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Kathleen Kennedy steps down from Lucasfilm
Summary
After more than 13 years leading Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down. Disney announced that Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will share leadership of Lucasfilm.
Content
Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her role at Lucasfilm after more than 13 years. The Walt Disney Company announced that Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will take on shared leadership. Kennedy led Lucasfilm following Disney's 2012 acquisition and oversaw major expansion on Disney+ and at the box office. Her tenure included acclaimed streaming series alongside mixed responses to several theatrical releases.
Known details:
- Kennedy served as Lucasfilm's leader for more than 13 years and was George Lucas's chosen successor after the 2012 sale to Disney.
- Disney named Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan to share leadership, with Filoni reported to hold creative responsibility and Brennan described as handling business matters.
- Under Kennedy, Lucasfilm generated more than $5.6 billion in box-office revenue and helped establish Disney+ as a destination for the franchise.
- Notable projects of the period include 2015's The Force Awakens, streaming series such as The Mandalorian and Andor, and the 2016 film Rogue One.
- Some theatrical releases during Kennedy's tenure drew divisive reactions from parts of the fan base, and several planned film projects went through changes in development.
Summary:
Kennedy's departure marks a change in leadership for one of the film industry's long-running franchises. Filoni and Brennan will lead Lucasfilm going forward, with Filoni taking a creative lead and Brennan handling business operations. A new theatrical release, Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian & Grogu, is scheduled for May and will arrive under the new leadership. The broader direction Lucasfilm will take beyond those steps is undetermined at this time.
