Kathleen Kennedy steps down as Lucasfilm president, marking a brand new period for the Star Wars franchise

Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm. Though she’s going to proceed as a producer for a number of Star Wars initiatives, together with upcoming film The Mandalorian and Grogu, the corporate will now be helmed by a duo in Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. It is a massive altering of the guard for Star Wars followers, and marks the beginning of a contemporary chapter for the sci-fi universe.

Earlier than taking up at Lucasfilm, Kennedy had seen nice success as a producer with a pair little movies you will have heard of: E.T. and Jurassic Park. She turned Lucasfilm’s president in 2012 when the corporate was acquired by Disney. At that time, it had been a number of years for the reason that final Star Wars film; Revenge of the Sith closed out the widely panned prequel trilogy in 2005. Followers’ most suitable choice for Star Wars content material was The Clone Wars, a standalone movie and animated sequence which had been well-regarded however primarily in style among the many hardcore devotees quite than reaching the widespread cultural relevance of the prior function movies.

Throughout Kennedy’s tenure, Star Wars returned to the massive display with The Drive Awakens in 2015. Though that J.J. Abrams-led trilogy was additionally a curler coaster for a lot of followers, it marked a renaissance for the franchise. Lucasfilm launched into two standalone motion pictures in Rogue One and Solo, which generated but extra buzz and extra money for the corporate. Star Wars received the total cinematic universe therapy, with critically acclaimed live-action tv initiatives and a number of other new video video games. The world fell in love with Child Yoda. Ewan McGregor lastly received to don his Obi-Wan Kenobi gown in a greater car. The franchise was again within the mainstream, with the budgets and expectations of media behemoth Disney at its again. Regardless of your emotions on the present state of Star Wars, it is a powerful accomplishment by Kennedy and an enormous legacy that she leaves behind at Lucasfilm.

So now that Lucasfilm has arguably ended this part on a excessive notice, what’s subsequent? Dave Filoni shifting into the highest spot is not a lot of a shock. He is lengthy been seen by followers and seemingly by the corporate as George Lucas’ religious successor. Filoni was additionally the showrunner on The Clone Wars again within the day and has been concerned in some capability with most of the current TV sequence, most notably The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. All that historical past means his new position of President and Chief Artistic Officer is fairly anticipated, and the Star Wars devoted doubtless really feel that they’re in good arms.

Because the title implies, Filoni will likely be accountable for the inventive aspect of the operation, whereas as Co-President, Lynwen Brennan will likely be accountable for the enterprise aspect. Brennan could also be a much less acquainted title, however her tenure with Lucas’ companies dates again to 1999 when she joined the legendary results studio Industrial Gentle & Magic. Dividing the artwork and the commerce can yield good outcomes if the 2 are capable of finding a great synergy. Star Wars has confirmed that it is a moneymaker even when the movies and sequence aren’t notably well-received, however this is hoping that Filoni and Brennan will every be capable of preserve excessive requirements for Lucasfilm and the Star Wars fandom.