Everything Kathleen Kennedy Mentioned — And the Projects She Didn’t: Full Star Wars Exit Rundown

Hook: You’re drowning in Star Wars noise — here’s the clean list

We get it. Between spin-offs, streaming drop schedules, and the endless churn of “new era” think pieces, keeping track of actual Star Wars projects is a full-time job. Kathleen Kennedy’s exit from Lucasfilm in early 2026 only turned the whisper-factory louder: which films and series are actually real, which ones are vaporware, and why was the much-touted Rey standalone absent from her final rundown?

The bottom line — what Kennedy said (and what she didn’t)

When Kathleen Kennedy announced she was stepping down after 14 years at Lucasfilm she framed a tidy takeaway: the slate that was publicly announced in 2023 and several TV projects are well along in development. In her statement and related interviews she reiterated confidence in that slate — and named or referenced a set of projects that Lucasfilm had previously put on the table.

“We’re pretty far along,” Kennedy said of the slate. “These are things, as you can imagine, certain projects are further down the pipeline than others.”

That sentence is a gift and a curse: it confirmed momentum without offering a play-by-play. Below is a comprehensive, verified catalog — a listicle of everything Kennedy either explicitly mentioned as she departed or that falls under the public slate she pointed to. For each entry we note format (film vs. series), schedule signals, development status as of January 2026, and why certain absences (most notably the Rey standalone) matter.

Full exit rundown — every project referenced or implied by Kennedy

We group projects by format for clarity. This is a fact-checked snapshot as of Jan 2026, combining Kennedy’s closing remarks, Lucasfilm’s past announcements (including Star Wars Celebration 2023), and public production signals through late 2025.

Films

1. Rey standalone (Daisy Ridley + Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)
   • Format: Feature film (standalone)
   • Status: Announced 2023; little public movement since. Not mentioned by Kennedy by name in her exit remarks.
   • Schedule signal: No release window announced. Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy confirmed in 2023; script/early prep rumored but unverified publicly.
   • Why it matters: The omission of the Rey project from Kennedy’s departing list is the headline — it suggests the film either isn’t making the short-term priority list or its timeline is more uncertain than Lucasfilm had signaled in 2023.
2. Taika Waititi–linked Star Wars feature
   • Format: Feature film
   • Status: Publicly attached creator; development ongoing as of prior Lucasfilm updates. Kennedy referenced the overall 2023 film slate that included filmmaker-driven projects.
   • Schedule signal: No concrete release date publicly set. Taika’s busy TV/film schedule (and Waititi’s style) suggests film will be a mid- to long-term play.
   • Why it matters: A Waititi film would signal Lucasfilm’s continued appetite for auteur-driven Star Wars entries that diverge tonally from Skywalker-era blockbusters.
3. Other unnamed films from the 2023 slate
   • Format: Feature films (titles and creators varied)
   • Status: Kennedy’s comment that the 2023 slate was “pretty far along” bundled multiple projects whose public details remain sparse.
   • Schedule signal: Lucasfilm has traditionally staggered releases; Disney’s calendar realities (and the Filoni-era priorities) make a clear theatrical schedule unlikely in 2026.
   • Why it matters: The vagueness is intentional — Lucasfilm retains flexibility while shifting creative leadership to Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan.

Series and streaming projects

1. The Mandalorian — ongoing seasons & spinoffs
   • Format: Live-action series (Disney+)
   • Status: Ongoing; Filoni-led creative leadership suggests continuity and more serialized storytelling.
   • Schedule signal: Seasonal renewals and streaming-first windows make release timing nimble (expect announcements tied to Disney’s quarterly plans).
   • Why it matters: Under Filoni, TV is the strategic backbone of Star Wars continuity. Expect more Mandalorian-adjacent content to pipeline through TV rather than theatrical tentpoles.
2. Ahsoka — further seasons and story arcs
   • Format: Live-action series (Disney+)
   • Status: Franchise mainstay after its successful initial run; Kennedy’s exit comments included TV continuity as a focal point.
   • Schedule signal: Story arcs will likely be mapped across multiple seasons with Filoni integrating character threads into the wider saga.
   • Why it matters: Ahsoka functions as a connective tissue for post-Skywalker canon — expect Filoni to double down here.
3. Andor Universe expansions
   • Format: Live-action series / limited series
   • Status: Andor’s critical success cemented Lucasfilm’s appetite for grounded, adult-oriented TV. Kennedy’s remarks referenced TV slate strength that includes projects in this tonal space.
   • Schedule signal: Additional limited-series projects and character spin-offs are realistic near-term bets.
   • Why it matters: If theatrical output slows, this kind of serialized drama will carry the franchise’s storytelling weight.
4. The Acolyte — season 2 and related projects
   • Format: Live-action series (Disney+)
   • Status: Positioned as a major new era title; Kennedy’s exit referenced several specific TV series doing heavy lifting for Lucasfilm.
   • Schedule signal: Rumored season renewals and creative planning under new leadership.
   • Why it matters: The Acolyte is emblematic of Lucasfilm’s pivot to genre-blending TV that expands the Jedi/mythos beyond familiar beats.
5. Skeleton Crew and other theatrical-to-streaming projects
   • Format: Live-action series
   • Status: Part of the broad TV slate Kennedy referenced. Skeleton Crew and single-season anthologies signal experimental content going to streaming first.
   • Schedule signal: Short-run releases and cross-promotion with theatrical projects.
   • Why it matters: Streaming-first series allow Lucasfilm to test new tones and talent with lower risk than an expensive theatrical bomb.

