Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Addresses Retirement Rumors, Confirms Star Wars Future

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has responded to recent reports claiming she plans to retire in 2025.

Retirement Speculation

Earlier this week, Puck News reported that Kennedy was considering stepping down at the end of her current contract.
The report also suggested she had previously thought about retiring in 2024 but chose to wait before making a decision.

While a source close to Kennedy dismissed the report as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed its accuracy.

Kennedy's Response

Kennedy has now addressed the rumors directly. Speaking to Deadline, she clarified that while a succession plan is in place, she is not retiring just yet.

"The truth is, and I want to say this loud and clear, I am not retiring," Kennedy stated. "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."

She acknowledged discussions about leadership changes at Lucasfilm but emphasized she is still actively involved in the company.

Who Will Take Over?

Kennedy revealed that she is working closely with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan. According to sources, Dave Filoni, the creator of Star Wars Rebels and Lucasfilm’s current chief creative officer, is in a strong position to take over.
However, Kennedy made it clear that no final decision has been made yet.

“We have every intention of making an announcement months or a year down the road," she said, adding that Lucasfilm has internal talent capable of handling both the business and creative aspects of the company.

Kennedy's Ongoing Role

Although succession planning is underway, Kennedy is still focused on upcoming Star Wars projects.
She is actively involved in producing The Mandalorian & Grogu movie and a Star Wars film directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.

Reflecting on her 13-year tenure at Lucasfilm, Kennedy acknowledged the changes in the industry since she took the role.

“George [Lucas] asked me to step in 13 years ago, and now I’m looking at who’s going to replace me. The job has grown since I started. There was no streaming back then, and we weren’t involved in a lot of what we do now. It has evolved.”

What’s Next for Star Wars?

Lucasfilm has several major Star Wars projects lined up:

Andor Season 2 (April 22, 2025) – Diego Luna returns as Cassian Andor in this highly anticipated second season.
Visions Season 3 (2025) – The animated anthology series continues with nine new shorts from renowned anime studios.
The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026) – A new feature film directed by Jon Favreau, separate from Dave Filoni’s planned Mando-verse movie.
Ahsoka Season 2 (In Development) – Following the success of Ahsoka, a second season is now confirmed, though no release date has been announced.

Kennedy acknowledged that her time at Lucasfilm won’t last forever, but for now, she remains at the helm.
While a transition is being planned, she is still leading the company and guiding its future.

“I’m not going to be here forever,” she said. “But for now, I’m continuing to stay at Lucasfilm.”