Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed recent reports about her potential retirement, firmly stating that she has no plans to step away from the film industry. Earlier this week, Puck News suggested that Kennedy, a veteran film producer, was set to retire at the end of her contract in 2025, having previously considered retiring in 2024. While Variety dismissed the report as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the story.
In response, Kennedy clarified her stance in an interview with Deadline. She is currently collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on a succession plan, with Star Wars Rebels creator and Lucasfilm's chief creative officer Dave Filoni reportedly being a strong candidate to succeed her. Despite this, Kennedy emphatically stated, "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring."
Kennedy acknowledged that Lucasfilm intends to make an announcement regarding her succession "months or a year down the road," but she emphasized her commitment to staying with the company. She is set to produce upcoming projects such as the Mandalorian movie and a Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy.
While Kennedy admitted that she won't be at Lucasfilm forever, she highlighted the growth of the company since she took over 13 years ago, noting the expansion into streaming and other areas. She also denied any suggestions that she was being "pushed aside" or "in need of being replaced," asserting that such claims were "absolutely not the case" and "could not be further from the truth."
During her tenure, Kennedy has overseen significant projects including the sequel trilogy (Star Wars Episodes 7-9) and the launch of several successful streaming series such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While some films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens have been major successes, others, including Solo: A Star Wars Story, have faced financial challenges and mixed reviews.
When asked directly by Deadline if she would step down as Lucasfilm president this year, Kennedy responded that she did not know "at this stage," but affirmed that any decision would be "100% my decision." She remained non-committal about whether Filoni would take over her role.
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