Disney’s Star Wars Strategy: How Streaming Revived a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Dave Filoni will lead Lucasfilm as President and Chief Creative Officer, alongside Lynwen Brennan as Co-President, following Kathleen Kennedy’s transition to a full-time producing role, the Walt Disney Studios announced on March 3, 2026.

The leadership shift, confirmed by both Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company, marks a significant change for the studio responsible for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Kennedy, who has led Lucasfilm for nearly 14 years, will focus on producing upcoming feature films, including The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter.

The move comes as Lucasfilm increasingly focuses on serialized storytelling, particularly through Disney Plus, and a deliberate move away from the Skywalker Saga, a franchise that began in 1977. Disney and Lucasfilm confirmed in August 2025 they would officially abandon the 48-year-old Skywalker Saga, signaling a new direction for the galaxy far, far away.

The Mandalorian and Grogu, a cinematic continuation of the popular Disney Plus series, is widely expected to serve as a closing chapter for the Mandalorian saga, though a potential crossover event led by Filoni remains a possibility. The film is slated for release in 2026. Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for May 28, 2027, will introduce a new character played by Ryan Gosling, set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Lucasfilm, founded by George Lucas in 1971, was acquired by The Walt Disney Studios in 2012 for $4.05 billion. The studio currently employs approximately 2,000 people and operates divisions including Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. Several films produced under Lucasfilm’s banner – including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – rank among the 50 highest-grossing films of all time.

The transition in leadership occurs as Lucasfilm explores new avenues for franchise engagement, including integration with Epic Games’ Fortnite. In early May, Fortnite will launch its most expansive Star Wars collaboration to date, featuring a Star Wars-themed Battle Royale season and an in-game Watch Party experience where players can view episodes of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld ahead of their Disney Plus debut. Players can also link their Epic Games and MyDisney accounts to unlock in-game benefits.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, created by Dave Filoni, focuses on the criminal underbelly of the galaxy through the characters of Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane.