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Fact check: Who is taking Katheen Kennedy's place has head of Lucas Film?
1. Summary of the results
While Kathleen Kennedy's retirement from Lucasfilm has been reported as planned for the end of 2025 [1], no official successor has been announced yet. Dave Filoni, recently named Chief Creative Officer, and Jon Favreau have emerged as the primary potential candidates [2], with Filoni being described as a "natural (if extremely safe) choice" [2]. Other possible candidates include Kevin Feige and internal Lucasfilm executives [3].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual elements were missing from the original question:
- Kennedy's departure appears to be a planned retirement due to her age [4], not due to external pressures [5]
- She originally planned to leave in 2024 but chose to extend her tenure [6]
- Kennedy was personally selected by George Lucas in 2012 to lead Lucasfilm [3]
- The announcement is expected to be made at Star Wars Celebration Japan [5]
- Kennedy has reportedly only informed a small circle about her intention to step down [2]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The question assumes there is already a designated replacement, which is premature. Several important considerations should be noted:
- Legacy implications: Kennedy's tenure has been marked by both significant achievements and creative challenges [2], which will likely influence the selection of her successor
- Fan involvement: There is significant uncertainty and varied reactions from the fan community regarding the leadership transition [7]
- Power dynamics: The selection of the next leader could significantly impact the future creative direction of Star Wars [8]
- Industry interests: Different stakeholders may prefer different candidates:
- Disney might prefer someone with proven management experience like Kevin Feige
- Star Wars fans might favor Dave Filoni due to his deep understanding of the franchise
- Industry veterans might support Jon Favreau given his successful track record