Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy yet to confirm resignation rumors

Tuesday

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly stepping down at the end of 2025, following more than a decade leading the “Star Wars” franchise. Sources close to Kennedy told Puck that the 71-year-old producer informed Disney of her plans to retire, though other sources dispute the claim.
Under Kennedy’s leadership, Lucasfilm expanded the “Star Wars” franchise and revived the “Indiana Jones” series.
Despite box office success, fan opinions on Kennedy’s tenure have been divided.

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Big changes could be coming to a galaxy far, far away. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly stepping down at the end of 2025, following more than a decade leading the “Star Wars” franchise.

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According to three sources close to Kennedy who spoke with Puck News, the 71-year-old producer informed Disney that she plans to retire, though other sources have disputed the claim. Kennedy, who has not publicly commented on the rumors, took over as president of Lucasfilm in 2012 after Disney acquired the studio.

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George Lucas, the studio’s founder, handpicked Kennedy as his successor, citing her storytelling expertise and extensive experience as a producer. Her previous work includes films like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Jurassic Park.”

Expanding the ‘Star Wars’ franchise

Under Kennedy’s leadership, Lucasfilm expanded the “Star Wars” franchise, producing the sequel trilogy: “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “The Rise of Skywalker.”

Standalone films like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and TV series like “The Mandalorian” also became part of the franchise’s growing universe.

In addition to “Star Wars,” Lucasfilm revived the “Indiana Jones” franchise in 2023 with “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”

Box office success with mixed reactions

Since Kennedy’s takeover, Lucasfilm has seen box office success, although audience and critic reception has varied.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” became the highest-grossing “Star Wars” film, followed by “The Last Jedi.” However, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” underperformed, leading Disney to pause spin-off films.

Despite the box office wins, fan opinions on Kennedy’s tenure have been divided. Some praise her for expanding the franchise, while others have criticized her creative decisions.

Unconfirmed reports of Kennedy stepping down

While Puck News first reported that Kennedy plans to step down, Variety reports that another source close to Kennedy has dismissed the claims as speculation. Neither Kennedy nor her team has publicly responded to the reports.

Tags: Celebrities, Disney, Entertainment, movies

[KENNEDY FELTON]

BIG CHANGES ARE COMING TO A GALAXY FAR.. FAR AWAY. LUCASFILM PRESIDENT KATHLEEN KENNEDY IS REPORTEDLY STEPPING DOWN AT THE END OF 2025.. AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE LEADING THE STAR WARS FRANCHISE.

ACCORDING TO THREE SOURCES CLOSE TO KENNEDY WHO SPOKE WITH PUCK NEWS… THE 71 YEAR OLD PRODUCER INFORMED DISNEY THAT SHE PLANS TO RETIRE. KENNEDY TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT OF LUCASFILM IN 2012… FOLLOWING THE STUDIO’S ACQUISITION BY DISNEY.

SHE WAS HANDPICKED BY GEORGE LUCAS – THE STUDIO’S FOUNDER – CITING HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS A PRODUCER AND UNDERSTANDING OF STORYTELLING.. WITH FILMS LIKE “E-T THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL” AND “JURASSIC PARK” ALREADY UNDER HER BELT.

SINCE THEN… THE COMPANY HAS EXPANDED THE STAR WARS FRANCHISE.. CREATING THE SEQUEL TRILOGY “THE FORCE AWAKENS” .. “THE LAST JEDI” .. AND “THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.”

“TAKING ONE LAST LOOK, SIR, AT MY FRIENDS.”

STANDALONE FILMS LIKE “ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY” AND T-V SERIES’ LIKE “THE MANDALORIAN” CAN BE ALSO ADDED TO THAT LIST.

IN ADDITION TO STAR WARS… LUCASFILM REVIVED INDIANA JONES IN 2023 WITH “INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY.”

THE STUDIO HAS SEEN BOX OFFICE SUCCESS SINCE KENNEDY’S TAKEOVER AT LUCASFILM.. – THOUGH AUDIENCE AND CRITIC RECEPTION HAS VARIED. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ WAS THE HIGHEST GROSSING STAR WARS FILM… WITH ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND. HOWEVER – ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ *DID UNDERPERFORM… LEADING TO A PAUSE ON SPIN OFF FILMS.

BUT DESPITE SOME BOX OFFICE WINS… FAN OPINIONS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED. SOME PRAISE KENNEDY FOR EXPANDING THE FRANCHISE WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN MORE CRITICAL.. WITH ONE REDDIT USER SAYING – “Kennedy’s filmography is super impressive and includes many of my own personal favorite films but unfortunately she had a hand in ruining Star Wars which is unforgivable.” SOME FANS EVEN CRITIQUE HER ONLINE WITH DETAILED ANALYSES… AND EVEN SOUTH PARK DEDICATED AN EPISODE TO THE TOPIC.

“WE’RE NOT JUST A STAR WARS CHANNEL.. WE’RE A ‘WE CAN’T STAND KATHLEEN KENNEDY’ CHANNEL.”

//BUTTED//

“today we are gonna talk more about president of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy who is the worst leader I have ever seen for a major company”

//BUTTED//

“I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT KATHLEEN KENNEDY IS NOT UNDER YOUR BED *SCREAMING*”

WHILE PUCK NEWS FIRST REPORTED ON KENNEDY’S PLANS TO STEP DOWN… VARIETY REPORTS THAT A SEPARATE SOURCE CLOSE TO KENNEDY HAS DISMISSED THE REPORT AS PURE SPECULATION.

NEITHER KENNEDY NOR HER TEAM HAVE PUBLICLY RESPONDED.