Earlier in January, we reported speculation that Lucasfilm general manager Lynwen Brennan and chief creative officer Dave Filoni would be taking over for president Kathleen Kennedy. Now that speculation can come to an end, as it has been made official. 
Lucasfilm announced today that Brennan and Filoni will take over for Kennedy as she steps away from the role of president to return to producing full-time. Filoni will take on the creative leadership and chief creative officer, and Brennan will serve as co-president.
“My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas. I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them,” said Filoni in the release. “From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen. I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger, and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you.”
Filoni has been with Lucasfilm since 2005 and has worked closely with George Lucas on the Star Wars universe. He helped create Lucasfilm’s animation studio and is known in particular for his work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and The Mandalorian. He is also the showrunner for Ahsoka on Disney+ and is the co-writer and producer on the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu.
In the same release, Brennan echoed Filoni’s sentiment for the work of Lucasfilm and the work the team has done in building worlds. “Lucasfilm has played such a meaningful part in my life,” she said. “It’s a community of inspiring storytellers with a rebel spirit like no other, and I am honored to join Dave Filoni in leading us forward. I have been so fortunate to learn from George Lucas, Kathy Kennedy, and Alan Bergman and have unwavering faith in Dave’s creative vision for the next chapter in this storied studio’s legacy.”
Brennan, who was named president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business in 2024, has been with the company since 1999, when she started working with Industrial Light & Magic. She was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Visual Effects Society in 2022 and Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2016.
Kennedy’s Time at Lucasfilm
Kennedy became the co-chair of Lucasfilm in 2012 alongside George Lucas. However, when The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm later that year, Lucas exited, and Kennedy was named president.
“When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” Kennedy said in the release. “It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”
She oversaw the development and production of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Rogue One, Solo, and the live-action Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian and Andor. She also produced Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny.
Kennedy is also producing The Mandalorian & Grogu, which premieres in theaters on May 22, 2026.
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