Kennedy’s potential departure comes after more than a decade of guiding the iconic sci-fi franchise through its Disney era. At 71, she stands as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished producers, with a career spanning collaborations with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas long before taking the Lucasfilm presidency. Her tenure has seen the launch of a new trilogy, several spin-off movies, and the franchise’s expansion into streaming television on Disney Plus.

The timing of Kennedy’s reported exit aligns with Lucasfilm’s shifting focus toward revitalizing the Star Wars film franchise. After a five-year hiatus from theaters following 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the studio announced The Mandalorian and Grogu for a 2026 release. This timeline would allow a successor to shepherd the franchise’s theatrical return while Kennedy departs after completing projects like the second season of the critically acclaimed Disney Plus series Andor.

Kennedy’s leadership has produced mixed results, with streaming successes like The Mandalorian contrasting with creative challenges in other projects. Her tenure saw box office successes but faced criticism over narrative direction in the sequel trilogy. Multiple announced film projects — including trilogies from Rian Johnson and Game of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss — were announced but never materialized, raising questions about the studio’s development process.

As speculation builds regarding Kennedy’s successor, attention has turned to executives with experience in the Star Wars universe. Dave Filoni, who rose from animation to become a key creative force across Lucasfilm projects, has emerged as a potential candidate with strong fan support. Jon Favreau, who developed The Mandalorian alongside Filoni, represents another possibility, but it would be surprising to see him stepping away from his successful directing career.

Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise!