Who Will Run ‘Star Wars’ After Kathleen Kennedy Leaves? One of Hollywood’s Hottest — and Hardest — Jobs Opens Up

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Who wants to call the shots on “Star Wars“?

As a movie enthusiast reviewing this interstellar saga, I must admit, it’s not an easy task. After all, “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” under Lucasfilm’s watch, have become cultural icons. Thus, holding the presidency at Lucasfilm undeniably places one among Hollywood’s elite.

Additionally, they might face online harassment through social media trolling, caricature in “South Park,” criticism for being overly progressive, overly commercial, excessively loyal to George Lucas’s ideas, or too eager to stray from the traditional Jedi narrative.

The new director, upon being selected, will be stepping into a challenging situation for one of the biggest and most adored film franchises owned by Disney. It’s been six years since a movie from this franchise has been produced (which is a long time in our fast-paced culture today). The films released in the decade following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm for $4 billion have shown a downward trend, both financially and critically. Additionally, TV shows on Disney+ like “The Acolyte” were abruptly canceled after just one season.

Shortly after news broke that Kathleen Kennedy would leave her role as Lucasfilm president at the end of 2025, industry executives, creative minds, and prominent producers found themselves racing to catch the attention of Disney CEO Bob Iger. With limited positions available, securing a key role in “Star Wars” could lead to an impact similar to that of Kevin Feige within the entertainment industry.

After Kathleen Kennedy announced she would step down as Lucasfilm president at the end of 2025, many big names in the industry quickly tried to get noticed by Disney CEO Bob Iger, hoping to land a role on “Star Wars” and gain influence like Kevin Feige has in entertainment.

The chosen candidate needs to possess a unique skill set, with strong connections to artists and filmmakers being paramount. This is crucial because during Kennedy’s tenure, “Star Wars” has gone through numerous A-list directors – from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who were dismissed from “Solo”, to Patty Jenkins and David Benioff and D.B. Weiss whose projects were initially announced but later abandoned due to creative disagreements. Many other talented directors like James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Donald Glover and Rian Johnson have also been linked with spinoffs, but these have yet to materialize. Kennedy has always managed to attract top-tier directors, but maintaining their employment has proven difficult. Even directors whose films were released in theaters, such as Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One”), found that their work was significantly altered during post-production. The next director of a “Star Wars” film will likely seek guarantees to avoid becoming part of the list of hired and dismissed.

The successful candidate will need to propose a comprehensive plan for the evolution of the 48-year-old franchise, encompassing both streaming content and regular movie production. Notably, there’s been an unexpected hiatus of seven years since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019), with the next major release, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” slated for a theatrical debut in 2026, following the popular Disney+ series.

Despite being the most financially triumphant franchise ever, Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced challenges in preserving its original quality as it expanded from films to streaming platforms. Over time, even the most captivating franchises can become excessively frequent, potentially losing their freshness.

David A. Gross, from Franchise Entertainment Research, comments that “The Mandalorian and Grogu” story is one of the original, legendary tales with just as much promise as any popular action or sci-fi stories. Whether it has been overdeveloped or underdeveloped is hard to determine at this stage, given its expansive nature. This will be the first new theatrical release in many people’s lifetimes. We’ll have to wait and see how it performs when it’s finally released.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, especially when it comes to the Star Wars saga, the ideal individual should not only appreciate but live and breathe the rich tapestry of Skywalker lore. Akin to Marvel’s Kevin Feige, they must possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the mythos that George Lucas weaved with the 1977 release of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” and further developed through subsequent films, comic books, video games, park attractions, and even the controversial “Holiday Special.”

Given the hefty production costs and significant impact these movies and series have on Disney’s financial standing, a background in business would certainly be beneficial. However, it’s not just about numbers; they must also possess that creative flair to bring the Star Wars universe to life in new and exciting ways.

Finding individuals who possess both deep affection for ‘Star Wars’ and the ability to manage a large corporation can be quite challenging, as such an individual should not only be familiar with the length and charging mechanism of a lightsaber, but also have this knowledge at their fingertips…” – Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University’s film school. “How many executives do you think are able to answer these questions?

