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Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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It's just been confirmed that the Star Wars franchise is headed for one of its most pivotal transitions since Disney acquired Lucasfilm. 13 years later, the studio is reshuffling its leadership, having chosen the best possible person to take the reins of the galaxy far, far away from current Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.
It's recently been reported that Dave Filoni is officially stepping into the role as Lucasfilm’s full creative head, taking over from Kathleen Kennedy. Meanwhile, Lynwen Brennan has been tasked with overseeing the business side of the company. Here's why Dave Filoni was the top-tier pick to take over the Star Wars franchise creatively, and why the timing couldn't be better.
Why Dave Filoni Is The Best Choice To Lead Star Wars Going Forward
Filoni has spent nearly two decades proving his understanding and care for the Star Wars franchise (and its fans) at a foundational level, having been chosen by George Lucas himself to serve as showrunner for The Clone Wars back in 2008.
Since that time, we've seen several Filoni-led Star Wars projects like Rebels, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka, each of them carrying great honor and respect for Lucas' original vision while also balancing fascinating new concepts and ideas, expanding the greater mythology without losing the emotional core and feel that is Star Wars.
Balance is the keyword here. Filoni has always treated Star Wars like a living and flexible history, rewarding longtime fans while also making the galaxy accessible to newcomers as best as possible.
Filoni also comes with a solid amount of trust from the Star Wars fandom. He's more than proven himself at this point, and his vision for his future Star Wars projects has strong support and hype (like Ahsoka season 2).
For a fandom that is notoriously divided and hard to please, Filoni is the most stable choice who will undoubtedly receive the most positive reception compared to literally anyone else, especially after years of frustration with the previous leadership (deserved or otherwise). Filoni's established credibility and reputation are big wins across the board, so much so that his being chosen did feel pretty inevitable.
Why Now Is The Perfect Moment For Filoni To Take Over
2026 has just begun, though Star Wars seems to be in a strong position heading into the new year as well as in 2027, making it a good time to have a shift in Lucasfilm's leadership.
The Mandalorian & Grogu film has some momentum as the first Star Wars theatrical release since 2019. Ahsoka season 2 is also highly anticipated, as is the series Maul: Shadow Lord, a big first for Lucasfilm as a villain-led animated project.
We also have the Shawn Levy-directed Starfighter releasing next year starring Ryan Gosling, a chance for Star Wars to enter fresh territory with what appears to be a very exciting brand-new adventure.
Currently, Star Wars is very much benefiting from a more focused slate right now, giving the franchise a solid reset following a successful 2025 with the critically acclaimed Andor season 2. Essentially, it should mean that Filoni has a fair amount of room to guide the franchise cohesively into the future, both with already announced projects in development (and some new ones).
Overall, few people were better positioned with the experience to serve as the new steward of Star Wars and its creative future going forward, so it's very exciting to see Disney and Lucasfilm making the best possible choice.
Movie(s) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
Character(s) Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
English (US) ·