Kathleen Kennedy to Retire from Lucasfilm in 2025

According to recent reports from Puck News, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is contemplating retirement by the end of 2025, coinciding with the conclusion of her current contract. Initially, Kennedy had considered stepping down in 2024 but opted to postpone her decision. While Variety mentions that a source close to Kennedy dismissed these reports as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter has corroborated Puck's account.

Since joining Lucasfilm in 2012 as a co-chair alongside George Lucas, Kennedy assumed the role of president following Lucas's departure. Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has expanded the Star Wars universe significantly, spearheading a new sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9) and venturing into the streaming world with successful series such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Key, among others. While some projects like Star Wars: The Force Awakens have been blockbuster successes, others, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, have faced financial setbacks.

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Kennedy's potential departure raises questions about the future of several announced and rumored projects, including new films from directors James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover, as well as an untitled Rey movie that has yet to fully take shape. The upcoming slate of Star Wars projects includes The Mandalorian & Grogu and a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg.

Before her tenure at Lucasfilm, Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall. She has produced iconic films such as E.T., Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, and other 90s classics, earning her eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture.