Kathleen Kennedy to Retire from Lucasfilm by 2025 End

Rumors are swirling that Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, is planning to step down by the end of 2025. According to Puck News, the esteemed film producer is set to retire at the end of her current contract. There was a previous consideration for retirement in 2024, but Kennedy opted to delay her decision. While a source close to Kennedy told Variety that Puck’s report is "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter has corroborated Puck's story, adding some credibility to the claims.

Kennedy joined Lucasfilm in 2012, initially serving as co-chair alongside George Lucas before taking the helm as president following Lucas's departure. Under her leadership, Lucasfilm has navigated the expansive world of Star Wars, producing the sequel trilogy (Episodes 7-9) and launching the franchise's streaming era with successful series like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Key, among others. While blockbuster hits like Star Wars: The Force Awakens have been celebrated, other ventures such as Solo: A Star Wars Story have faced challenges at the box office.

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Should Kennedy's retirement come to pass, it would inevitably cast a spotlight on the future of several announced and speculated projects. This includes new films from directors like James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover, as well as the much-anticipated but slow-to-develop untitled Rey movie. The immediate future for Star Wars includes The Mandalorian & Grogu and a new trilogy spearheaded by Simon Kinberg.

Before her tenure at Lucasfilm, Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall. Her impressive portfolio boasts production credits on classics like E.T., Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future, which earned her eight Academy Award nominations for Best Picture.