Kathleen Kennedy is reportedly leaving Lucasfilm, and here are the big Hollywood names being discussed as potentially running the Star Wars studio. For years, there have been rumors Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was soon to retire – a decision that makes sense, given she’ll be 72 by the end of this year. Now, there are reports Kennedy is indeed retiring by the end of 2025. Kennedy leaves a mixed legacy, with successes such as the $4 billion+ sequel trilogy and The Mandalorian, and stumbles including Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Acolyte.

All attention is now turning to Kennedy’s potential replacements. “One reason Kathy stuck around for so long is because there is no credible alternative,” one source told THR. They reported that the succession has been disrupted because Rayne Roberts, vice president of film development and a key figure since she joined the studio back in 2012, was being positioned as the next Lucasfilm president before instead departing to head up Searchlight Pictures. Still, there are now clear front-runners being discussed in the trades, with some even claiming the decision has already been made. Here are the big names in circulation.

Dave Filoni

George Lucas’ Protégé

The front-runner is clearly Dave Filoni, who apprenticed to George Lucas himself when he joined Lucasfilm to work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The architect of plans for The Mandalorian era, Filoni’s remit has been expanding over the years; he’s now Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, and even has a movie in the works. Although Filoni has clear flaws, industry insider Jeff Sneider notes one major factor in his favor: he comes with Lucas’ personal seal of approval.

Both THR and World of Reel report sources claiming Filoni is Disney’s choice of successor, and that his ascension will be announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025. There are concerns; “He’s a great resource of knowledge, but he’s ultimately a TV guy,” one source told THR. “He’ll be killed by all sides.” Sneider suggests Filoni could be co-president with Carrie Beck, current executive VP of live-action development and production and a more experienced administrator.

Jon Favreau

The Man Behind The Mandalorian

According to World of Reel, Filoni will indeed be partnered with another co-president – but with Jon Favreau, not with Beck. A legendary figure in Hollywood, Favreau has been focused on his brainchild The Mandalorian and its spinoffs over the last few years; he’s director of the next Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will bring Star Wars back to the box office. The catch, though, is that he may not want to be separated from the more creative side of the industry – or, according to Sneider, take a pay cut.

Kevin Feige

The Marvel Studios President

Looking beyond Lucasfilm, several trades suggest Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige could be a good fit for the job. Feige has always loved Star Wars, and even briefly did the groundwork on a Star Wars movie of his own. “He’s the only one that makes sense, but he needs to focus on Marvel,” one Disney insider told THR. He’s generally considered to be overextended due to Marvel’s own output, which may make him a difficult fit here.

J.J. Abrams

A Key Figure In The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Surprisingly, THR mention J.J. Abrams – a legendary filmmaker who directed both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s easy to see why he’d be in the running; he has ties to George Lucas as well, making him someone Lucas would trust with his legacy. But sources tell THR he’s unlikely to return after the sequels’ controversial reception. Sneider reports one source laughing out loud when his name was mentioned as a candidate.

Other Names In The Running

Those seem to be the main names, but two others are also being mentioned:

• Emma Watts, longtime president of production at 20th Century Fox who steered the X-Men movies and also signed off on James Cameron’s Avatar. She’s mentioned by THR as “waiting for a comeback.”
• Hannah Minghella, a former Abrams employee who had a long stint with Sony Pictures. She would, however, have to exit a multi-year contract with Netflix.

Whoever takes over as Kathleen Kennedy’s replacement at Lucasfilm will be responsible for relaunching Star Wars. It seems likely the successor will indeed be announced at this year’s Star Wars Celebration; the speculation will continue until then.

Sources: Jeff Sneider, THR, World of Reel