Both Disney and Lucasfilm are preparing for leadership transitions in 2026, setting the stage for a shift in corporate and creative direction across two of the industry’s most valuable brands.
For Disney, the coming handover is about corporate stability after years of instability. For Lucasfilm, it is about creative credibility following a prolonged stretch of uncertainty.
It has been more than three years since Bob Iger returned as chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, a move that surprised Wall Street and company insiders alike.
Iger’s comeback followed the abrupt removal of Bob Chapek, whose tenure became synonymous with internal tension and public backlash. Reports later suggested the relationship between the two men had frayed long before the transition.
Some executives believed Iger’s return would stabilize the company and restore confidence. Others questioned whether a familiar face could solve new problems in a radically changed entertainment landscape.
Those problems have been persistent. Disney has faced declining domestic attendance at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, alongside volatility at Disney+.
The streaming platform experienced mass cancellations following the temporary suspension of TV host Jimmy Kimmel after pressure from a federal regulator, an episode that renewed debate about corporate caution and political scrutiny.
Lucasfilm, meanwhile, has struggled to find a consistent footing since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker closed the sequel trilogy – and the Skywalker Saga in general – in 2019.
A Franchise Searching for Direction
In the years since, Disney+ became the primary engine for new Star Wars storytelling. That expansion brought volume, but not consensus.
Several series landed to mixed responses, with The Acolyte emerging as one of the most divisive projects to date, something its showrunner partially attributed to “fascists and racists” within the Star Wars community.
Planned films have repeatedly stalled. In late 2025, fans reacted angrily when Disney scrapped a proposed return for Ben Solo, played by Adam Driver. Rian Johnson's standalone trilogy also disappeared, while updates on Taika Waititi's Star Wars project are thin on the ground.
At the same time, Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey — intended to anchor a standalone film about rebuilding the Jedi Order — has faced ongoing setbacks, leaving Lucasfilm’s theatrical future uncertain.
Much of the frustration has focused on Kathleen Kennedy, who has led the studio since Disney acquired it in 2012.
For some fans, Kennedy has become a symbol of everything they believe has gone wrong. A segment of the fandom has blamed her for the sequel trilogy and for what they describe as an increase in “woke” storytelling.
That criticism intensified after Kennedy spoke publicly about the challenges female fans face within a male-dominated fandom. Supporters viewed the remarks as overdue. Detractors saw them as further evidence of disconnect.
Regardless of perspective, change now appears imminent.
New Executives Unveiled for Disney and Lucasfilm
Disney has already confirmed that Iger will step down in late 2026. Attention has shifted to who will replace him.
Recent reporting suggests the frontrunner is Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences since 2020.
D’Amaro’s reputation is sharply divided. Some fans associate him with rising park prices, Lightning Lanes, and scaled-back entertainment offerings.
Others credit his earlier tenure as President of Disneyland, pointing to guest engagement and a more visible leadership style. His public presence has drawn frequent comparisons to Chapek, often in D’Amaro’s favor.
Lucasfilm’s transition appears to be moving just as deliberately. Puck News reports that Dave Filoni is expected to become co-president of the studio.
He would reportedly share leadership with Lynwen Brennan, who currently oversees Lucasfilm’s business operations.
According to Star Wars News Net, Filoni and Brennan were seen together at an event honoring Filoni’s work in late 2025, adding weight to the report.
The structure would mirror DC Studios, where James Gunn leads creative efforts alongside producer Peter Safran.
Filoni’s history with Star Wars runs deep. He joined the franchise as a supervising director on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, working closely with George Lucas.
His animation background helped shape long-form, character-driven storytelling, later carrying into live-action projects such as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka.
Fan reaction to the possibility of Filoni taking charge has been intense.
“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 said, “Thank goodness. This is something all ‘Star Wars' fans wanted since 2017 after the disaster film that was ‘The Last Jedi.'”
Some fans have long appreciated the fact that Filoni was mentored so closely by Lucas himself. 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.”
But some skeptics still feel like Filoni isn't up to the task.
“If accurate it is a [disaster] for Filoni to be creative head,” one X user argued. “His personal interest in the animated characters has hurt recent shows and displays his disconnect with the general audience.”
https://t.co/Ip09RlQ0qO pic.twitter.com/msu0C7IgFO
— 💖Carpe Noctem💖 (@whippedclouds) January 6, 2026
Others questioned whether leadership changes alone can fix the franchise's deeper issues.
“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 formally announce its leadership changes within weeks. Disney is also expected to name its next CEO early this year.
