The career rise of 'Star Wars' boss Kathleen Kennedy, who was hand-picked by George Lucas to take over the mega-franchise

Travis ClarkJul 30, 2022, 17:54 IST

Kennedy.Gustavo Caballero/Getty

Kathleen Kennedy has produced some of the most beloved movies ever made, from "E.T." to "Jurassic Park."
She's now the head of Lucasfilm, the Disney-owned studio in charge of "Star Wars."

Kathleen Kennedy, 69, decided she wanted to enter the film industry after seeing Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in 1977, according to Vanity Fair.

Columbia Pictures

Kathleen Kennedy, 69, decided she wanted to enter the film industry after seeing Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in 1977, according to Vanity Fair.

Kennedy got her first movie production job as an assistant to producer John Milius on Spielberg's "1941."

Milius.Michael Kovac/Getty Images for myCinema

She impressed Spielberg so much that he hired her as his own assistant when he directed "Raiders of the Lost Ark." "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was a producer on the movie.

Spielberg, Kennedy, and Lucas at the 2022 Producers Guild Awards.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

She impressed Spielberg so much that he hired her as his own assistant when he directed "Raiders of the Lost Ark." "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was a producer on the movie.

Kennedy met Frank Marshall on the set of "Raiders," which he was producing. They later married in 1987, six years after the release of the movie.

Kennedy and Marshall.Getty Images

Kennedy, Marshall, and Spielberg founded Amblin Entertainment in 1981. It was behind some of the most beloved movies ever made, including "E.T.," "The Goonies," and "Back to the Future." Today, it's the film production banner of the larger Amblin Partners, which was formed in 2015.

Spielberg and Kennedy at the UK premiere of "War Horse."Tim Whitby/Getty Images

Kennedy, Marshall, and Spielberg founded Amblin Entertainment in 1981. It was behind some of the most beloved movies ever made, including "E.T.," "The Goonies," and "Back to the Future." Today, it's the film production banner of the larger Amblin Partners, which was formed in 2015.

In 1991, Kennedy and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall production company, which has been behind Spielberg films such as "War Horse" and "Lincoln," M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense," and David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Marshall and Kennedy at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019.Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

In 1991, Kennedy and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall production company, which has been behind Spielberg films such as "War Horse" and "Lincoln," M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense," and David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

As a producer, Kennedy has been nominated for eight best-picture Oscars for "E.T.," "The Color Purple," "The Sixth Sense," "Seabiscuit," "Munich," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "War Horse," and "Lincoln."

Kennedy at the Oscars nominees luncheon in 2011.Steve Granitz/WireImage

As a producer, Kennedy has been nominated for eight best-picture Oscars for "E.T.," "The Color Purple," "The Sixth Sense," "Seabiscuit," "Munich," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "War Horse," and "Lincoln."

While she has yet to win a competitive Oscar, Kennedy received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2018 along with Marshall, which is voted on by the Oscars' Board of Governors and honors "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production."

Kennedy accepting the award in 2018.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

While she has yet to win a competitive Oscar, Kennedy received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2018 along with Marshall, which is voted on by the Oscars' Board of Governors and honors "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production."

She's credited as a producer on five of the top 40 highest-grossing movies of all time at the worldwide box office (before adjusting for inflation), including four "Star Wars" movies and "Jurassic Park."

"Jurassic Park"Universal

She's credited as a producer on five of the top 40 highest-grossing movies of all time at the worldwide box office (before adjusting for inflation), including four "Star Wars" movies and "Jurassic Park."

In June 2012, Kennedy stepped down from Kennedy/Marshall to serve as co-chair of George Lucas' production company Lucasfilm alongside Lucas. He had handpicked her as his successor.

Kennedy and Lucas.Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney

In June 2012, Kennedy stepped down from Kennedy/Marshall to serve as co-chair of George Lucas' production company Lucasfilm alongside Lucas. He had handpicked her as his successor.

Later that year, in October 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion and Kennedy was named president.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and Kennedy at the premiere of "Rogue One" in 2016.Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Under Kennedy (and Disney), the "Star Wars" franchise has spawned five movies, four of which made over $1 billion in global ticket sales, and several TV shows for the Disney+ streaming service.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director JJ Abrams and Kennedy.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Under Kennedy (and Disney), the "Star Wars" franchise has spawned five movies, four of which made over $1 billion in global ticket sales, and several TV shows for the Disney+ streaming service.

