Despite a rumor suggesting her departure, 'Star Wars' boss continues her role at Disney, momentarily.
It seems like there's some buzz circulating about Kathleen Kennedy potentially stepping down as the president of Lucasfilm, the iconic production company responsible for the "Star Wars" franchise. According to recent reports from various sources, including Puck News, Kennedy might be retiring by the end of 2025. However, a reliable source has clarified to CNN that as of now, there's no truth to these rumors. Any official announcement regarding Kennedy's retirement will be made public once actual decisions have been made.
Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012, taking over alongside George Lucas after Disney's acquisition of the company for a whopping $4 billion. She's been credited for rejuvenating the "Star Wars" franchise, particularly after her role in launching the sequel trilogy. While the box office returns on the sequel films weren't as astronomical as the first trilogy, they still outperformed the prequels.
Under Kennedy's leadership, Lucasfilm also explored the streaming platform with shows like "The Mandalorian" and "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Though not all of these shows have been critically acclaimed, they've certainly contributed to the ongoing success of the "Star Wars" franchise. And the buzz surrounding "Andor" and its upcoming second season is proof of that.
Despite the focus on streaming, Lucasfilm hasn't completely abandoned the silver screen. In 2024, they announced a feature-length "Mandalorian" movie titled "The Mandalorian and Grogu," marking their first movie release since 2019.
So, while the rumors of Kennedy's retirement are currently unverified, one thing is certain—Lucasfilm continues to innovate and captivate fans with its "Star Wars" universe.
In the event of Kathleen Kennedy's retirement from Lucasfilm by 2025, as speculated, her tenure would have seen a significant rejuvenation of the "Star Wars" media business, as evident in the success of sequel trilogy launches and subsequent streaming shows. If these rumors prove true, potential business strategies for the franchise might involve leveraging the lucrative "Mandalorian" franchise further, as demonstrated by the upcoming "Mandalorian and Grogu" movie in 2024.
