Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment co-chairman.
“Kathy has overseen the most extensive expansion of Star Wars storytelling on-screen, from Rey to Grogu,” said Filoni.
“I am thankful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger, and Alan Bergman for their trust and for allowing me to lead Lucasfilm in this new capacity, a role I deeply cherish. May the force be with you.”
Successes Prior to Star Wars
Prior to her role at Lucasfilm, Kennedy enjoyed a successful career as a producer. In 1981, she co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and her eventual husband, Frank Marshall. She produced iconic films such as E.T., Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Jurassic Park, and the Back to the Future trilogy.
<