Somehow, returned. Even though she didn't actually go anywhere. Despite ongoing rumors suggesting she’s being pushed out or that her retirement is imminent, Kennedy herself has now set the record straight—at least for now. Speaking to Deadline ahead of being honored at the Oscar Wilde Awards, Kennedy made one thing clear: she’s not leaving anytime soon.

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

Following reports that she would be leaving at the end of 2025, Kennedy explained that she has been working closely with Disney leadership on a succession plan—but on her own terms.

"What’s happening at Lucasfilm is I have been talking for quite some time with both about what eventual succession might look like," said Kennedy. "We have an amazing bench of people here, and . We are in lockstep as to what that’s going to be, and I am continuing."

The message seems to be—Kennedy might be leaving Lucasfilm, but she wants to be the one to announce it and she definitely isn't retiring. For now, Kennedy remains deeply involved in the future of Star Wars, producing both the movie and upcoming film, which is expected to star

Kennedy addressed the ongoing media obsession with her job status, noting how frequently she’s seen reports of her supposed departure—only to still be leading Lucasfilm.

"Any discussion previously about me retiring or quitting or any of those things, that’s complete rumor mill because through all these reports, I have just continued doing my job, and continuing my contract," she continued. "."

As for the flurry of reports suggesting her departure is chaotic or forced, Kennedy shut that down immediately.

"Chaos? There has never been any chaos because we know exactly what the plan is. And we’ve been talking about it, as I said, nonstop for the last couple of years because for obvious reasons, I’m not going to be here forever. George [Lucas] asked me 13 years ago to step in, and now I’m looking at who’s going to replace me."

While she didn’t confirm any names, , the current Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, remains a strong internal candidate for the top spot, according to the report. But for now, Kennedy insists she isn't going anywhere. Stay tuned for more.

Source: Deadline