Written By Kieran Bugg • U.K. Editor
Kathleen Kennedy will remain as the president of Lucasfilm until her contract ends next year. Once again, rumors spread that Disney fired Kathleen Kennedy after the box-office failure of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Then again, that gossip seems to circulate on a yearly basis.
On July 4, Geekosity founder Mikey Sutton initially scooped on Syl Abdul’s Scoopcenter that Kathleen Kennedy will remain at Lucasfilm until 2024. That’s when her current deal is finished; sources reveal there will be no extension. On August 23, 2021, it was Sutton who broke Kathleen Kennedy’s last extension.
By November 18, 2021, that became official.
Kathleen Kennedy’s departure was actually decided upon prior to the release of Dial of Destiny. On November 23, 2022, Sutton reported her exit would happen after Dial of Destiny.
The situation hasn’t changed; however, it’s simply taking longer.
Ironically, the financial train wreck of Dial of Destiny actually delayed the inevitable.
Insiders explained that Disney doesn’t want to time her leaving with Dial of Destiny bombing. Out of respect, she will simply retire in 2024 as head of Lucasfilm.
Kathleen Kennedy Will Remain As Controversial Lucasfilm Head Until 2024
Image: Disney
As an integral player at Lucasfilm for several years, Kathleen Kennedy has became a controversial figure among fans. Many have blamed her for the financial failures of Solo: A Star Wars Story and Dial of Destiny.
In addition, she’s received massive scorn for the divisive audience reception to Disney’s last two Star Wars sequels, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Even after polarizing viewers, Kathleen Kennedy still decided to green light a new Star Wars trilogy written and directed by The Last Jedi‘s Rian Johnson. This decision only angered the toxic side of Star Wars fandom even more.
Nonetheless, it’s highly unlikely that Johnson’s new trilogy will even happen since the director is busy working on other projects.
For a while now there’s been no end to rumors of the producer being either fired or standing down from her position at Lucasfilm.
Kathleen Kennedy Will Remain As Controversial Lucasfilm Head Until 2024
Image: Disney
Her contract will expire next year, meaning we could potentially expect an official announcement on who will take over the helm in either late 2023 or early 2024.
Sources did indicate that she could still produce Star Wars projects in the future but that possibility seems slim.
As for Kennedy’s replacement, there’s been talk of Star Wars Rebels creator of Dave Filoni taking over after her. On the other hand, Filoni might have his hands full directing a live-action Star Wars movie on his own.
Thus, he could be partnered with another Star Wars executive like James Gunn and Peter Safran at DC Studios.