Los Angeles: Star Wars has new emperors.
Disney said on Thursday that Kathleen Kennedy would step down as the president of Lucasfilm after nearly 14 years, a period marked by successes (The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Andor), some misses (Solo) and near-constant culture war turbulence. She will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s chief creative officer, and Lynwen Brennan, the studio’s business affairs and operations chief.
Their appointments are effective immediately. Filoni, 51, will hold the title of president. Brennan, 58, will be co-president. Kennedy, 72, will return to her hallowed producing career, which started in 1982 with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Poltergeist. She is a lead producer for two coming Star Wars movies.
Daisy Ridley plays Rey Skywalker in the 2019 Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, one of Kennedy’s big hits.Credit: Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm is extraordinarily difficult to run. The studio’s movies and TV shows are expensive to make because they rely on extensive visual effects, leading to intense scrutiny from Wall Street and the news media. At the same time, the Star Wars fan base can be toxic and resistant to change – especially regarding diversity in casting and storytelling, both of which Kennedy prioritised. Racist and misogynistic voices often overshadow positive discussion about new films and shows.
Kennedy was initially set to hand over the Star Wars controls in 2024, but she agreed to a contract extension. At the time, Lucasfilm was in the throes of putting together Star Wars: Starfighter, a high-stakes movie directed by Shawn Levy and intended to evolve the franchise beyond the Skywalker saga.
Lucasfilm was also smarting from The Acolyte, an expensive Disney+ show – criticised for its diverse cast, it was cancelled after one season. Disney cited inadequate viewership.
Kathleen Kennedy, left, and her successor Dave Filoni at a fan event in Tokyo last year. Credit: AP
In choosing Lucasfilm veterans as Kennedy’s successors, Disney is signalling that it believes the boutique studio is on the right path. The selections can also be interpreted as a conciliatory nod to fans: The Star Wars you know and love is safe.
Filoni, an idiosyncratic executive with a fondness for western wear, has worked at Lucasfilm for 21 years. He is known for his strong standing among Star Wars diehards: They tend to trust him, in part because he was mentored by George Lucas, who created Star Wars in 1977. Filoni has been a producing and writing force behind hit Lucasfilm shows such as Ahsoka, The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels and The Mandalorian.
