Changes Appear to Be Afoot in the Galaxy Far, Far Away: A New Report Claims Dave Filoni and Lynwen Berman Will Co-Head Lucasfilm
Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni is reportedly set to become Co-President of Lucasfilm Ltd. alongside Lynwen Brennan, following Kathleen Kennedy’s expected departure as president.
The move would position Filoni as the creative head, guiding film and TV, while Brennan manages business interests, marking a significant change in leadership.
Rumors of Kennedy’s exit have been circulated on social media for months now, with initial reports in February 2025 suggesting she already was stepping down, with a plan she confirms would involve some sort of succession.
The relationship between George Lucas and Dave Filoni remains defined by their deep “mentor-apprentice” bond, with Filoni now poised to take full control of the franchise. Credit: Lucasfilm
Well, it appears now we’re getting closer to that eventual succession with a new report surfacing online from Puck News reporter Matthew Belloni stating that Kennedy will “indeed” step down as president of Lucasfilm.
He wrote, “In the next week or two, Disney will finally confirm what we’ve all known for months: Kathleen Kennedy is indeed stepping down as Lucasfilm president.”
But the report didn’t stop there; it also included the announcement that Dave Filoni is set to become Co-President of Lucasfilm Ltd. alongside Lynwen Brennan.
“Filoni has never really been a traditional executive, so they’re giving him a partner in Lynwen Brennan, currently president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business, but he’ll be the decider on the creative direction of the franchise in film, television, and any other platforms in the galaxy.”
Filoni has become a pivotal figure in modern Star Wars since being hired in 2005, starting as George Lucas’s protégé to lead animation on The Clone Wars and Rebels, introducing new iconic characters to the fold like Ahsoka Tano and the fan-favorite Captain Rex, before transitioning to live-action with The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
The recent Annie Awards nominee brings a passion to his take on what Star Wars should be. His deep respect and mentorship with George Lucas is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.
“George is a great teacher… He taught me and our whole division. He really loved coming to work…It surprised people at Lucasfilm that he was around all the time.” Filoni said while speaking at Star Wars Celebration
Over the weekend, I watched an interview on the WGAW YouTube channel where Filoni explains the evolution of Star Wars canon and his role in guiding the creative process at Lucasfilm. Here, he definitely shows why he’s more than capable of continuing the franchise’s core themes that Lucas envisioned.
Dave Filoni on the set of Ahsoka. Season 2 began filming in early 2025 and is currently in the late stages of production for a planned late 2026 release. Credit: Lucasfilm
At the moment, Filoni has been busy with post-production on season 2 of the Disney+ series Ahsoka, while his other creative partner at the studio, Jon Favreau, is putting the finishing touches on the upcoming “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film, the first big movie release for Star Wars in nearly seven years.
Kathleen Kennedy’s tenure at Lucasfilm has faced fan criticism for perceived bad decisions, with recent controversy surrounding Disney’s cancellation of the popular, internally approved The Hunt for Ben Solo film, a standalone project favored by Kennedy and Dave Filoni featuring Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, sparking fan outrage and campaigns against Disney’s handling of Star Wars. Fans also point to a lack of creative coherence and other canceled projects as evidence of mismanagement. I myself have defended her as a producer and her management, but Lucasfilm needs someone who can unify its cinematic and streaming universe and ensure narrative cohesion at this time.
Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman reportedly shut down ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ project, questioning how Ben Solo could still be alive after his death in The Rise of Skywalker, according to Adam Driver. Credit: Mando3updates
As of now, Disney and Lucasfilm have not made any formal announcement. However, the claim has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms. My old friend Grant Davis over at Star Wars News Net noted that Filoni and Brennan were spotted at an event honoring Filoni’s work at Lucasfilm together in late 2025, giving more credence to the rumor.
Whatever does happen with the future of Star Wars and Lucasfilm, very few would argue against a much-needed change.
You can watch the @writersguildwest’s interview with Filoni below. It definitely shows what he’s capable of.
May the Force be with you….
Next Level Media Plus | Outerworld and StarWarsGalaxyNews 
Leave a comment