Currently, numerous individuals within the entertainment industry are speculating about potential newcomers to a distant galaxy. Among these predictions are Jon Favreau, director of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+ and known for blockbusters like “Iron Man,” as well as Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s creative chief and executive producer of “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Skeleton Crew.” Other names that might be included in the wishlist are David Heyman, a producer from the “Harry Potter” series, and Mary Parent, who manages the “Dune” and “Godzilla” franchises at Legendary Entertainment.

One influential figure proposes Peter Rice as a potential candidate, having been let go by ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek in 2022 following criticism. This source highlights that as an executive, Rice played a significant role in the creation of ‘X-Men’ and boasts strong connections with leading actors, writers, and directors. They believe his broad creative vision would revitalize everyone involved, and moreover, he maintains excellent ties within Disney.

Creative individuals may shy away from the stress that comes with being an executive, unlike Favreau who earns significantly more as a freelance filmmaker compared to a corporate executive role. Moreover, he doesn’t need to juggle managing his fictional characters (like Siths) with financial reports (P&L). Instead, could Lucasfilm adopt the approach of DC Comics by pairing a creative mind like Favreau with a producer who understands business language, similar to James Gunn and Peter Safran. Such an arrangement might make Favreau and Filoni an ideal team.

If you’re someone with a creative spirit, are you considering leading a massive corporation worth billions? Galloway points out that it’s a distinct role. As you climb higher, you move further away from creative work. The title of ‘producer’ doesn’t automatically equate to being an effective executive.

Even though Kennedy has faced a lot of criticism for her delayed projects and inconsistent films, it’s clear she’ll be tough to surpass. She joined Lucasfilm in 2012, already known as one of Hollywood’s top producers, having collaborated with industry giants like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis on hits such as “Jurassic Park” and “Lincoln.” Under her leadership, she brought J.J. Abrams on board and successfully revamped the “Star Wars” franchise with “The Force Awakens,” a movie that still holds the record for highest domestic box office earnings at $936 million (and $2 billion worldwide).

Kennedy demonstrated that “Star Wars” could endure even after its creator, George Lucas, left, as Disney acquired his company. The subsequent trilogy films, “The Last Jedi” (2017) and “The Rise of Skywalker,” while still massive financial successes, each grossed approximately half the amount of “The Force Awakens” had earlier. A spinoff titled “Solo: A Star Wars Story” in 2018 was actually the first “Star Wars” movie to lose money during its theatrical release. However, Kennedy successfully expanded the franchise beyond films into streaming services, by anticipating that “The Mandalorian,” created by Favreau and featuring a lovable baby Yoda, would maintain the Force’s popularity.

According to Galloway, Kathleen indeed faced a formidable task: That of assuming control over George Lucas’s cherished creation. Remarkably, she managed this feat and remained for a span of 13 years. It is rare for franchises to endure such a prolonged existence.

It’s not surprising that “Star Wars” might benefit from a new approach, and it’s not the only franchise in Hollywood facing challenges. Many major franchises are currently going through growing pains. For instance, the “Mission: Impossible” series is wrapping up this summer with Tom Cruise’s eighth and final installment, “The Final Reckoning.” After a less successful run following 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” Marvel is trying to regroup. Harry Potter, which failed to establish the “Fantastic Beasts” series, is moving to Max with a new TV show about the famous boy wizard. Last week, James Bond passed creative control from the Broccoli family to Amazon MGM as it struggles to find a direction after Daniel Craig’s tenure. This could provide an opportunity for Star Wars to step into the gap and offer big-screen excitement once more.

Achieving this might involve daring to make innovative, risky moves, which is not typically associated with entertainment corporations. It’s important to recall that when George Lucas initially conceptualized his idea for a series about mystical warriors and dark rulers, many in Hollywood dismissed it as unworkable. He was rejected by numerous studios, and even after 20th Century Fox agreed to fund his movie, he remained concerned about its potential failure. At a screening attended by filmmakers like Brian De Palma, writer Gloria Katz, and a few executives from Fox, the response was so unfavorable that Lucas feared his career could be doomed.

Nevertheless, a significant pillar of encouragement came from Lucas’ associate, Steven Spielberg, within the crowd. “George, this is fantastic. It’s going to rake in $100 million,” Spielberg allegedly remarked.

It turned out Spielberg was off by several billion dollars.

Tatiana Siegel contributed to this report.

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2025-02-26 03:17