Her tenure hasn't been without its hiccups, though. Behind-the-scenes production issues have reportedly plagued some of the "Star Wars" films.

Kennedy and "Solo" director Ron Howard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images

Kennedy told Rolling Stone in 2019 that "Star Wars" movies are a "hard nut to crack," when asked about Colin Trevorrow's exit.

Abrams and Kennedy.Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Another "Star Wars" theatrical release seems far away, as Disney has gone all in on TV shows for Disney+, like the upcoming "Rogue One" spinoff series, "Andor," which debuts in August.

Lucasfilm

Another "Star Wars" theatrical release seems far away, as Disney has gone all in on TV shows for Disney+, like the upcoming "Rogue One" spinoff series, "Andor," which debuts in August.

Kennedy told Vanity Fair in May that the biggest lesson she learned from "Solo's" lackluster box-office performance was to not recast beloved characters.

"Solo: A Star Wars Story."Disney

Up next for Lucasfilm are a fifth Indiana Jones movie slated for theaters for next year and more "Star Wars" series, including "Andor," "Ahsoka," and the third season of "The Mandalorian."

Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford, George Lucas, and Kennedy.Junko Kimura/Getty Images

Up next for Lucasfilm are a fifth Indiana Jones movie slated for theaters for next year and more "Star Wars" series, including "Andor," "Ahsoka," and the third season of "The Mandalorian."

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The career rise of 'Star Wars' boss Kathleen Kennedy, who was hand-picked by George Lucas to take over the mega-franchise

Kathleen Kennedy, 69, decided she wanted to enter the film industry after seeing Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in 1977, according to Vanity Fair.

Kennedy got her first movie production job as an assistant to producer John Milius on Spielberg's "1941."

She impressed Spielberg so much that he hired her as his own assistant when he directed "Raiders of the Lost Ark." "Star Wars" creator George Lucas was a producer on the movie.

Kennedy met Frank Marshall on the set of "Raiders," which he was producing. They later married in 1987, six years after the release of the movie.

Kennedy, Marshall, and Spielberg founded Amblin Entertainment in 1981. It was behind some of the most beloved movies ever made, including "E.T.," "The Goonies," and "Back to the Future." Today, it's the film production banner of the larger Amblin Partners, which was formed in 2015.

In 1991, Kennedy and Marshall founded The Kennedy/Marshall production company, which has been behind Spielberg films such as "War Horse" and "Lincoln," M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense," and David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

As a producer, Kennedy has been nominated for eight best-picture Oscars for "E.T.," "The Color Purple," "The Sixth Sense," "Seabiscuit," "Munich," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "War Horse," and "Lincoln."

She's credited as a producer on five of the top 40 highest-grossing movies of all time at the worldwide box office (before adjusting for inflation), including four "Star Wars" movies and "Jurassic Park."

In June 2012, Kennedy stepped down from Kennedy/Marshall to serve as co-chair of George Lucas' production company Lucasfilm alongside Lucas. He had handpicked her as his successor.

Later that year, in October 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion and Kennedy was named president.

Under Kennedy (and Disney), the "Star Wars" franchise has spawned five movies, four of which made over $1 billion in global ticket sales, and several TV shows for the Disney+ streaming service.

Her tenure hasn't been without its hiccups, though. Behind-the-scenes production issues have reportedly plagued some of the "Star Wars" films.

Kennedy told Rolling Stone in 2019 that "Star Wars" movies are a "hard nut to crack," when asked about Colin Trevorrow's exit.

Another "Star Wars" theatrical release seems far away, as Disney has gone all in on TV shows for Disney+, like the upcoming "Rogue One" spinoff series, "Andor," which debuts in August.

Kennedy told Vanity Fair in May that the biggest lesson she learned from "Solo's" lackluster box-office performance was to not recast beloved characters.

Up next for Lucasfilm are a fifth Indiana Jones movie slated for theaters for next year and more "Star Wars" series, including "Andor," "Ahsoka," and the third season of "The Mandalorian."