Kathleen Kennedy Denies Retirement, Reveals Star Wars Succession Plan

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has publicly addressed recent rumors suggesting she plans to retire in 2025. Earlier reports from Puck News indicated that Kennedy was considering stepping down once her contract expires later this year. The outlet also noted that she had previously contemplated retirement in 2024 but postponed the decision.

Variety dismissed Puck’s claims as “pure speculation” based on a source close to Kennedy, while The Hollywood Reporter independently verified the story. Now, Kennedy herself has clarified her position, speaking directly to Deadline about her future at Lucasfilm.

Clarifying the Future of Lucasfilm Leadership

According to Deadline, Kennedy is currently collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a long-term succession plan after serving 13 years as president of Lucasfilm. Dave Filoni, creator of *Star Wars: Rebels* and current Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, is reportedly in a strong position to take over leadership. However, Kennedy made one thing perfectly clear: “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring.”

She reinforced this sentiment by stating, “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.” While Kennedy acknowledged that an official leadership announcement could come months or even a year from now, she emphasized that she remains fully committed to Lucasfilm for the time being.

In the immediate future, she will continue overseeing key projects such as the upcoming *Mandalorian* movie and a new Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy, known for *Deadpool & Wolverine*. Although she admitted that leadership transition planning is underway, it does not signal her departure from the company or the film industry.

A Gradual Transition, Not an Exit

“I’m not going to be here forever,” Kennedy stated. She recalled how George Lucas asked her to step into the role 13 years ago and explained that she is now focused on identifying her successor. “We have a bench of people internally to handle both the business and creative side,” she added, noting how the responsibilities of the job have evolved significantly since her tenure began. “There was no streaming, there weren’t a lot of the things that we’re involved in right now going on. So it has grown.”

Denying Pushback and Misconceptions

Kennedy also rejected the idea that she is being “pushed aside” or “in need of being replaced,” calling those suggestions “absolutely not the case” and “could not be further from the truth.” During her time leading Lucasfilm, she has overseen major developments including the sequel trilogy (*Star Wars: Episodes VII–IX*), and the expansion of the franchise into streaming with hits like *The Mandalorian*, *Andor*, *Ahsoka*, and *The Acolyte*.

While some films under her leadership, such as *Star Wars: The Force Awakens*, became massive box office successes, others—like *Solo: A Star Wars Story*—struggled financially and received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.

Final Word on Leadership Changes

When directly asked by Deadline whether she would step down as Lucasfilm president in 2025, Kennedy responded that she did not yet know “at this stage,” but confirmed any decision would be “100% my decision.” She declined to comment specifically on whether Dave Filoni is set to become the next president of Lucasfilm.