Lucasfilm Shake-Up? Kathleen Kennedy Exit Rumors Could Finally Greenlight the Star Wars Film Disney Rejected

So, the Kathleen Kennedy conversation is back. Again. The longtime Lucasfilm boss says she isn’t leaving anytime soon, but behind the scenes, people are whispering about what happens next. And weirdly enough, that future could involve a rejected Kylo Ren movie that actually made it all the way to a finished script.

Where things stand

• The trade chatter: A well-connected industry newsletter says Kennedy could step down by the end of 2025, with Disney quietly prepping for a leadership transition.
• Her side: In a recent interview, Kennedy shot down the idea that she’s about to exit and said she’s still making movies.
• Reality check: Even with her denial, insiders say long-term succession planning is in motion. Lucasfilm and Disney are reportedly vetting the next wave of creative leadership for Star Wars. Dave Filoni’s name comes up a lot in those conversations.

Why fans are tense about this

Because the direction of Star Wars is on the line. There’s the blockbuster-first approach that Disney loves, and then there’s the riskier, character-driven stuff that fans keep asking for. Under Kennedy, the track record is bumpy: the Sequel trilogy sparked endless debate over story choices, Solo was a mess behind the scenes, and The Book of Boba Fett had delays and landed with mixed reactions. On the other hand, Andor earned raves for its writing and world-building. So yeah, there’s a real tug-of-war over tone and strategy here.

The wild card: a Kylo Ren movie that Disney actually rejected

Here’s the part that made my eyebrows hit the ceiling. Adam Driver teamed up with Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns to pitch a movie called 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' — a post-Rise of Skywalker story focused on Ben after Kylo’s death. Lucasfilm brass, including Kennedy, were reportedly into it. Disney said no.

According to Soderbergh, this wasn’t just a pitch; it was a finished script that went up for a greenlight. And then it got bounced. He told The Wrap:

Also, in the aftermath of the 'HFBS' situation, I asked Kathy Kennedy if LFL had ever turned in a finished movie script for greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. She said no, this was a first.

Disney’s reasoning, per the folks involved: bringing back a character who died on screen was a bridge too far. That’s the kind of deep-in-the-weeds development story you almost never hear about — a complete Star Wars script, supported internally, stopped at the studio level.

If leadership changes, does Ben Solo get another shot?

That’s the big question. If Kennedy eventually steps aside and a new regime takes over, something like The Hunt for Ben Solo could get a fresh look. Not guaranteed, but it’s exactly the type of shelved project that a new leader might use to make a statement about where Star Wars is headed. Especially if that leader wants more creative latitude and character-first storytelling.

So what now?

Kennedy says she’s not going anywhere right now. Disney is quietly mapping out what happens if she does. And somewhere in a drawer sits a full Kylo Ren script that made it further than almost anything that never got made. If the next chapter of Lucasfilm changes the temperature in the room, don’t be shocked if old ideas suddenly become new again.

Would you want to see Ben Solo come back in a post-TROS story? Or is that door better left closed?