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Tag: Lynwen Brennan

  • Kathleen Kennedy steps down as Lucasfilm president, marking a new era for the Star Wars franchise

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    Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as president of Lucasfilm. Although she will continue as a producer for several Star Wars projects, including upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu, the company will now be helmed by a duo in Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. It’s a big changing of the guard for Star Wars fans, and marks the start of a fresh chapter for the sci-fi universe.

    Before taking over at Lucasfilm, Kennedy had seen great success as a producer with a couple little films you may have heard of: E.T. and Jurassic Park. She became Lucasfilm’s president in 2012 when the company was acquired by Disney. At that point, it had been several years since the last Star Wars movie; Revenge of the Sith closed out the generally panned prequel trilogy in 2005. Fans’ best option for Star Wars content was The Clone Wars, a standalone film and animated series which were well-regarded but primarily popular among the hardcore devotees rather than reaching the widespread cultural relevance of the prior feature films.

    During Kennedy’s tenure, Star Wars returned to the big screen with The Force Awakens in 2015. Although that J.J. Abrams-led trilogy was also a roller coaster for many fans, it marked a renaissance for the franchise. Lucasfilm embarked on two standalone movies in Rogue One and Solo, which generated yet more buzz and more money for the company. Star Wars got the full cinematic universe treatment, with critically acclaimed live-action television projects and several new video games. The world fell in love with Baby Yoda. Ewan McGregor finally got to don his Obi-Wan Kenobi robe in a better vehicle. The franchise was back in the mainstream, with the budgets and expectations of media behemoth Disney at its back. No matter your feelings on the current state of Star Wars, it’s an impressive accomplishment by Kennedy and a big legacy that she leaves behind at Lucasfilm.

    So now that Lucasfilm has arguably ended this phase on a high note, what’s next? Dave Filoni moving into the top spot isn’t much of a surprise. He’s long been seen by fans and seemingly by the company as George Lucas’ spiritual successor. Filoni was also the showrunner on The Clone Wars back in the day and has been involved in some capacity with many of the recent TV series, most notably The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. All that history means his new role of President and Chief Creative Officer is pretty expected, and the Star Wars faithful likely feel that they are in good hands.

    As the title implies, Filoni will be responsible for the artistic side of the operation, while as Co-President, Lynwen Brennan will be in charge of the business side. Brennan may be a less familiar name, but her tenure with Lucas’ businesses dates back to 1999 when she joined the legendary effects studio Industrial Light & Magic. Dividing the art and the commerce can yield good results if the two are able to find a good synergy. Star Wars has proven that it’s a moneymaker even when the films and series aren’t particularly well-received, but here’s hoping that Filoni and Brennan will each be able to maintain high standards for Lucasfilm and the Star Wars fandom.

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    Anna Washenko

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  • Dave Filoni Is Taking Over Lucasfilm From Kathleen Kennedy

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    Legendary producer Kathleen Kennedy announced today that she is stepping down as the head of Lucasfilm and passing the reins to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. The news comes after a year of speculation about Kennedy’s future in a galaxy far, far away.

    “When we acquired Lucasfilm more than a decade ago, we knew we were bringing into the Disney family not only one of the most beloved and enduring storytelling universes ever created, but also a team of extraordinary talent led by a visionary filmmaker – someone who had been handpicked by George Lucas himself, no less,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a press release. “We’re deeply grateful for Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, her vision, and her stewardship of such an iconic studio and brand.”

    With Kennedy stepping down from Lucasfilm to focus on more general film production, her previous duties will now be split between the two Lucasfilm mainstays. Filoni, as President and Chief Creative Officer, will handle the more creative side, while Brennan, the longtime head of business at the company, will handle logistics. Her title is Co-President. Think of it sort of like things are being handled at DC Studios, with James Gunn handling creative and Peter Safran handling the more day-to-day things.

    “When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” Kennedy said. “It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”

    Kennedy got her start as an assistant to Steven Spielberg and quickly established herself as a formidable creative force. Over the last 50 years or so, she produced many of the best and top-grossing films of all time, such as Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Back to the Future, E.T., and the Indiana Jones series.

    Lucasfilm founder and Star Wars creator George Lucas thought so highly of Kennedy that he hand-picked her to run Lucasfilm as he sold it to the Walt Disney Company in 2013. Since then, she’s been responsible for the successful relaunch of the franchise, both on the big screen and its new renaissance on streaming, too.

    And though Kennedy will remain on board for a bit, overseeing The Mandalorian & Grogu, Star Wars: Starfighter, and more, all eyes now move to Filoni. Also a disciple of Lucas himself, Filoni made a name for himself with fresh, exciting storytelling in Star Wars animation before making the shift to live action. His success there hasn’t been quite as impressive, with many feeling he’s a bit too reliant on past stories and nostalgia rather than bold, forward choices. But few people on the planet know or understand Star Wars as he does.

    “My love of storytelling was shaped by the films of Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas,” Filoni said. “I never dreamed I would be privileged to learn the craft of filmmaking from both of them. From Rey to Grogu, Kathy has overseen the greatest expansion in Star Wars storytelling onscreen that we have ever seen. I am incredibly grateful to Kathy, George, Bob Iger, and Alan Bergman for their trust and the opportunity to lead Lucasfilm in this new role, doing a job I truly love. May the Force be with you.”

    Filoni is currently working on the second season of his show, Ahsoka, so don’t expect him to fully make the pivot for a while. Once he does, though, the movies and shows he puts into production will say a lot about how he views the future of Star Wars. There are certainly plenty of options on the table.

    What do you think of Kennedy stepping down and putting in Filoni and Brennan? Let us know below.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Germain Lussier

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