Kathleen Kennedy Shuts Down Retirement News and Rumors in New Interview
The iconic Hollywood producer emphasizes that she will be leaving on her town terms when she is ready.
Contrary to earlier reports circulating Hollywood and even here on Laughing Place, it seems Kathleen Kennedy will stay at Lucasfilm for quite some time, and that is straight from the woman herself.
What’s Happening:
- Despite the rumor mill and earlier reports suggesting that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is retiring, or otherwise on her way out of the role, a new exclusive from Deadline reveals that is not the case.
- After crediting all of Kennedy’s success in the industry, while also reminding us that this is not the first time we’ve heard news like this, Deadline actually addresses Kennedy and asks her up front what the story is regarding her retirement.
- Kennedy told the outlet, “The truth is, and I want to just say loud and clear, I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies. That is the first thing that’s important to say. I am not retiring. What’s happening at Lucasfilm is I have been talking for quite some time with both Bob and Alan about what eventual succession might look like. We have an amazing bench of people here, and we have every intention of making an announcement months or a year down the road. We are in lockstep as to what that’s going to be, and I am continuing. I’m producing [The Mandalorian] movie right now, and I’m also producing Shawn Levy’s movie, which is after that. So I’m continuing to stay at Lucasfilm and looking very thoughtfully with Bob and Alan as to who’s stepping in. So that is all underway, and we have every right to make that announcement when we want to make it."
- While many, including the Deadline article, cite Dave Filoni as the most likely candidate to fill her shoes, Kennedy keeps things vague, saying “I can’t say who it is, because there’s just an internal process that goes on inside a large corporation and a publicly held company, as to how we go about making deals, finalizing decisions, and making announcements. There’s nothing unusual about that, and we’re in that process."
- Regarding a timeline for her eventual departure, she also added, “We’ll probably make an announcement months or a year out, and I have every intention of sticking around to help that person be successful. I’m already producing the Mandalorian movie, and Shawn Levy’s is after that."
- At the conclusion of the interview, Deadline was very blunt and asked if she will leave within the year, with Kennedy responding, “We really don’t know at this stage. There’s so much going on…I don’t know."
- As far as who will ultimately make the call for Kennedy to leave, she adds “Me. It’s my decision. This is 100 percent my decision."
Laughing Place recommends MouseFanTravel.com for all your Disney travel planning
Fill out the form below for a free, no obligation quote from MouseFanTravel.com