Rumors that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy may be leaving Disney have been circulating for some time, with reports suggesting she will retire at the end of her contract in 2025. However, a source familiar with the matter has told CNN that these rumors are premature and “there’s nothing there right now.”
Kennedy, who joined Lucasfilm in 2012 as co-chair alongside George Lucas, has been credited with rejuvenating the Star Wars franchise after helping launch the latest trilogy. The three movies were successful at the domestic box office but received mixed reviews from critics.
Under Kennedy’s leadership, Lucasfilm released a new Star Wars movie every year from 2015 to 2019, with varying degrees of success. While some films, like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, performed well, others, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, lost money due to their high budget and marketing costs.
To address declining box office returns, Lucasfilm shifted its focus to streaming in 2019, debuting The Mandalorian on Disney+ and releasing several live-action shows. While not all series have achieved critical acclaim, the company’s efforts have been successful in using the platform to grow its brand.
In 2024, Lucasfilm announced a new feature installment of The Mandalorian, with Jon Favreau set to write and direct the movie. This announcement comes after Kennedy’s denial of retirement rumors, which will be publicly announced when “actual decisions are made.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/media/kathleen-kennedy-star-wars-disney/index.html