Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down as Lucasfilm President After $5.6 Billion Tenure

2026-01-15 companies

San Francisco, Friday, 16 January 2026.
Kathleen Kennedy departs Lucasfilm after a 13-year tenure that amassed over $5.6 billion in box office revenue. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will succeed her, bifurcating creative and business leadership.

A Strategic Leadership Transition

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has confirmed a pivotal restructuring at its Lucasfilm subsidiary, marking the end of an era for the studio behind Star Wars. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the entertainment giant announced that Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president, effective immediately during the week of January 12 [4][7]. In a move that bifurcates the studio’s leadership duties, Dave Filoni has been promoted to President and Chief Creative Officer, while Lynwen Brennan assumes the role of Co-President to oversee operational and financial strategies [4][5]. Both executives will report directly to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman [7]. Kennedy, who originally recommended this succession plan to Disney CEO Bob Iger two years ago, transitions out of the executive suite to focus on producing upcoming franchise installments [6].

The Financial Legacy of the Disney Era

Kennedy’s stewardship has been financially transformative for the studio, yielding returns that far exceed the capital investment made by Disney over a decade ago. Following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in 2012, the studio generated five feature films that grossed a total of $5.9 billion in global box office revenue under her leadership [6]. This figure suggests a gross revenue surplus of 1.85 billion over the initial acquisition cost, validating the purchase through theatrical receipts alone [2]. The sequel trilogy, anchored by Star Wars: The Force Awakens—which individually grossed over $2 billion worldwide—contributed $4.3 billion to this total [1][7]. Beyond theatrical success, her tenure oversaw the franchise’s aggressive expansion into streaming, with series such as The Mandalorian and Andor securing over 90 Emmy nominations and establishing Disney+ as a viable platform for the brand [6].

Future Productions and Creative Direction

As the new leadership team takes the helm, Lucasfilm is preparing to end a significant theatrical hiatus. Kennedy will remain actively involved as a producer for The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, which is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026 [4][5]. Additionally, she has recently wrapped production on Star Wars: Starfighter, a project slated for a 2027 release [4][6]. While Kennedy’s tenure faced criticism from segments of the fanbase regarding narrative choices in films like The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker [1][2], the promotion of Filoni—a creative force deeply embedded in the franchise’s lore through The Clone Wars and Ahsoka—signals a commitment to bridging the gap between legacy storytelling and future expansion [2][8].

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