"Closing the 14 Years of Glory and Shame"... Kathleen Kennedy Steps Down as Lucasfilm President

After ruling the 'Star Wars' empire for the past 14 years, Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from her position as president of Lucasfilm. Her departure, having been named the successor to George Lucas, is expected to be a significant turning point for the Star Wars franchise.

On the 16th (Korean time), The Walt Disney Company announced in a statement on the 15th that Kathleen Kennedy will step down from her position and return to producing. The vacancies will be filled by Dave Filoni, who has the absolute support of Star Wars fans, and veteran executive Lynwen Brennan.

◆ The Queen of Box Office, Standing at the Center of Controversy

Since taking the helm with Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, Kennedy's report card shows a clear mix of 'light and shadow'. During her tenure, she generated over $5.6 billion (approximately 8 trillion won) in box office revenue and successfully launched 'The Mandalorian' through Disney+, pioneering the streaming market.

However, conflicts with old fans triggered by 'The Last Jedi' in 2017, the harsh criticism of 'The Rise of Skywalker' in 2019, and the box office failure of 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' have followed her leadership like a shadow. In particular, the fact that no Star Wars films have been released in theaters over the past seven years has been pointed out as a painful mistake.

◆ 'Fan Favorite' Dave Filoni Takes the Reins of the Empire

Appointed as the new president and Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Dave Filoni worked closely with George Lucas to create the animated series 'The Clone Wars' and has successfully launched the live-action dramas 'The Mandalorian' and 'Ahsoka'. Fans welcome him as the perfect candidate who understands the essence of Star Wars best. Co-president Lynwen Brennan will be responsible for management and finance, supporting Filoni.

◆ Kennedy's Last Dance

Kennedy is stepping back from management but is not completely leaving Star Wars. She is set to return as a producer for the upcoming film 'The Mandalorian and Grogu', scheduled for release in May, and the next project 'Star Wars: Starfighter'.

Bob Iger, Disney CEO, praised, "Kennedy's achievements will remain forever in film history." Now, all eyes are on whether Filoni's new Lucasfilm can unite the divided fandom and restore balance to the Force.