Kathleen Kennedy’s Retirement Plans

After over a decade of steering the ship in a galaxy far, far away, Kathleen Kennedy is setting her sights on retirement. According to a report from Puck, the head of Lucasfilm has informed colleagues of her intention to retire by the end of 2025.

Awaiting Official Comments

Representatives for Kennedy and Lucasfilm were not immediately available for comment.

A Legacy at Lucasfilm

Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012 as co-chair alongside George Lucas, and shortly thereafter took the helm when Disney acquired the company for $4 billion and Lucas stepped down.

Revitalizing the Franchise

She revitalized the Star Wars franchise, kicking off with J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, which grossed over $2 billion globally and reestablished the brand as a cinematic powerhouse. Disney released a Star Wars film annually from 2015 to 2019, but paused after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which received mixed reviews and earned only half of what The Force Awakens had made just a few years prior.

Navigating Challenges

As the leader of Lucasfilm, Kennedy held one of the most visible and scrutinized roles in Hollywood, facing numerous challenges along the way. She made the tough decision to fire Chris Lord and Phil Miller as directors of Solo: A Star Wars Story mid-production, resulting in the film being the first in the franchise to lose money at the box office. Additionally, she replaced Gareth Edwards, the director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, with Tony Gilroy for reshoots, leading to a successful $1 billion hit. However, several promised projects, such as Rian Johnson’s trilogy and another overseen by D.B. Benioff and David Weiss, never came to fruition. Furthermore, Daisy Ridley’s anticipated return to Star Wars has been stuck in development limbo since its announcement nearly two years ago.

The Rise of Streaming

Despite the challenges faced in cinema, the Star Wars franchise found new life on Disney+, with the launch of The Mandalorian in November 2019. This series became a breakout success, leading to multiple spinoffs, including the critically acclaimed Andor, which is set to return for a second season in April. However, some other shows have struggled to resonate with audiences, raising concerns about potential brand dilution.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, Lucasfilm has The Mandalorian and Grogu from director Jon Favreau scheduled for release on May 22, 2026, marking the franchise’s first major return to the big screen since Rise of Skywalker.

A Remarkable Career

Kennedy’s illustrious career includes collaborations with Steven Spielberg and her husband Frank Marshall, contributing to iconic films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Gremlins (1984), The Color Purple (1985), The Goonies (1985), Empire of the Sun (1987), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), and the Back to the Future trilogy (1985-1990), along with the Indiana Jones films, culminating in last year’s Dial of Destiny. In total, she has produced or executive produced over 70 films and received eight Oscar nominations.

Anticipation for Star Wars Celebration

This news arrives just ahead of April’s Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, where the future of the Star Wars franchise is expected to be unveiled, creating excitement and anticipation within the industry.

Persons

Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Chris Lord, Phil Miller, Gareth Edwards, Tony Gilroy, Rian Johnson, D.B. Benioff, David Weiss, Daisy Ridley, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall

Company Names

Lucasfilm, Disney

Titles

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Mandalorian, Andor, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Gremlins, The Color Purple, The Goonies, Empire of the Sun, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Dial of Destiny

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