Kathleen Kennedy plans 2025 retirement as Lucasfilm faces transition with Star Wars future

Kathleen Kennedy, the longtime president of Lucasfilm and one of Hollywood’s most influential producers, is reportedly planning to retire by the end of 2025, according to Puck. Having led the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises since Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, Kennedy’s departure would mark a major transition for the studio. Neither she nor Lucasfilm has publicly confirmed the report.

During her tenure, Kennedy revitalized Star Wars for a new generation, starting with The Force Awakens (2015), which grossed over $2 billion worldwide and reestablished the franchise as a dominant box-office force. However, later entries, including The Rise of Skywalker (2019), received mixed reactions, and the franchise struggled to maintain its theatrical momentum.

Beyond box-office performance, Kennedy’s leadership was marked by high-profile creative shakeups. She removed Phil Lord and Chris Miller as directors of Solo: A Star Wars Story, replacing them with Ron Howard mid-production, though the film ultimately became the first Star Wars movie to underperform financially. Similarly, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story saw significant reshoots under Tony Gilroy, who replaced original director Gareth Edwards. Other projects, including a trilogy by Rian Johnson and a film by Game of Thrones showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, were announced but never materialized.

Despite these setbacks, Kennedy successfully expanded Star Wars into streaming, overseeing the launch of The Mandalorian in 2019. The series became a massive hit, leading to spin-offs like Andor, which returns for its second season in April.

Lucasfilm’s next theatrical project, The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, is set for a May 22, 2026 release, marking Star Wars’ long-awaited return to cinemas.

Kennedy’s career spans over 70 films, including E.T., Indiana Jones, and Back to the Future, earning her eight Oscar nominations. Given her industry impact, discussions about the future of Star Wars and her potential departure are expected at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo this April.