Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has addressed retirement rumors suggesting she plans to step down later in 2025.
Earlier this week, Puck News reported the veteran producer intended to retire when her contract expires this year. The outlet also claimed Kennedy previously contemplated retirement in 2024 but postponed her decision.
While Variety cited sources dismissing Puck's story as "pure speculation," The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the initial report.
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Kennedy has now personally responded via Deadline, revealing she's collaborating with Disney CEO Bob Iger on succession plans after 13 years leading Lucasfilm. While Star Wars Rebels creator and current Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni reportedly stands as a strong candidate, Kennedy stated emphatically: "The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring."
"I will never retire from movies," she continued. "I'll keep making films until my last day. That's crucially important to clarify. Retirement isn't happening."
Though Kennedy acknowledged Lucasfilm plans to announce succession details "months or a year down the road," she confirmed she's "continuing at Lucasfilm." This includes producing the upcoming Mandalorian film and a Star Wars project helmed by Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy.
The statement suggests Kennedy may eventually transition from her presidential role without departing Lucasfilm entirely or leaving the film industry.
"I won't remain here indefinitely," she noted. "George [Lucas] asked me to take charge 13 years ago, and now I'm evaluating successors. We've developed strong internal candidates for both business and creative leadership. The role has expanded significantly since I began - we've added streaming and numerous other initiatives."
Kennedy firmly denied any suggestion she's being "pushed aside" or requiring replacement, calling such notions "completely inaccurate." During her tenure, she oversaw the Sequel Trilogy (Episodes 7-9) and pioneered Star Wars' streaming era with shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. While projects like The Force Awakens achieved massive success, others proved controversial, and some (like Solo: A Star Wars Story) underperformed financially.
When Deadline directly asked whether she'll relinquish her Lucasfilm presidency this year, Kennedy replied she hasn't determined exact timing but confirmed the decision would be "100% mine." She declined to confirm Filoni as her potential successor.
