Rumors recently circulated about Kathleen Kennedy being fired. While that is not true, the prospect of her replacement is being discussed. Several candidates have been making headlines but only a few seem to be true prospects for taking over at Lucasfilm.
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News on Kathleen Kennedy
Recently, Kennedy put to rest speculation that she was being fired or retiring. She will still head up Lucasfilm, perhaps even for “eight or ten years.” Kennedy did indicate that she had been discussing her eventual replacement with Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. Yet, Kennedy also specified how she was actively working on current projects, such as The Mandalorian & Grogu movie.
As president of Lucasfilm, Kennedy oversees the other two divisions of the company–Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. She has a long-established track record as a producer and executive producer, including such films as The Force Awakens and The Mandalorian series, among many others.
Kennedy plans to continue this distinguished track record but has opened up discussion about her replacement.
Who Will Probably NOT Replace Kennedy?
After news of a replacement became public, speculation sparked about who it could be. Dave Filoni’s name came up as a leading contender, but recent responses suggest this would be a mistake.
This article captures both Filoni’s significant contributions to the Star Wars franchise and why he should not be the top choice. From his creative work on shows like The Clone Wars to The Bad Batch, Filoni has established impressive credentials. However, Filoni’s work on Ahsoka and non-involvement with Andor may indicate that he is not the best pick to replace Kennedy and lead the franchise in the future.
Moreover, as Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, Filoni may not be best suited for the president role. As fans posted here, Kennedy has had “many years of experience as a Producer/Executive Producer” that helped carve her pathway to president of the company. In comparison, the person who replaces her will probably not primarily have a creative background.
For that reason and others, we may agree that J.J. Abrams may not be the most suitable choice to replace Kennedy. Abrams also heralds from more creative spaces and helped relaunch the franchise with The Force Awakens. Yet, as fans know, he faced intense backlash for his work on the Rise of Skywalker, including story directions that could be seen as “shallow and self-defeating.”
Who Could Replace Kennedy?
If Filoni and Abrams would most likely not work, perhaps Jon Favreau would. He appears as a leading contender for the job in several articles. This one calls out his work on Iron Man to The Mandalorian, along with the movie launched from the latter, as a basis for potentially stepping into the role.
Likewise, this article credits Favreau’s Mandalorian as providing “exactly what Star Wars needed exactly when it was needed”, and he could do the same as president. Yet, most commentary also recognizes him less as an executive and more as a creative type. And, he has also had some missteps, as with The Book of Boba Fett.
Kevin Fiege appears to be among the top potentials. The logic is that “with his zest for Marvel fading” possibly he could shift over “to another world he’s passionate about, Star Wars.” Since Fiege has “produced every Marvel Cinematic Universe film since Iron Man,” he comes with the managerial talents that could fit the job. In this case, though, his shift could undermine Marvel.
While sources prioritize Fiege, alongside Favreau and Filoni, we could also see Emma Watts or Hannah Minghella take over the Lucasfilm helm. These two candidates could actually be the frontrunners.
In 2020, Watts took on the head role for Paramount’s film division and became “in charge of the studio’s film operations from development and casting” and the way through post-production. She thus has the background that situates well with taking on Kennedy currently oversees.
Similarly, the past summer, Minghella became Head of Feature Animation and Live-Action Family Film at Netflix. Before that, she was Head of Motion Pictures at Bad Robot and “a long time studio executive” at Sony Pictures. That track record in top executive roles would correspond with the needs of Lucasfilm.
In addition, as female executives Watts and Minghella would figure well into the idea of advancing top roles for women. For at least 10 years, Kennedy has advocated for “the importance of women in the film industry, especially concerning the Star Wars franchise.” Maintaining that momentum could well play into the next head of Lucasfilm.
Potential Replacements for Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy is not leaving Lucasfilm anytime soon, but when it does happen, we have several potential replacements. Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau may hold true as leading contenders. Yet, we may see a turn to continuing with female leadership with Emma Watts or Hannah Minghella.