Kathleen Kennedy to Retire from Lucasfilm in 2025

Reports from Puck News indicate that Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, is considering stepping down at the end of 2025 when her current contract expires. Initially, there was talk of her possibly retiring in 2024, but she chose to delay her decision. However, a source close to Kennedy told Variety that these claims are "pure speculation." On the other hand, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the story from Puck, adding credibility to the rumors.

Kennedy, who joined Lucasfilm in 2012 as a co-chair alongside George Lucas, took over as president after Lucas's departure. Under her leadership, she has been at the helm of the Star Wars franchise, overseeing the production of the sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9) and the launch of Star Wars' streaming era with series such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Key, and others. While some of her projects, like "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," have been major successes, others like "Solo: A Star Wars Story" have not fared as well financially.

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If Kennedy does step down, it could impact several upcoming and rumored projects, including new films directed by James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover, as well as an untitled Rey movie that has been announced but is yet to fully materialize. The next confirmed Star Wars projects on the horizon include "The Mandalorian & Grogu" and a new trilogy helmed by Simon Kinberg.

Before joining Lucasfilm, Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall. Her impressive portfolio includes producing blockbuster films such as E.T., Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future, earning her eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture.