Lucasfilm’s Next Leader: Feige Reportedly Favored & Filoni Faces Tough Odds

With Kathleen Kennedy set to step down as Lucasfilm president at the end of 2025, Disney faces a major challenge: finding the right person to lead Star Wars and the studio’s other major projects into the future. While there are several names in the mix, there is no clear frontrunner, and opinions are divided on who should take the job.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney already has a preferred candidate—Dave Filoni. A longtime creative force behind Star Wars, Filoni has worked closely with George Lucas and played a key role in shows like The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka. A source claims Disney might officially announce him as the new Lucasfilm president at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan this April.

However, not everyone is convinced Filoni is the right fit. Some argue he is more of a creative visionary than a studio executive. “He’s a great resource of knowledge, but he’s ultimately a TV guy,” one insider said. “He’ll be attacked from all sides.”

Many within Disney believe that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige would be the best choice. A massive Star Wars fan, Feige was even developing his own Star Wars movie before it was canceled. Some insiders argue that his experience balancing creative storytelling with corporate demands makes him an ideal candidate.

However, Feige is currently focused on launching Fantastic Four and guiding the next Avengers films, making his availability uncertain.

One reason Kennedy has remained in charge for so long is that no strong replacement has emerged. Former Lucasfilm executive Rayne Roberts was reportedly being groomed for the role but recently left for a position at Searchlight Pictures. Without a clear heir, Disney is exploring different leadership structures.

One possibility is pairing Filoni with The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau. This model would mirror what DC Studios has done with James Gunn and Peter Safran, splitting creative and executive responsibilities between two leaders.

Beyond Filoni and Feige, other candidates have been mentioned. Former 20th Century Studios executive Emma Watts and Bad Robot’s Hannah Minghella are possibilities. Even J.J. Abrams’ name has come up, though one insider doubts he would return. “I don’t see him coming back to that toxic environment. It definitely left a mark on him.”

Whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill. Under Kennedy’s leadership, Star Wars made a successful return to theaters with The Force Awakens and transitioned into streaming with The Mandalorian. However, her tenure has also seen several missteps, including canceled projects and divisive creative decisions. Additionally, Kennedy and Disney have faced backlash from parts of the fandom over casting and storytelling choices.

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