Dave Filoni Named Lucasfilm Co-President as Kennedy Steps Back
Kathleen Kennedy transitions from president to producer after 14 years, while Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan take the helm of the Star Wars franchise in a major leadership shake-up.
Kathleen Kennedy is stepping away from her role as Lucasfilm president after 14 years, moving back into producing. Dave Filoni, the studio's chief creative officer, and general manager Lynwen Brennan will now serve as co-presidents, taking charge of the Star Wars universe.
The leadership change had been rumored for weeks before the official announcement. Filoni's promotion makes perfect sense given his deep ties to the franchise. He joined Lucasfilm in 2008 to direct the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series. His close working relationship with George Lucas earned him the nickname "Padawan." Since then, he's directed and produced some of the most beloved recent Star Wars content, including The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
New Leadership Vision
"My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas. I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them," Filoni said in his statement. "From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen. I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you."
Brennan brings solid business experience as Lucasfilm's current general manager. "Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life," she stated. "It's a community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other, and I am honored to join Dave Filoni in leading us forward. I have been so fortunate to learn from George Lucas, Kathy Kennedy and Alan Bergman and have unwavering faith in Dave's creative vision for the next chapter in this storied studio's legacy."
Kennedy's Lasting Impact
Kennedy oversaw every major Star Wars project since Disney bought the franchise. The sequel trilogy featuring Rey, standalone films like Solo and Rogue One, plus all the streaming series happened under her watch. She's not leaving completely though. Kennedy will stay on as a full-time producer.
"When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn't have imagined what lay ahead," Kennedy explained. "It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I'm deeply proud of what we've accomplished together. I'm excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling."