Kathleen Kennedy has no plans to retire from filmmaking, but she is exploring potential successors to take the reins at Lucasfilm. This news, along with other updates, emerged from a recent exclusive interview with the Lucasfilm president.

Earlier this week, rumors surfaced suggesting Kennedy might be retiring from Lucasfilm by the end of 2025. However, in an interview with Deadline, Kennedy clarified her position, stating, “I am not retiring. I will never retire from movies. I will die making movies.” She confirmed that discussions about succession have been ongoing with Disney’s Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, acknowledging that she won’t be at Lucasfilm forever.

Kennedy explained that the conversation about succession has been continuous over the past couple of years, as the role has expanded significantly since she took over. “George [Lucas] asked me 13 years ago to step in, and now I’m looking at who’s going to replace me,” she said. While she didn’t disclose specific names, she mentioned that there is a talented bench of internal candidates who can handle the business and creative aspects of the job.

Regarding the future of Star Wars, Kennedy shared some exciting updates. The next film on the horizon is The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to release in 2026, followed by Shawn Levy’s movie, which will be a standalone film taking place about five or six years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Kennedy is producing both projects.

Kennedy also provided updates on other Star Wars projects, including Simon Kinberg’s trilogy, which she described as “the next iteration, the new saga that moves us into the future.” While she didn’t mention the film featuring Daisy Ridley’s return, she confirmed that James Mangold’s and Taika Waititi’s projects are still in the script stage. “I keep waiting for Taika, and he’s working with another writer now,” Kennedy said. “He’s so busy, but I love him, and I think if we ever do get a script from Taika, it’s going to be fantastic.”

In summary, the recent reports about Kennedy’s retirement were partially accurate, but not entirely. It seems we may hear more about Shawn Levy’s film at Star Wars Celebration.

For more io9 news, check out the latest release dates for upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek projects, as well as updates on the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.