In late February of last year, information appeared in the media that Kathleen Kennedy was preparing to leave her post as head of Lucasfilm. A few days later, Kennedy personally denied these reports, stating that she would "die making movies," but did not deny that the issue of succession was indeed being discussed within the company - it would just take time. At the time, journalists suggested that she would work until the end of 2025, after which she would finally leave her leadership position.
Now, according to Puck News, this scenario is becoming increasingly likely. According to the source, Kennedy's term is indeed coming to an end, and in the coming weeks Disney will officially announce a new Lucasfilm leadership structure.
According to the publication, the creative direction of the studio will be headed by Dave Filoni, a student of George Lucas and one of the key authors of the modern television era of "Star Wars." He will be responsible for the artistic development of the franchise in all formats, from feature films to series.
Financial and operational management, it is claimed, will remain with the current president and CEO of Lucasfilm Business, Lynwen Brennan.
Kennedy has headed the studio since 2012, since the purchase of George Lucas' company by Disney for $4 billion. During this time, a new "Star Wars" trilogy, the spin-offs "Rogue One" and "Han Solo", as well as the series "The Mandalorian", "Andor" and the infamous "The Acolyte" were released under her leadership.
At the same time, many of her managerial and creative decisions caused heated debate within the fan community. Some of the audience believed that it was Kennedy who "ruined" the franchise, so news of a possible change in leadership was greeted with enthusiasm.
At the same time, sources emphasize that the final format of Kennedy's departure has not yet been determined. It is possible that she will leave her post as head of the studio, but will remain involved in future Lucasfilm projects as a producer.