Kathleen Kennedy Discusses Her Departure And The Future Of Star Wars

Kathleen Kennedy is officially stepping down from her role as president of Lucasfilm after leading the company for over a decade. She revealed in a recent interview that she will be handing the reins over to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan who will serve as co-presidents. This transition marks a significant shift for the studio responsible for ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ as it moves into a new era of storytelling. Kennedy expressed confidence in the new leadership team and their ability to guide the franchise forward. Her departure comes at a pivotal time with several major projects in various stages of development.

One of the most discussed topics is the potential new trilogy from Simon Kinberg which aims to launch a fresh saga. Kennedy confirmed that the producer is currently working hard on the project and has already submitted a detailed seventy-page treatment for review. She noted that while the initial draft read in August was promising it still required some work to fully align with the studio’s vision. The creative team has subsequently spent considerable time upending the story to ensure it stands on its own as a compelling narrative. Kinberg is expected to deliver the next iteration of the material to the studio sometime in March.

The status of other announced films remains a mixed bag of delays and pauses that may frustrate eager fans. The highly anticipated movie featuring Daisy Ridley returning as Rey Skywalker is still in the scripting phase as the studio struggles to crack the story properly. Kennedy admitted that the project has faced creative hurdles that have slowed its progress significantly despite the initial excitement. Similarly the film proposed by James Mangold about the origins of the Jedi is currently on hold while he focuses on other work. Fans waiting for Rian Johnson to return to the galaxy far far away will also be disappointed to hear his trilogy is indefinitely stalled.

On a more positive note there is movement regarding the projects from Donald Glover and Taika Waititi who have both completed drafts. Both creatives have turned in scripts that Kennedy described as unique and entertaining during her discussion of the future slate. However the final decision to move forward with these films will ultimately rest with Filoni and Brennan as they assess the overall strategy. Glover has written a script centered on the charming scoundrel Lando Calrissian while Waititi has delivered a screenplay that Kennedy called hilarious and great. The new leadership will need to determine how these singular voices fit into the broader universe.

The immediate future of the franchise on the big screen rests with ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ which is set to hit theaters in May 2026. Directed by Jon Favreau this film serves as the first cinematic release since 2019 and carries high expectations from the studio executives. Meanwhile Dave Filoni had been developing his own crossover movie tying together the various television shows but that project has been placed on the back burner. The studio seems focused on ensuring their return to theaters is a massive success before committing to other complex ensemble films.

As Kennedy transitions out of her presidency she leaves behind a complex legacy of massive box office hits and intense debates. Her exit interview provided a rare glimpse into the chaotic development process that has defined recent years at the production company. The incoming team of Filoni and Brennan faces the challenge of streamlining this slate and winning back the trust of the global audience. The coming months will be crucial as they decide which of these developing scripts will actually see the light of day.

Tell us what you think about this major leadership change and the status of these movies in the comments.