Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Reveals Star Wars Succession Strategy

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has directly addressed recent reports suggesting her retirement in 2025. Earlier this week, Puck News reported that the veteran film producer was poised to retire at the end of her contract this year, having previously considered stepping down in 2024. However, a source close to Kennedy dismissed these claims as "pure speculation" according to Variety, while The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the story.

Amidst this speculation, Kennedy has now clarified her stance. In a statement to Deadline, she confirmed she is working with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan but firmly stated, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring." She further emphasized her commitment to the film industry, saying, "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 acknowledged that Lucasfilm intends to announce a succession plan "months or a year down the road," but she will continue to stay at Lucasfilm in the meantime. Her ongoing projects include producing the upcoming Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine.

While Kennedy is planning her eventual departure from her role as president, she made it clear that she is not leaving the company or the movie business. "I’m not going to be here forever," she remarked, reflecting on her 13-year tenure which began at George Lucas's request. She noted the growth of Lucasfilm's responsibilities, particularly with the advent of streaming services and other new ventures.

Kennedy also refuted any suggestions that she is being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," calling such claims "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth." Her time at Lucasfilm has seen the release of the new sequel trilogy (Star Wars Episodes 7-9), and the launch of several successful streaming series including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens were major successes, others have been divisive, with Solo: A Star Wars Story notably underperforming financially.

When directly questioned by Deadline about stepping down this year, Kennedy remained non-committal, stating she didn’t know "at this stage" but assured that it would be "100% my decision." She did not confirm whether Dave Filoni, the creator of Star Wars Rebels and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer, would take over her position.

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Kathleen Kennedy at the launch of Disney+ Star Wars show the Acolyte. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Gettty Images for Disney.