Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly leaving Lucasfilm, and here are the big Hollywood names being discussed as potentially running theStar Warsstudio. For years, there have been rumors Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was soon to retire - a decision that makes sense, given she’ll be 72 by the end of this year. Now, there are reportsKennedy is indeed retiringby the end of 2025.Kennedy leaves a mixed legacy, with successes such as the $4 billion+ sequel trilogy andThe Mandalorian, and stumbles includingSolo: A Star Wars StoryandThe Acolyte.
All attention is now turning to Kennedy’s potential replacements. “One reason Kathy stuck around for so long is becausethere is no credible alternative,” one source toldTHR. They reported that the succession has been disrupted because Rayne Roberts, vice president of film development and a key figure since she joined the studio back in 2012, was being positioned as the next Lucasfilm president before instead departing to head up Searchlight Pictures. Still,there are now clear front-runners being discussed in the trades, with some even claiming the decision has already been made. Here are the big names in circulation.
Dave Filoni
George Lucas' Protégé
The front-runner is clearly Dave Filoni, who apprenticed to George Lucas himself when he joined Lucasfilm to work onStar Wars: The Clone Wars. The architect of plans forThe Mandalorianera, Filoni’s remit has been expanding over the years; he’s now Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, and even has a movie in the works. Although Filoni has clear flaws, industry insider Jeff Sneider notes one major factor in his favor:he comes with Lucas' personal seal of approval.
BothTHRandWorld of Reelreport sources claiming Filoni is Disney’s choice of successor, and that his ascension will be announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025. There are concerns; “He’s a great resource of knowledge, buthe’s ultimately a TV guy,” one source toldTHR. “He’ll be killed by all sides.” Sneider suggests Filoni could be co-president with Carrie Beck, current executive VP of live-action development and production and a more experienced administrator.
Jon Favreau
The Man Behind The Mandalorian
According toWorld of Reel, Filoni will indeed be partnered with another co-president - butwith Jon Favreau, not with Beck. A legendary figure in Hollywood, Favreau has been focused on his brainchildThe Mandalorianand its spinoffs over the last few years; he’s director of the nextStar Warsmovie,The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will bringStar Warsback to the box office. The catch, though, is that he may not want to be separated from the more creative side of the industry - or, according to Sneider, take a pay cut.
Kevin Feige
The Marvel Studios President
Looking beyond Lucasfilm, several trades suggestMarvel Studios president Kevin Feige could be a good fit for the job. Feige has always lovedStar Wars, and even briefly did the groundwork on aStar Warsmovie of his own. “He’s the only one that makes sense, but he needs to focus on Marvel,” one Disney insider toldTHR. He’s generally considered to be overextended due to Marvel’s own output, which may make him a difficult fit here.
J.J. Abrams
A Key Figure In The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Surprisingly,THRmention J.J. Abrams- a legendary filmmaker who directed bothStar Wars: The Force AwakensandStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s easy to see why he’d be in the running; he has ties to George Lucas as well, making him someone Lucas would trust with his legacy. But sources tellTHRhe’s unlikely to return after the sequels' controversial reception.Sneider reports one source laughing out loud when his name was mentioned as a candidate.
Other Names In The Running
Those seem to be the main names, but two others are also being mentioned:
Whoever takes over as Kathleen Kennedy’s replacement at Lucasfilm will be responsible for relaunchingStar Wars. It seems likely the successor will indeed be announced at this year’s Star Wars Celebration; the speculation will continue until then.