Format breakdown: film vs. series — Kennedy’s final architecture

Kennedy’s last messaging telegraphed a clear tilt: films remain important but TV and streaming are the engine. That mirrors broader 2026 entertainment trends. Here’s the format take:

• Films: Still marquee, but fewer guaranteed theatrical tentpoles; more short features and prestige mini-series in development with uncertain windows.
• Series: The default playground for world-building and character arcs; Dave Filoni’s promotion signals an emphasis on serialized storytelling and franchise coherence.
• Hybrid strategy: Short features and prestige mini-series bridging theatrical spectacles with long-form TV continuity.

Schedule read: what timeline Kennedy’s words imply

“Pretty far along” is an ambiguous production euphemism. Here’s a practical read for fans tracking release calendars in 2026:

• If Kennedy says a film is “pretty far along,” expect scripting and early prep to be complete — but not necessarily greenlit for a 12–24 month production cycle. Don’t expect a 2026 theatrical window for most of the 2023 film slate.
• TV shows that Kennedy named (or implied) are likeliest to appear in 2026–2027 due to streaming schedules and Filoni’s plan to consolidate continuity on Disney+.
• Official release windows will hinge on Disney corporate calendar goals — expect announcements aligned to investor days and D23-style showcases rather than surprise drops.

Notable absences: the Rey movie and other surprises

Fans have fixated on what Kennedy didn’t say. The most glaring omission was the Rey standalone — announced with Daisy Ridley and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in 2023 but not explicitly named in Kennedy’s exit discussion.

Why that’s significant:

• Public expectation vs. internal reality: A high-profile reveal in 2023 created fan expectations. Kennedy’s silence could mean the project is on a slower timetable, undergoing creative re-work, or being reassessed by Lucasfilm’s incoming leadership.
• Leadership change matters: Dave Filoni’s elevation shifts decision-making. Filoni’s canon-first sensibility may reprioritize which characters and timelines get screen time.
• Film vs. TV prioritization: Star Wars IP that can benefit from long-form storytelling (like Rey’s rebuilding of the Jedi) might be repackaged as multi-season arcs rather than a single feature — that’s a common 2026 strategy across franchises.

What Filoni & Brennan’s takeover signals for the slate

Two quick realities to hold in your head:

• Filoni = creative steward: Expect tighter canonical continuity and more serialized TV-first storytelling. Projects that mesh with Filoni’s story arcs will get priority.
• Brennan = operational muscle: Production logistics, release cadence, and cross-platform strategy will be optimized for Disney’s streaming-business needs.

Actionable advice — how to follow the real projects and avoid noise

Here’s a tight playbook for fans who want facts, not hype:

1. Follow primary sources: Subscribe to official Lucasfilm/Disney+ channels, and monitor D23 and Star Wars Celebration announcements. Trade outlets (Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter) still break official windows first.
2. Set release alerts: Use Google Alerts and follow Disney Investor Relations for calendar changes; major release windows often show up in investor roadmaps before fan channels catch it.
3. Watch leadership signals: Filoni’s interviews and podcast appearances are now canonical clue mines. If he references a character or arc, that’s a stronger signal than random talent attachments.
4. Prioritize streaming series: If you’re betting on canonical continuity, treat major Disney+ shows as the roadmap. They’re where new lore, characters, and spin-offs will first appear in 2026.
5. Be skeptical of “exclusive” scoop culture: Not all scoops are equal. Cross-check with at least two reputable sources before getting emotionally invested in a reported release date.

What to watch now (quick watchlist to prep for the next wave)

If you want to be discussion-ready when Lucasfilm drops news, prioritize these:

• Recent seasons of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka for connective tissue and tone.
• Andor and The Acolyte for how Lucasfilm handles adult, serialized storytelling.
• Any anthology or limited series that experiments with Star Wars genre forms — because those show where creators are testing new directions.

Predictions you can bank on in 2026

Short, data- and trend-backed predictions based on Kennedy’s exit signal and 2026 entertainment dynamics:

• More TV, fewer immediate blockbuster films: Streaming is cheaper to iterate and better for serial storytelling; expect most canon-building to be TV-first.
• Reassessment of legacy-character films: Projects centered on legacy characters (like Rey) will undergo creative review to fit Filoni’s unified arc or be repurposed for TV.
• Auteur features will remain, but on longer timelines: Talent-driven films will get made but won’t define the short-term release calendar.

Final take — what Kennedy’s exit actually means for fans

Kathleen Kennedy left Lucasfilm with a clear message: a slate exists and is in motion, but the next phase emphasizes serialized storytelling under a new creative steward. The absence of the Rey standalone from her final verbal checklist is noteworthy but not game-over — it simply means the project’s timeline and priority likely changed under new leadership and corporate strategy.

Call to action

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