Kathleen Kennedy is concluding her nearly 14-year tenure at Lucasfilm, with a new dual leadership structure taking over the studio behind iconic franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will jointly serve as co-presidents, with Filoni assuming the role of President and Chief Creative Officer and Brennan as co-president and General Manager, combining creative vision with operational expertise.

Filoni’s promotion has been long-anticipated due to his integral role in the Star Wars universe. Selected by George Lucas in 2005 to lead Lucasfilm’s animation studio, he created acclaimed series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. More recently, Filoni has driven the live-action streaming era, serving as executive producer, director, and writer for hit shows including The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, and as producer/writer for the upcoming film “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

Brennan’s elevation highlights Disney’s strategic emphasis on balancing creative leadership with business acumen. She joined Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in 1999, became ILM’s president in 2009, and later served as Lucasfilm’s president and general manager, overseeing franchise strategy, production operations, and ILM’s global expansion.

Kennedy will continue her relationship with Lucasfilm in a producing capacity for two upcoming theatrical films: “The Mandalorian and Grogu” (2026) and “Star Wars: Starfighter” (2027), while also pursuing independent projects. Her tenure at Lucasfilm featured major successes, including the relaunch of the Star Wars saga with J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens and the expansion into streaming with hits like Andor. However, her leadership also faced challenges, including “Solo: A Star Wars Story” underperformance, delays in other Star Wars projects, and creative differences leading to canceled films and series.

Disney executives expressed confidence in the new leadership. Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, thanked Kennedy for her stewardship, while Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman, praised her ability to bring new audiences to Star Wars. Filoni expressed gratitude for the opportunity, citing inspiration from Kennedy and George Lucas, while Brennan highlighted Lucasfilm’s strong community and creative culture.

Looking ahead, Filoni and Jon Favreau are adapting the MandoVerse for the big screen with “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” directed by Favreau and co-written with Filoni. Returning cast members include Pedro Pascal, with Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward and Jeremy Allen White voicing Rotta the Hutt. Filoni is also confirmed to direct a “New Republic Star Wars” film, the concluding chapter of the MandoVerse saga, while overseeing the second season of Ahsoka, continuing his overarching vision for the franchise.