So… What's Subsequent? [UPDATED]

March 2, 2025

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After yesterday’s information there may be already rampant hypothesis about who will succeed Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm. The Hollywood Reporter even has a complete article about it they usually have some insightful issues to say! Click on via for extra!

UPDATE: Trade insider Jeff Sneider shared some more information about Kennedy’s retirement and who could exchange her.

These guys?

In response to THR sources one motive Kennedy caught round for therefore lengthy is that there merely had been no options, actually, one one who had frequent dealings with LFL management flat out says Lucasfilm did a horrible job at coaching a possible successor who might take over from Kennedy. So she stayed, just because there was nobody else both match or prepared to take over from her.

Sources declare Kennedy herself wished to get Rayne Roberts into her seat, as soon as she retires. In the event you ask “who???”, don’t let it hassle you, she was a kind of Kennedy hires who was introduced into the corporate when she took over with nearly zero expertise, that’s all it’s worthwhile to know, okay, yet one more factor, she additionally produced The Acolyte, which was her solely precise producer credit score whereas working at LFL (she labored as a inventive govt on different Disney Star Wars tasks), which can have contributed to Disney saying “please do one thing else now”, as a result of as a producer you might be very a lot accountable for budgets and ensuring finances is below management and that the ultimate product is definitely good, so Rayne Roberts “left” Lucasfilm a short time in the past, she’s now VP of Searchlight photos, a Disney owned (through Fox) small indie studio that makes indie films, so she’s out of the image and as far faraway from Star Wars as you might be, which is actually for the easiest.

The well-known “greater than 50% feminine executives at Lucasfilm” picture taken at Skywalker Ranch from 2016. Rayne Roberts is the black girl nearly in the midst of the picture within the second row. Kennedy apparently wished her to take over from her. Virtually all of the folks within the picture (all however Roberts) are nonetheless at Lucasfilm or ILM in 2025, many of the girls right here should not concerned with the inventive course of although however funds, authorized and publish manufacturing. Supply: The Hollywood Reporter

One THR supply claims Dave Filoni will change into the subsequent Lucasfilm president and that it’s already determined. No different supply nonetheless confirmed this.

One idea is that not only one individual will exchange Kennedy, however that Favreau and Filoni will share duties because the inventive staff, whereas some seasoned supervisor/producer kind will deal with all of the boring (for creatives) enterprise facet of issues. Kennedy’s position as president and producer was largely that of a supervisor and neither Favreau or Filoni are actually those who both qualify for that or will need to take care of that facet of the job. So pairing them with somebody who will tackle these duties might make plenty of sense.

However THR throws round a number of different names as nicely, like Emma Watts, who was once at Fox the place she oversaw the X-Males, Deadpool and (govt) produced Cameron’s Avatar and likewise issues like Alita Battle Angel, so she actually has the expertise. She’s a mom of three and 55 years previous, so most likely the best age and with a lot of expertise, it is sensible why THR would convey her up.

Nonetheless, whereas I believe it won’t be a good suggestion, I imagine Dave Filoni shall be introduced as (considered one of) Kennedy’s successor(s) finally… however perhaps not Filoni alone, Disney could need to pair him with Favreau as those who take management of the inventive facet of issues and presumably staff them up with some skilled producer who will take care of the extra bureaucratic facets of the job (like managing budgets, contract negotiations and so forth), which Filoni is just not actually certified for and Favreau could not need to take care of, as a result of he’s far more a inventive than a supervisor.

And perhaps that might be one of the best resolution for now: get somebody who handles the enterprise facet of issues, however has no say over any of the inventive choices, and ask Favreau and Filoni to take over because the inventive leads. Although I really feel Filoni is just not a good selection, he’s in some ways the one “actual” inheritor Lucas ever had, and no matter his qualities as a author or inventive lead, he has in depth Star Wars information and is aware of the corporate and the franchise inside out. Paired with Favreau there may be not less than an opportunity the 2 might give you one thing like The Mandalorian once more.

My very own advice is to ask Gilroy to be concerned with the inventive facet of issues as nicely. His Rogue One and Andor are two of probably the most praised Disney Star Wars releases, actually, they’re THE most praised releases. And it all the time helps to have somebody on the staff who is just not sporting fanboy glasses (i.e. he could also be somebody who would say “no” to a few of Filoni’s sillier concepts and his bizarre insistence on together with area whales, area wolves and Ahsoka in principally all the things he oversees).

And in case you are sad concerning the prospect of Filoni being a part of the answer (perhaps not alone, most likely not alone)… ask your self who else is offered who might realistically take over? The job of the subsequent Lucasfilm president gained’t be a straightforward one, it could be the hardest job in Hollywood proper now really. It affords excessive rewards, but in addition comes with extraordinarily excessive dangers, probably profession ending dangers ought to Star Wars fail. Not many could need to take over.

Likelihood is any announcement shall be made at Celebration. Who would you realistically see as Kennedy’s alternative?

UPDATE: Jeff Sneider (he works for Bloomberg and has had varied scoops prior to now, he’s very respected) has this to say concerning the upcoming retirement… and it might not be one thing you might need to hear!

– Kennedy will allegedly stay a producer for varied upcoming Star Wars tasks (Rey film???)
– Kennedy didn’t retire on the finish of 2024 as a result of a brand new AI based mostly manufacturing firm she was attempting to launch did not get funding, she should launch her personal manufacturing firm, partnering together with her husband, Steven Spielberg and David Fincher
– It’s believed there shall be appreciable layoffs at ILM as soon as Kennedy leaves, she protected ILM staff from firings till now
– Dave Filoni is certainly a prime contender for being one of many replacements, nonetheless, he won’t be alone. Jeff Sneider believes Lucasfilm’s Carrie Beck is a prime candidate as co-president (or perhaps simply Beck) ought to Filoni be promoted
– Apparently Disney (Iger and Bergman) do NOT need one other highly effective producer/Lucasfilm president like Kennedy was, that is most likely meant to have somebody on the prime of Lucasfilm who might be extra simply managed and particularly far more simply changed and fired
– Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige are each not within the job in keeping with Sneider

If Kennedy will really be actively concerned as a producer with future Star Wars tasks (and it’s not just a few title so she receives cash as some form of compensation as is commonly the case in Hollywood) then I believe all hope is misplaced for Star Wars. If Disney really enable her to go ahead with a Rey film they could as nicely finish the franchise now.

Filoni taking on, not less than partially, turns into ever extra doubtless. Pairing him with an skilled producer is sensible, so he can deal with the inventive facets… which, for my part, is just not very encouraging although. Filoni wants correct checks and balances, he has good concepts right here and there, however these concepts should be filtered and extra proficient folks ought to write the precise tales and scripts.

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