Kathleen Kennedy Reportedly to Step Down as Lucasfilm President After 13 Years

Kathleen Kennedy, a key figure in the world of filmmaking, is reportedly planning to step down from her role as President of Lucasfilm at the end of this year, according to a report from the Puck newsletter. Kennedy has been at the helm of Lucasfilm for 13 years, leading the company through a period of significant growth and challenges, particularly with the Star Wars franchise.

Her time at Lucasfilm has been both celebrated and controversial, as she has played a central role in the production of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and other major projects, while also facing criticism from fans and industry insiders.

Kennedy’s career spans decades, with notable connections to George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Before becoming the president of Lucasfilm, she had already established herself as a successful producer, working on iconic films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Indiana Jones (1981).

She became a key player in Hollywood and helped shape many of the films that defined modern cinema. With these relationships, Kennedy was a natural fit to take the lead at Lucasfilm when Disney acquired the studio in 2012 for $4 billion.

Under her leadership, Lucasfilm was able to significantly expand the Star Wars universe, producing a new trilogy of films, multiple spin-offs, and new television series for Disney+. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) marked the new era of Star Wars under Disney’s ownership, all of which were produced during Kennedy’s tenure.

The films were successful at the box office, with The Force Awakens grossing over $2 billion worldwide. However, the Star Wars sequel trilogy has also been met with mixed reactions from fans.

The most significant controversy surrounding Kennedy’s leadership of Lucasfilm occurred after the release of The Last Jedi. Directed by Rian Johnson, the film received critical acclaim but was divisive among fans, particularly because of its bold decisions regarding character arcs and storytelling choices. Many fans were upset with how key characters like Luke Skywalker were handled, and there was a vocal group who felt that Kennedy had allowed these controversial decisions to happen.

This division led to a heated backlash, which continued into the release of The Rise of Skywalker, the final film of the trilogy, directed by J.J. Abrams. The film attempted to address some of the fan concerns but was still met with criticism over its pacing, plot, and the handling of major characters.

Kennedy’s leadership of Lucasfilm faced more challenges when Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), a spin-off film about Han Solo’s backstory, was released. The film was troubled by behind-the-scenes drama, including the firing of original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, which only fueled rumors of tension within the company.

Although the movie eventually grossed over $200 million worldwide, it was considered a disappointment in terms of box office returns, further adding to the criticism of Kennedy’s leadership.

Despite these controversies, Kennedy’s time at Lucasfilm has also been marked by successes. She has overseen the creation of The Mandalorian (2019), a massively popular TV series on Disney+, which has received widespread praise for revitalizing the Star Wars franchise.

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