{"id":76758,"date":"2026-01-17T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T07:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opinionpublica.tv\/portada\/?p=76758"},"modified":"2026-01-16T20:46:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T03:46:05","slug":"star-wars-boss-departs-ending-an-asteroid-filled-reign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opinionpublica.tv\/portada\/star-wars-boss-departs-ending-an-asteroid-filled-reign\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Star Wars\u2019 boss departs, ending an asteroid-filled reign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\u2018star<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStar Wars\u201d has new emperors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disney said on Thursday that Kathleen Kennedy would step down as the president of Lucasfilm after nearly 14 years, a period marked by successes (\u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d \u201cStar Wars: The Force Awakens,\u201d \u201cAndor\u201d), some misses (\u201cSolo\u201d) and near-constant culture-war-related turbulence. She will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm\u2019s chief creative officer, and Lynwen Brennan, the studio\u2019s business affairs and operations chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their appointments are effective immediately. Mr. Filoni, 51, will hold the title of president while remaining chief creative officer. Ms. Brennan, 58, will be co-president. Ms. Kennedy, 72, will return to her storied producing career, which started in 1982 with \u201cE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial\u201d and \u201cPoltergeist.\u201d She is a lead producer for two upcoming \u201cStar Wars\u201d movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disney gave her an effusive send-off, even by Hollywood standards, with Robert A. Iger, the company\u2019s chief executive, calling Ms. Kennedy \u201ca visionary\u201d in a statement and Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, also lavishing praise on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucasfilm is extraordinarily difficult to run. The studio\u2019s movies and TV shows are expensive to make because they rely on extensive visual effects, leading to intense scrutiny from Wall Street and the news media. At the same time, the \u201cStar Wars\u201d fan base can be toxic and resistant to change \u2014 especially regarding diversity in casting and storytelling, both of which Ms. Kennedy prioritized. Racist and misogynistic voices often overshadow positive discussion about new films and shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kennedy was initially set to hand over the \u201cStar Wars\u201d controls in 2024, but she agreed to a contract extension. At the time, Lucasfilm was in the throes of putting together \u201cStar Wars: Starfighter,\u201d a high-stakes movie directed by Shawn Levy and intended to evolve the franchise beyond the Skywalker saga. Lucasfilm was also smarting from \u201cThe Acolyte,\u201d an expensive Disney+ show that was criticized for its diverse cast. Disney canceled it after one season, citing inadequate viewership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In choosing Lucasfilm veterans as Ms. Kennedy\u2019s successors, Disney is signaling that it believes the boutique studio is on the right path. The selections can also be interpreted as a conciliatory nod to fans: The \u201cStar Wars\u201d you know and love is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Filoni, an idiosyncratic executive with a fondness for western wear, has worked at Lucasfilm for 21 years. He is known for his strong standing among \u201cStar Wars\u201d die-hards: They tend to trust him, in part because he was mentored by George Lucas, who created \u201cStar Wars\u201d in 1977. Mr. Filoni has been a producing and writing force behind hit Lucasfilm shows like \u201cAhsoka,\u201d \u201cThe Clone Wars,\u201d \u201cStar Wars Rebels\u201d and \u201cThe Mandalorian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Brennan, who grew up in Wales, is a 27-year Lucasfilm veteran. She got her start at Industrial Light & Magic, the Lucasfilm-affiliated visual effects company. Ms. Brennan has recently managed the studio\u2019s games, publishing and consumer products divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. Kennedy took over Lucasfilm from Mr. Lucas in 2012. He sold the studio to Disney for $4 billion shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eager to show a return on its investment, Disney pushed Ms. Kennedy to begin cranking out \u201cStar Wars\u201d movies. She swiftly delivered a new trilogy that generated nearly $5 billion in ticket sales \u2014 a triumph. A blockbuster fourth film, \u201cRogue One,\u201d took in more than $1 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a creative team that included the filmmaker Jon Favreau, Ms. Kennedy then served up \u201cThe Mandalorian.\u201d It was a sensation, almost single-handedly making Disney\u2019s streaming service an overnight success. \u201cAndor,\u201d an acclaimed 2022 series, was another notable achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along the way, Ms. Kennedy became a lightning rod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tried to make \u201cStar Wars\u201d more appealing to women and minorities; the fan base, while colossal, was (and is) largely male and white. Many fans praised the effort, but another faction recoiled. In 2023, \u201cSouth Park\u201d parodied Ms. Kennedy as giving the same feedback on every project: \u201cPut a chick in it! Make her lame and gay!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a time in the middle of her tenure, Ms. Kennedy became known for clashing with film directors over tone and style, leading to their departures. Several \u201cStar Wars\u201d movie projects were announced and then quietly scrapped, annoying fans. \u201cSolo\u201d sputtered at the box office in 2018, prompting Disney to slow the \u201cStar Wars\u201d movie output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucasfilm appears to have regained its footing. In May, the \u201cStar Wars\u201d franchise will return to movie screens for the first time since 2019 with \u201cThe Mandalorian and Grogu.\u201d The movie, directed by Mr. Favreau, could give sales of \u201cStar Wars\u201d merchandise a needed jolt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ditto \u201cStarfighter,\u201d which stars Ryan Gosling. It is scheduled for release in May 2027, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of \u201cStar Wars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n