Recent rumors have swirled around Kathleen Kennedy, the long-time president of Lucasfilm, fueled by reports suggesting she might retire by the end of 2025. However, sources close to the matter have clarified that these rumors may be premature. In a report published by Puck, it was stated that Kennedy, who is 71, is expected to step down as president of the iconic production company behind the Star Wars franchise before 2025. Since then, multiple news outlets have picked up the story, but a source familiar with the situation has told CNN that there is currently no truth to these claims. The source emphasized that any official announcement regarding Kennedy’s retirement, if there is one to be made, will be shared publicly when the time comes. As of now, no decision has been made, and Lucasfilm has not commented on the matter. A spokesperson for Disney also declined to comment.
Kennedy’s journey with Lucasfilm began in 2012 when she was appointed as co-chair alongside George Lucas. Shortly afterward, she was named president of the company following Lucas’s departure, which coincided with Disney’s historic $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in the same year. Since then, Kennedy has been a driving force behind the revitalization of the Star Wars franchise, which had experienced a creative and financial resurgence under her leadership. One of her most significant achievements was the launch of the sequel trilogy, which included The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). While these films were massive box office successes, they also saw diminishing returns over time. The Force Awakens grossed over $936 million domestically, but subsequent films in the trilogy saw lower earnings, with The Last Jedi bringing in $620 million and The Rise of Skywalker earning $515 million. Despite this trend, the sequel trilogy outperformed the prequel trilogy in terms of domestic box office revenue.
Under Kennedy’s leadership, Lucasfilm released a new Star Wars film every year from 2015 to 2019, a strategy that met with mixed success. Some films, like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), were both critical and commercial successes, with Rogue One grossing over $532 million domestically. However, not all projects fared as well. The 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story, which explored the origins of Han Solo, performed below expectations, earning only $213 million domestically. This marked the first time a Star Wars film had failed to turn a profit, as its production budget alone was at least $250 million, not including marketing costs. Despite these setbacks, Lucasfilm continued to explore new avenues for storytelling within the Star Wars universe.
In response to the declining box office performance of its films, Lucasfilm shifted its focus to streaming platforms. This pivot proved to be highly successful, particularly with the launch of The Mandalorian on Disney+ in November 2019. The series, created by Jon Favreau, became a cultural phenomenon and a flagship for Disney’s new streaming service. Its success led to the creation of additional live-action series, including The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka. While not all of these series have been equally well-received—The Acolyte was canceled after one season due to mixed reviews—Lucasfilm continues to build on the success of The Mandalorian. The company recently released a trailer for the second season of Andor, which is set to premiere on April 22, 2024, generating excitement among fans.
Building on the success of The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm announced in 2024 that it would be developing a feature film based on the series, titled The Mandalorian and Grogu. This marks the company’s first feature film project since 2019, signaling a potential return to the big screen for the Star Wars franchise. This move suggests that Kennedy and her team are continuing to explore new ways to expand the Star Wars universe, blending both streaming and theatrical releases to engage fans across different platforms.
In summary, while rumors about Kathleen Kennedy’s retirement continue to circulate, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims. Kennedy has been instrumental in steering Lucasfilm through a period of significant change, from the release of the sequel trilogy to the pivot toward streaming with The Mandalorian. Her leadership has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, but she remains a key figure in the Star Wars franchise’s ongoing success. As Lucasfilm looks to the future, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see how the company navigates the evolving landscape of entertainment, both on the big screen and beyond.
