Star Wars has been a very hit-or-miss franchise since George Lucas sold the rights to Disney. However, the woman who many fans blame the misses on, Kathleen Kennedy, will be stepping down from her position as CEO of Lucasfilm. While it seems a large group of fans are very excited about this, one question remains in the heads of all the fans of this galaxy far far away. Who will take Kennedy’s place as CEO?
According to Forbes, the news of Kathleen Kennedy’s 2025 retirement has swept the internet and gotten to the devices of many Star Wars fans. However, the question of who is to replace Kennedy may be more difficult than anyone believes. The obvious choice would of course be Dave Filoni. Dave has worked right beside George Lucas on The Clone Wars TV series. He has also taken the lead on many of the other popular TV series including The Mandalorian. Dave has the support and love of a large group of fans, as well as the connection to Lucas that could seal the deal. However, there is also growing concern from some fans via X that “They could easily hire someone worse.”
Who Will Replace Kathleen Kennedy as the Head of Disney Star Wars
John Favreau has also been a name to watch in the Kennedy succession sweepstakes. John has worked in many massive universe franchises like the MCU and has the ties to make a play for the CEO spot. However, like Filoni, Favreau has been attached to many recent popular Star Wars projects. John and Dave have worked closely together on many projects, and the two may be able to continue their cooperation if one were to take the spot of CEO of Lucasfilm.
However, there seems to be one more serious candidate for the CEO job, and that would be Kevin Feige. Kevin has been pitched as a good fit for Star Wars. However, his current work with Marvel may have some fans on the fence. The MCU, much like Star Wars, has been a mess recently. It may not be the best move for Lucasfilm to try and fight one divided fanbase with a man who created another. However, Marvel is not in a strong place at the moment. Feige may want to deal with his mess before even thinking about tackling Lucasfilm’s.
Kathleen Kennedy’s announcement of her retirement this year could be a turning point for Disney Star Wars. However, choosing a strong and decisive leader who understands the complicated story of Star Wars is crucial. Disney may not be able to afford another trainwreck by Lucasfilm. Fans of the franchise are divided and have been since the sequels. It is time for a new chapter with a new CEO of Lucasfilm leading the charge.
