Kathleen Kennedy is on her way out at Lucasfilm and Dave Filoni could take the top spot if a major Hollywood news source is to be believed. This song and dance has been sung by the media many…many times before, but this time there appears to be some validity to the rumor.
According to Puck’s Matthew Belloni, Disney is preparing to officially confirm that Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm, with Dave Filoni elevated into the top creative role and Lynwen Brennan installed as the business-side counterweight.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm attends the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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Belloni writes:
“In the next week or two, Disney will finally confirm what we’ve all known for months: Kathleen Kennedy is indeed stepping down as Lucasfilm president, and Dave Filoni, currently the chief creative officer of the Star Wars unit, will be elevated into the top job… Filoni has never really been a traditional executive, so they’re giving him a partner in Lynwen Brennan… but he’ll be the decider on the creative direction of the franchise in film, television, and any other platforms in the galaxy.”
— Matthew Belloni, Puck
On paper, it looks like a major changing of the guard. In practice, the reality is far more complicated.
Kennedy Isn’t Leaving Hollywood—And She’s Made That Very Clear
One crucial detail is already being glossed over: Kennedy has never claimed she’s walking away from Lucasfilm entirely, only that she’s stepping down from the presidency.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
When similar rumors swirled last year (again from Belloni), Kennedy pushed back forcefully in an interview with Deadline.
“The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring,” Kennedy said defiantly in a rare interview on the subject. “I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies.”
That statement matters. A producer role—especially for someone with Kennedy’s institutional power and relationships—still carries significant influence. Stepping aside from the title doesn’t automatically mean stepping away from creative sway.
In other words, this may be less of a clean exit and more of a reshuffling.
Filoni’s Reputation Has Changed—and Not Quietly
There was a time when Filoni was widely hailed as the creative heir to George Lucas. For many fans, The Clone Wars, Rebels, and the first two seasons of The Mandalorian positioned him as the steward who “got” Star Wars.
That perception has shifted.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: (L-R) Leslye Headland, Dave Filoni, Chief Creative Officer, Lucasfilm and Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm attend the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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Filoni’s vocal defense and advocacy of The Acolyte—a series that faced intense audience backlash—and the negative reception of Ahsoka and season 3 of The Mandalorian have dulled that once-unassailable reputation.
While Andor was created under his tenure as chief creative officer, rumors swirled that showrunner Tony Gilroy was given full creative control, sidestepping Filoni’s oversight entirely to work one-on-one with Kennedy.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Dave Filoni attends the Ahsoka panel at Start Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
While some still view Filoni as a stabilizing force, others now question whether he represents meaningful change or simply continuity with the current creative direction.
That context matters when evaluating Disney’s decision to place Filoni at the top of the creative hierarchy.
The Trades vs. Belloni: A Familiar Pattern
Belloni first floated the idea of Kennedy’s imminent exit in February of last year—and the entertainment trade press moved quickly to shut it down.
Kennedy’s defiant Deadline interview was widely framed as definitive proof that the rumors were false. At the forefront of that pushback was Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr., who repeatedly attacked Belloni’s reporting.
(L-R): Dave Filoni and Rosario Dawson on the set of Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS: AHSOKA, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Belloni, for his part, didn’t retreat. He mocked Fleming’s tone and later described the Kennedy interview as “hilariously sycophantic,” illustrating the increasingly visible divide between independent industry reporting and access-driven trade coverage.
Now, with Disney reportedly preparing to confirm the move, Belloni’s reporting may be proven true.
Why Lynwen Brennan Changes the Equation
One of the most notable developments in Belloni’s report is the inclusion of Brennan.
Just last year, The Hollywood Reporter had indicated Filoni would share leadership duties with Carrie Beck. That plan appears to have been scrapped.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: (L-R) Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Leslye Headland and Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company and President, Marketing, The Walt Disney Studios and Disney attend the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Instead, Disney is adopting a Walt-and-Roy-style structure:
- Filoni as the creative figurehead
- Brennan as the operational and financial authority
It’s a clear acknowledgment that Filoni is not a traditional executive—and that Lucasfilm’s problems extend beyond creative vision into management and business discipline. Budgets have exploded under the Kennedy regime, with The Acolyte reportedly costing more than $300 million and The Rise of Skywalker carrying a whopping $600 million pricetag.
A Transition, Not a Reset
The biggest takeaway from the “Kennedy Filoni” transition is this: Lucasfilm is changing leadership structure, not necessarily philosophy.
Kennedy may be stepping down, but she isn’t disappearing. Filoni is being elevated, but he isn’t being handed unchecked control. Brennan’s involvement signals caution, not revolution.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: (L-R) Daisy Ridley, Kathleen Kennedy and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attend the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
For fans hoping this marks a hard reset for Star Wars, the reality may prove far more incremental—and far more controlled—than the headlines suggest.
Disney isn’t blowing up Lucasfilm. It’s rearranging the board. And that distinction may end up mattering more than any title change.
Do you believe Kennedy is stepping down in favor of Filoni? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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