Major Disney Reset Underway as Bob Iger and Kathleen Kennedy Step Aside, Successors Revealed

The executive class at Hollywood’s most powerful empire is quietly preparing for a reset.

Leadership transitions rarely arrive with fireworks, yet the coming changes at Disney and Lucasfilm carry unusually high stakes. Both companies sit at inflection points, shaped by franchise fatigue, investor pressure, and restless audiences wondering what comes next.

Ongoing Issues Impacting Disney and Lucasfilm Leadership

It has been more than three years since Bob Iger made his unexpected return to the top job at The Walt Disney Company. His comeback followed the abrupt ouster of Bob Chapek, a tenure widely criticized both inside and outside the company.

Reports later suggested Iger’s relationship with Chapek had deteriorated long before the transition. Several executives reportedly believed Iger would course-correct what they saw as strategic missteps during Chapek’s brief leadership.

Whether that correction has taken hold remains contested. Disney has absorbed a series of blows, including declining domestic attendance at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, alongside turbulence at Disney+.

The streaming service faced a wave of cancellations after temporarily suspending TV host Jimmy Kimmel, a move reportedly tied to pressure from a federal regulator in the wake of Kimmel’s comments on the death of Charlie Kirk. The incident reignited concerns about corporate caution and creative risk aversion.

Lucasfilm’s challenges have been no less visible. More than five years after the release of the disaster that was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, the studio continues to wrestle with mixed audience sentiment and uneven critical reception.

Several Disney+ series landed with thuds rather than fanfare. The Acolyte, in particular, proved sharply divisive, fueling online debates about the franchise’s creative direction and igniting a wave of fury within the portion of the Star Wars fandom that pushes back against female-led stories.

The theatrical slate has fared little better. In late 2025, fans reacted angrily to news that Disney had axed a planned return for Ben Solo, portrayed by Adam Driver.

Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley’s proposed standalone Rey film — centered on rebuilding the Jedi Order — has reportedly faced repeated delays, casting doubt over Lucasfilm’s big-screen future.

For many fans, blame has landed squarely on Kathleen Kennedy.

Kennedy has led Lucasfilm since Disney acquired the company in 2012, making her one of the most enduring figures in modern franchise filmmaking.

Fairly or not, Kennedy has become a lightning rod. Some fans attribute what they describe as increasingly “woke” storytelling to her leadership, particularly following comments she made about female fans navigating a male-dominated fandom.

Who Will Take Over Disney?

Against that backdrop, leadership change is no longer speculative. Both Disney and Lucasfilm are expected to hand over executive control in 2026, marking a significant generational shift.

Iger has already confirmed he will step down as Disney CEO in late 2026. The more pressing question has become who inherits the throne.

Recent reports suggest the leading contender is Josh D’Amaro, currently Chairman of Disney Experiences. D’Amaro has held the role since 2020 and maintains high visibility within the parks division, hosting presentations at the likes of D23.

Within fan circles, D’Amaro inspires polarized reactions. Critics associate him with rising ticket prices, Lightning Lane systems, and scaled-back in-park entertainment offerings.

Supporters, however, recall his tenure as President of Disneyland, crediting him with hands-on leadership and strong guest engagement. His charisma — often cited as lacking during Chapek’s era — is widely viewed as an asset.

It was previously reported that D’Amaro’s closest competitor in the race for CEO was Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment. In December, Walden told Bloomberg’s The Circuit that she felt like she was “being pit against [her] colleagues” in the process, but noted that she has “enormous faith in where this company’s going.”

New Leadership Unveiled For Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm’s succession plan appears to be taking shape as well.

According to Puck News, Dave Filoni is expected to step into a co-president role.

Filoni would reportedly share leadership with Lynwen Brennan, President and General Manager of Lucasfilm Business, who would oversee operational and financial matters.

Star Wars News Net reported that Filoni and Brennan were spotted together at an event honoring Filoni’s work in late 2025, lending credibility to the rumor.

The structure would mirror DC Studios’ recent overhaul, where James Gunn oversees creative strategy alongside producer Peter Safran on the business side.

Filoni’s résumé is deeply intertwined with modern Star Wars. He entered the franchise as a supervising director on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, working closely with franchise creator George Lucas (who isn’t exactly enthusiastic about Disney’s take on Star Wars).

His animation background emphasized character-driven storytelling and long-form emotional arcs, reshaping perceptions of the prequel era. He later transitioned into live-action as an executive producer on The Mandalorian and creator of Ahsoka.

Fans Split Over News of Lucasfilm Leadership Shake-Up

Reaction to Filoni’s rumored promotion has been split.

“I pray Filoni will cook up something thats peak cinema without the restrictions of the lady who ALLOWED THE SEQUELS TO HAPPEN,” wrote one X, formerly known as Twitter, user.

Another added, “Thank goodness. This is something all ‘Star Wars’ fans wanted since 2017 after the disaster film that was ‘The Last Jedi.’”

“So the one man that actually should have been in charge all along will actually be in charge,” one user said.

There are also those who appreciate the fact that Filoni was essentially Lucas’s creative Padawan.

As Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) previously noted on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, “Dave was a student of George Lucas, and all of his understanding comes from time spent with George. And of course from being a fan before that, too. You really get a sense of that.”

Not everyone shares that optimism.

this is the worst possible outcome

this is the worst possible outcome https://t.co/BAKKhZpSLY pic.twitter.com/LyPQ3Oocfy

— Jahtri ☃️ (@Jahtri16) January 6, 2026

“If accurate it is a [disaster] for Filoni to be creative head,” another X user argued. “His personal interest in the animated characters has hurt recent shows and displays his disconnect with the general audience.”

Others see deeper structural issues that leadership alone cannot fix.

“Until they realise that the magic of ‘Star Wars’ lies in it being a once-in-a-generation cinematic event, and not an evergreen franchise, things aren’t going to improve,” one X user wrote. “We need fewer projects, of a higher quality.”

Lucasfilm is expected to make its official announcement within the next two weeks. Disney, meanwhile, is anticipated to formally name its next CEO early this year.