Kathleen Kennedy Stepping Down as Lucasfilm President, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan Taking Over

In a move that has been long-rumored and long-reported by various entertainment industry insiders, current Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her position at the top of the Disney-owned company. More details below.

What's happening:

• Effective this week, Kathleen Kennedy will be stepping down as the president of Lucasfilm, with current Chief Executive Officer Dave Filoni and President & General Manager of Lucasfilm Business Lynwen Brennan taking her place.
• Kennedy was hand-selected by George Lucas to run the company he founded, after selling Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in October of 2012.
• During Kennedy's tenure, the Star Wars sequel trilogy was released to the big screen, along with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
• Numerous projects for Disney+ were also created by Lucasfilm during this time, in both live-action and animation, including The Mandalorian and its spinoffs, Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: The Acolyte, and the short-lived Willow sequel series. The next theatrical Star Wars film The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to hit theaters this May. Kennedy will remain as an active producer on that film and Star Wars: Starfighter, which arrives next year.
• Prior to her time running Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy worked as a Hollywood producer on such films as Jurassic Park, Twister, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future, The Goonies, Poltergeist, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and the Indiana Jones franchise.

• As the new co-presidents of Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni will remain in charge of the company's creative end while Lynwen Brennan manages the business side. They will both report to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
• Kennedy is expected to pursue other projects outside of Lucasfilm as well.

What They're Saying:

• Dave Filoni: "My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas. I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them. From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen. I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you."
• Lynwen Brennan: "Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life. It’s a community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other, and I am honored to join Dave Filoni in leading us forward. I have been so fortunate to learn from George Lucas, Kathy Kennedy and Alan Bergman and have unwavering faith in Dave’s creative vision for the next chapter in this storied studio's legacy."
• Disney CEO Bob Iger: "When we acquired Lucasfilm more than a decade ago, we knew we were bringing into the Disney family not only one of the most beloved and enduring storytelling universes ever created, but also a team of extraordinary talent led by a visionary filmmaker — someone who had been handpicked by George Lucas himself, no less. We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand."
• Alan Bergman: "Kathleen Kennedy has been a tremendous force in the industry for 50 years, and it’s been our privilege to have her here at Disney leading Lucasfilm for nearly 14 of them. She has steered Star Wars to incredible box office heights and brought a new generation of fans into the fold. We appreciate having her on board to produce our next couple of films, and the studio remains in extraordinarily capable hands with Dave Filoni, who’s a brilliant storyteller, and Lynwen Brennan, an avid innovator and business leader. They are deeply passionate and experienced executives who will continue to drive the studio and Star Wars forward in exciting new directions."
• Kathleen Kennedy: "When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead. It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling."

More Lucasfilm News:

• A new video released by the company this week sure makes it look like a nice place to work.
• A new image for Lucasfilm's upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu features Din Djarin in his armor.
• Actor Tom Cruise dropped by the set of another Lucasfilm movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, and even helped film a scene.