Star Wars boss Kathleen Kennedy has directly addressed the rumors about her retirement from Lucasfilm, indicating she has a secure future in a galaxy far, far away. As Star Wars Celebration 2025’s many panels get underway, Kennedy is naturally being bombarded with several questions about the franchise. Be it the new reveals about Star Wars‘ upcoming movies and TV shows or more personal questions regarding her Lucasfilm future, Kennedy is expectedly navigating interview after interview. Screen Rant is in attendance at SWCJ 2025, with Kennedy exclusively commenting on the big rumors of the last few months.
When asked about her future as Lucasfilm’s President, Kennedy gave an interesting answer. Reports have claimed Kennedy is stepping down from Lucasfilm since February 2025, which the veteran producer has now addressed: “I’m not retired. I’m not going anywhere.” Screen Rant‘s own Ash Crossan followed up to comment on the balance between internal discussions within the studio and what fans are told, with Kennedy insisting she always tells fans the truth. Clearly, as far as Kennedy is concerned, the rumors about her retirement remain entirely that for now: rumors.
Kennedy Is Preparing Her Successor & Will Announce Her Departure When She’s Ready
Lucasfilm’s Future Will Not Be Taken Lightly
As proven by Kennedy’s comments, it is not the time for her to retire from Lucasfilm. Despite a somewhat difficult decade or so as the leader of Lucasfilm without George Lucas, Kennedy intends to stay on as his successor. Disney’s Star Wars productions have ranged from beloved or despised to controversial and divisive, yet it seems the announcements at SWCJ – including the announcement of Star Wars: Starfighter – are righting the ship once more.
Diplomatically, Kennedy’s comments prove that she is not willing to indulge in the rumors of her retirement. While it remains the case that internal conversations may have taken place about Kennedy’s succession, with the producer confirming as such when the rumors were first reported, this does not equate to outright retirement. Instead, Kennedy remains focused on the future of Star Wars, both cinematically and in the realm of TV, and will announce her departure and subsequent successor when she is ready to.
Star Wars Celebration Is Announcing Kennedy’s Legacy
Kennedy’s Star Wars Timeline Lives On
As a means of almost backing up her comments, the reveals from Star Wars Celebration are proving to celebrate Kathleen Kennedy’s legacy as opposed to cutting it short. The aforementioned Star Wars: Starfighter will be produced by Kennedy and mark the second theatrical Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker after The Mandalorian & Grogu. Lucasfilm is evidently excited about this project, meaning Kennedy’s legacy will live on with it.
This is not to mention the many upcoming Star Wars TV shows that are still to be developed. Although Kennedy’s reign has been divisive, many tend to forget the resurgence of Star Wars on the small screen that Kennedy herself has overseen. This, combined with the promising theatrical future of Star Wars and the announcements of such projects at Celebration 2025, prove just how big a legacy Kennedy will leave at Lucasfilm, when and if she decides to step down.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
