Kathleen Kennedy Champions Thoughtful Use of AI to Shape the Future of Filmmaking
Stepping away from her role as Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy isn’t exiting Hollywood just yet—instead, she’s plotting a bold return to filmmaking that harnesses artificial intelligence in what she calls responsible new ways.
Kathleen Kennedy has officially wrapped up her long run as Lucasfilm president, but if you thought she was going to quietly ride off into the sunset, think again. She's already talking about her next chapter—and yes, it involves movies, and yes, she's seriously looking at AI. But don’t panic (yet); she actually seems pretty aware of the red flags here.
Kennedy 2.0: Same Producer, New Toys
So here’s the deal: Even though Kennedy just left the top job at Lucasfilm—a post she’d held since 2012, during which she launched a little thing called the Disney Star Wars era—she’s not retiring. Far from it. She wants to get back to producing a more 'eclectic' mix of movies, something that goes beyond lightsabers and legacy IP.
What’s got her extra pumped? Exploring AI and other new tech in storytelling. In her own words:
"I'm also really interested in the new technology, I have to say. I am interested in exploring using those tools in responsible ways and working out the complications around trying to figure out what we're going to do in terms of protecting artists' rights. That is vitally important. But at the same time, there's nothing more exciting than having new tools that can expand on what you're capable of doing in terms of creating visual language around stories."
Translation: She's well aware that AI in Hollywood is a hot potato—especially after the year everyone in the business just had—but she wants to figure out a way to use it without trampling on anyone’s creative work. Not a terrible mindset, honestly.
She's Seen It All (And Still Wants More)
Kennedy isn't just some executive who heard about ChatGPT last week. She pointed out that her decades in the industry have given her a front-row seat to all sorts of technological shifts, and she sees AI as the next big upheaval. According to her, we’re about to hit another turning point, one where movie tech makes a major leap forward. If you’ve heard a variation of that before, yes, but she really seems to mean it.
A Quick Recap: Star Wars, New Management, and What’s Next
- Kennedy took charge at Lucasfilm back in 2012 and steered the ship through a string of very profitable Star Wars films and spin-offs.
- Now that she’s out, Dave Filoni is stepping up as President and Chief Creative Officer—a double whammy of titles if you ask me—and Lynwen Brennan is in as co-president.
- Kennedy’s future: Looking to jump into an 'eclectic group' of movie projects she hasn’t specified yet, but expect her to sprinkle in AI wherever she can (with a promise not to ruin anyone’s career in the process).
Bottom line: Kennedy is plotting her next moves with a sharp eye on everything AI can (and can’t) do for movies—and she says she wants to make sure artists are protected in the process. Whether you buy the optimism or brace for a Skynet-style mess, she’s at least bringing up the hard questions before barreling ahead. Stay tuned—she’s not done shaking up the movie world just yet.