Filoni Takes the Helm at Lucasfilm: What's Next for Star Wars Films?

The Star Wars franchise is entering a new era of leadership. Following Kathleen Kennedy’s recent departure from her role as Lucasfilm president, Dave Filoni has stepped in as co-president alongside Lynwen Brennan. This marks a significant shift in creative direction for the galaxy far, far away. Filoni, who brings years of experience from his work on Star Wars animation and live-action projects, is now positioned to reshape the studio’s film strategy after years of relative quiet in the theatrical space.

The Leadership Transition and Its Strategic Implications

With Filoni now overseeing creative and production decisions, Lucasfilm is signaling its intention to revitalize its theatrical film slate—a project portfolio that has sat largely dormant since the conclusion of the Skywalker saga in 2019. The shift from Kennedy’s leadership to Filoni’s creative vision represents a notable turning point for how the studio will approach Star Wars cinema moving forward. The new co-president has already indicated plans to accelerate development of several projects that have been in various stages of limbo, suggesting a more aggressive push back into the movie market after several years of focusing primarily on streaming content.

The Immediate Releases on the Horizon

Two projects are confirmed to move forward in the near term. First up is the long-awaited Mandalorian and Grogu film, scheduled to arrive in theaters this May. The project has generated relatively modest anticipation compared to some Star Wars releases, but it represents a concrete step in Filoni’s strategy to get new content in front audiences soon.

The second confirmed project is Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. Details remain sparse about this venture, but its greenlit status signals that the studio is proceeding with major star-driven content alongside more familiar Star Wars properties. These two films form the foundation of what Filoni hopes will be a revitalized theatrical strategy.

A Mixed Bag of Future Projects in Development

Beyond the immediate releases, the broader project slate presents a more complex picture. The portfolio includes several initiatives at different stages of readiness, each with its own potential and uncertainties.

James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi stands out as potentially the most intriguing prospect in development. By moving the narrative far from the Skywalker timeline that has dominated previous trilogies, the project promises genuinely fresh creative territory. However, it currently sits on the shelf with no clear timeline for production resumption.

Director Taika Waititi has submitted a script described as “hilarious and great,” though his recent filmmaking reputation has become more polarized among audiences following Thor: Love and Thunder. That said, overlooking his work might be premature—his recent success with television projects like Our Flag Means Death and Reservation Dogs demonstrates continued creative capability, even if his theatrical star has dimmed somewhat in the eyes of some viewers.

Simon Kinberg represents another intriguing but unpredictable element of the slate. He has pitched an ambitious trilogy proposal. While Kinberg’s work on Clone Wars episodes showed genuine promise, his solo directorial effort on X-Men: Dark Phoenix remains widely viewed as a low point in superhero filmmaking, introducing considerable uncertainty about his ability to lead a major Star Wars trilogy.

Donald Glover has completed a script for a Lando spin-off, building on the character from the Solo film that underwhelmed audiences at the box office. Glover’s talent is evident, but reviving this particular character franchise presents financial risk unless the project can be executed at a significantly reduced budget compared to recent Star Wars theatrical releases.

Notable Projects in Development Limbo and Lost Opportunities

Interestingly, Kennedy’s remarks suggest that the leaked Steven Soderbergh concept for The Hunt for Ben Solo, which once generated considerable fan excitement, has not been entirely abandoned—though it appears to have shifted far down the priority list. The project exists in a limbo state, neither officially dead nor actively progressing.

Most notably absent from active development discussions is any Rey-centric feature film, despite earlier indications that such a project would serve as the primary vehicle for continuing Star Wars storytelling beyond the trilogy era. This project has effectively disappeared from consideration, leaving a notable gap in the franchise’s planned theatrical future.

Evaluating Filoni’s Challenge Ahead

The portfolio Filoni now inherits is decidedly mixed. Some projects show genuine creative promise—particularly those steering the franchise toward unexplored narrative territory. Others remain questionable propositions or are stalled indefinitely pending further creative development or studio confidence. This presents the new leadership team with both opportunity and substantial risk.

Whether Filoni can successfully navigate this complex landscape of projects remains an open question. His extensive involvement in Star Wars development in prior years provides some insight into his capabilities, but the task of revitalizing theatrical Star Wars cinema while managing these varied initiatives represents a considerable undertaking. The coming months will reveal whether his leadership can translate the promise of new creative direction into commercially and critically successful films.