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Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things
She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general.
Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH.
Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content.
Kathleen Kennedy is ready to step down as Lucasfilm president after 12 years, and Disney's replacement plan is sparking hope for the future of the Star Wars franchise. To say that the relaunch of George Lucas' universe under the House of Mouse has been tumultuous would be an understatement. There are multiple highs during Kennedy's tenure, including critically-acclaimed projects like Andor and the expansion of its storytelling to the small screen.
Unfortunately, the last decade of Star Wars has also been mired by divisiveness and backlash, and sometimes, they tune out all the good things that are also happening. In hindsight, it's an indication of a well-invested and committed fan-base, which proves just how much the Star Wars franchise is beloved. That said, Disney is ending an era for the universe, as Kennedy is set to step down as Lucasfilm's president in the near future after serving for 12 years.
Disney Taps Dave Filoni & Lynwen Brennan To Replace Kathleen Kennedy As The Head Of Star Wars
In preparation for Kennedy's departure, Disney has reportedly tapped Dave Filoni to be Lucasfilm's full creative head. Filoni has gained widespread recognition within the Star Wars fandom in the last several years, being the primary creative force behind shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. That said, his entry to the franchise came way earlier than the Disney+ era, as he was personally hired by Lucas to oversee Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Because of this, he is usually seen as Lucas' protégé, at least in terms of maintaining the universe's lore.
Brilliantly, however, Disney is partnering Filoni with Lynwen Brennan, who has served as the president and general manager of Lucasfilm Business. Like Filoni, Brennan has a long history with Lucasfilm, originally joining Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) in 1999. After 10 years, she became its president, and in 2015, she was promoted to become Executive Vice President of Lucasfilm. While Filoni takes care of the creative side of operations, Brennan will focus on running the business aspect of it.
How Filoni & Brenna's Division Of Labor Sets Up Star Wars For Success
Tapping two people to replace Kennedy is arguably the most inspired decision from Disney in terms of Lucasfilm management affairs. More importantly, it sets up the most hopeful future for the Star Wars franchise, simply because it would allow Filoni and Brennan to focus on their specialties while working towards the same goal, which is to rejuvenate the franchise. The truth of the matter is that Star Wars (let alone the whole of Lucasfilm) in itself is just way too big of a property to be spearheaded by one person.
Even Kevin Feige, who has been leading Marvel Studios, has been stretched way too thin on the heels of the Infinity Saga. It's because, on top of movies, he also has to lead content creation for the MCU on Disney+. Regardless of what the output schedule will be like for Star Wars moving forward, Filoni being able to devote all his time to storytelling without being bogged down by the financial side of things and Brennan vice versa allows Lucasfilm a much-better handle of the Star Wars franchise.
In hindsight, perhaps Star Wars would have had a smoother run in the last 12 years under Disney if they adapted this two-person lead approach for Lucasfilm. That said, better late than never. At least now, Disney sets up the franchise for the biggest chance of success moving forward.
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