While reports continue to circulate about Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy stepping down from her role, a new one indicates that Kennedy will continue to have a hand in Star Wars for likely many more years to come. Kennedy was George Lucas’ hand-picked successor for Lucasfilm just before the company was sold to Disney, and she has been in this executive role ever since. Reports about her stepping down from the role, however, have started to circulate, suggesting her Star Wars tenure is ending.

According to industry insider Jeff Sneider, this is not necessarily the case. Sneider insists that Kennedy stepping down from her presidential role doesn’t mean she’s actually going anywhere. Instead, Kennedy is going to be serving as a producer on Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie, in addition to Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy. These projects specifically will be receiving her continued attention, and with a trilogy being one of them, it seems that Kennedy will still be around for quite a while.

What Kathleen Kennedy’s Producing Role Means For Star Wars

She’s Not Going Anywhere Anytime Soon

There must be something special Kennedy sees in these projects specifically, as they are keeping her around the franchise for a long time. A trilogy is no small feat; those three movies will take a long time to finish developing, filming, editing, and ultimately releasing. It could be upwards of 10 years at least until Kennedy finally decides to retire from her work on Star Wars by the time these movies have all been made. This seems to truly prove her dedication to what’s to come with Star Wars’ upcoming movies.

Kennedy Seems To Have Most Things Prepared For Her Retirement

Her Forward-Thinking On These Projects Suggests As Much

This forward-thinking about Kennedy’s producing roles seems to suggest that she’s already made preparations for her eventual retirement. She knows what projects will require her attention, or at least what she wishes to be involved with, and has likely already dealt out responsibilities for the other upcoming Star Wars projects that she doesn’t plan on producing. The question of her successor remains unanswered, but these plans seem to suggest that there is one in place.

Kennedy has been a part of the industry for a long time, which means that saying goodbye will no doubt be hard – which could be another reason why she’s choosing to remain active in Star Wars for years following her presidential departure. She’ll be around for whoever her successor is to seek any advice or guidance they may need in the role, particularly on these crucial projects she plans on being a part of in the future. Whatever the case, Kennedy’s Star Wars tenure doesn’t seem to be ending with her stepping down from her presidential role.

Source: Jeff Sneider