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Major Shakeup at Lucasfilm: Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan to Lead Studio
A massive shift in the Force has officially arrived at Lucasfilm. After nearly 14 years leading the studio, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as President. The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that the leadership torch will be passed to two longtime veterans of the company, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, effective immediately.
A New Era of Leadership The studio is splitting the top job between creative and business operations, a move that many industry insiders see as a strategy to balance storytelling with studio management.
Dave Filoni has been named President and Chief Creative Officer. Filoni, who previously served as Executive Vice President and CCO, is a fan-favorite figure known for his work alongside George Lucas on The Clone Wars and for launching the “Mando-verse” with Jon Favreau. In his new role, he will oversee all creative aspects of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
Lynwen Brennan has been appointed Co-President. Formerly the General Manager of Lucasfilm Business, Brennan has been with the company since 1999, rising through the ranks at Industrial Light & Magic before moving to the studio side. She will now lead the company’s business operations and strategy. Both executives will report to Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman.
Kennedy’s Next Steps While Kennedy is leaving the presidency, she is not leaving the galaxy entirely just yet. She will remain on board as a producer for Lucasfilm’s next two major theatrical releases.
She will oversee the rollout of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters on May 22, 2026, as well as the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy, which is scheduled for release on May 28, 2027. Following those projects, Kennedy plans to pursue other producing opportunities independently.
A Planned Transition According to the official announcement, this leadership change has been in the works for approximately two years to ensure a smooth handover. Kennedy, who was handpicked by George Lucas to lead the company in 2012, expressed pride in her tenure, noting the privilege of working with the talent at Lucasfilm for more than a decade.
This marks the end of a significant era for the studio, which saw the release of the sequel trilogy, the first standalone Star Wars films, and the expansion of the universe onto Disney+. Now, all eyes turn to Filoni and Brennan as they steer the franchise into its next chapter.
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