Lucasfilm

Overview

Lucasfilm is a film and television production company headquartered at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio of San Francisco. The company produces the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and owns Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, two of the most prominent visual effects and audio post-production companies in the industry. The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.05 billion.

As of January 2026, Lucasfilm is led by Dave Filoni as President and Chief Creative Officer, with Lynwen Brennan serving as Co-President. Filoni replaced Kathleen Kennedy, who stepped down after 14 years as president. Kennedy continues as a producer on Lucasfilm's next two theatrical films: The Mandalorian and Grogu (released May 22, 2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (directed by Shawn Levy, scheduled for May 28, 2027).

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, premiered on May 14, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and was released theatrically on May 22, 2026. The film grossed $344.8 million worldwide against a $165 million budget, making it the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars film. It received mixed reviews, with critics praising Ludwig Goransson's score while noting issues with the plot and action sequences. The film was shot entirely in California, benefiting from $21.75 million in state tax credits, and generated over $166 million in qualified expenditures and below-the-line wages in the state. The digital release is set for July 21, 2026, with 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on August 25, 2026.

History

George Lucas founded Lucasfilm in 1971 in San Rafael, California. The company's first major success was Star Wars (1977), which grossed $775 million worldwide on an $11 million budget and transformed the economics of the film industry. Lucas retained independent ownership of Lucasfilm for four decades, using the revenue from the Star Wars franchise to fund the company's expansion into visual effects (ILM, founded 1975), sound design (Skywalker Sound, founded 1975), and digital cinema technology.

Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in October 2012 for $4.05 billion in cash and stock. Kennedy, who had been co-chair with Lucas, became sole president. Under her leadership, Lucasfilm produced four Star Wars films that grossed nearly $6 billion combined: The Force Awakens (2015, $2.07 billion), The Last Jedi (2017, $1.33 billion), Rise of Skywalker (2019, $1.07 billion), and Rogue One (2016, $1.06 billion). The company also launched Star Wars live-action series on Disney+, beginning with The Mandalorian (2019), which anchored the streaming service's launch and ran for three seasons.

Other productions under Kennedy include Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018, $393 million), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023, $384 million), and animated series including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, and Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. Live-action series include The Book of Boba Fett (2021), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Andor (2022, Emmy-winning), Ahsoka (2023, Season 2 forthcoming), and Skeleton Crew (2024 to 2025).

Kennedy's departure was announced on January 15, 2026, after approximately two years of transition planning. Filoni, who had been EVP and Chief Creative Officer, was elevated to President and CCO. Brennan, who joined ILM in 1999 and became its president in 2009 before becoming Lucasfilm's President and GM in 2024, was named Co-President. They report to Alan Bergman, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman.

Notable Divisions

Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)

Founded by George Lucas in 1975 for the original Star Wars, ILM is one of the most decorated visual effects companies in film history. ILM operates five studios worldwide: San Francisco (headquarters), Vancouver, London, Sydney, and Mumbai. The company has contributed to over 350 films and received multiple Academy Awards for Visual Effects.

Recent ILM work includes The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), where ILM executive creative director John Knoll served as production VFX supervisor. The film utilized ILM's StageCraft LED volume technology, which projects photorealistic environments on LED walls surrounding the set, allowing real-time in-camera compositing. For The Mandalorian and Grogu, ILM developed a custom Apple Vision Pro app to simulate IMAX projection during filming, enabling the production team to evaluate shots as they would appear on a 100-foot screen.

ILM's technique range on The Mandalorian and Grogu included rubber-mask and animatronic creatures, stop-motion animation (produced by Tippett Studio), motion-control miniatures, LED volume work, photogrammetry, fully synthetic CG characters, and Gaussian Splatting. The miniature Razor Crest starship was shot in an LED volume for the first time, solving the challenge of photographing bare metal reflections that conventional stage lighting cannot produce accurately.

ILM also contributed to 2026 BAFTA Film Award nominees: the company received two nominations in the Special Visual Effects category and contributed to other nominees including Avatar: Fire and Ash and F1.

Skywalker Sound

Skywalker Sound, based at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California, is Lucasfilm's audio post-production division. The company provides sound design, mixing, ADR, and foley services for film, television, and interactive media. Skywalker Sound has worked on over 1,000 films and won multiple Academy Awards for Sound.

Recent Skywalker Sound work includes four of the five 2026 BAFTA Best Sound nominees: Sinners, Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, and F1. The company also created the audio for Star Wars: Beyond Victory, a mixed reality playset, including an in-story "Podracer Talk Radio" broadcast with custom commentary, interviews, and commercials voiced by Skywalker Sound's loop group of Star Wars voice actors.

ILM Immersive (formerly ILMxLAB)

ILM's immersive entertainment division develops virtual reality, mixed reality, and interactive experiences tied to Lucasfilm properties. Recent projects include Star Wars: Beyond Victory (mixed reality playset) and Tales from the Galaxy's Edge (VR). The division collaborates with Skywalker Sound on audio for interactive projects.

Lucasfilm Animation

Produces animated Star Wars series including The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Visions, and Young Jedi Adventures. The animation division is led by Filoni, who created The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels before transitioning to live-action production.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Production Services

ILM and Skywalker Sound are available for hire on non-Lucasfilm productions. ILM provides visual effects services across its five global studios, with Vancouver and London handling significant portions of major tentpole VFX work. Skywalker Sound provides sound design and mixing services at Skywalker Ranch. Both divisions are accessed through production company relationships and post-production supervisors. Contact information is available at ilm.com and skywalkersound.com.

StageCraft Technology

ILM's StageCraft LED volume technology is available for productions through ILM's virtual production services. The system uses LED panels to project photorealistic environments, allowing real-time in-camera compositing. StageCraft installations exist at ILM studios in multiple locations. Productions using StageCraft work with ILM's virtual production team to design and implement the digital environments before and during filming.

Employment

Lucasfilm, ILM, and Skywalker Sound recruit through their respective websites. ILM hires VFX artists, compositors, animators, technical directors, and software engineers across its five studios. Skywalker Sound hires sound designers, editors, mixers, and foley artists. Lucasfilm's production division hires producers, writers, and creative executives, though these positions are typically filled through industry relationships and agency representation.

Project Development

Lucasfilm develops projects internally, working exclusively with established writers, directors, and producers. The company does not accept unsolicited submissions or outside pitches. All Star Wars and Indiana Jones projects are developed in-house. Writers and directors interested in working on Lucasfilm properties would need to be approached by the company or connected through representation at major agencies.

Upcoming Productions

• Star Wars: Starfighter: Directed by Shawn Levy, scheduled for theatrical release May 28, 2027. Ryan Gosling is attached to star.
• Ahsoka Season 2: Filoni is showrunner, with production underway.
• Star Wars 50th Anniversary Exhibition: Star Wars: The Experience opens February 13, 2027, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The 18,000-square-foot exhibition spans interactive galleries with over 70 screen-used artifacts from Lucasfilm, including Darth Maul's lightsaber, Darth Vader's costume, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Grogu.

California Tax Incentives

The Mandalorian and Grogu was the first Star Wars theatrical film produced entirely in California. The production received $21.75 million in tax credits from the California Film Commission, one of the largest allocations in the program's history. The film generated over $166 million in qualified expenditures and below-the-line wages in California. Productions filming at Lucasfilm's California facilities or elsewhere in the state can apply for California tax credits through the California Film Commission.

House Style & Genre Focus

Lucasfilm produces science fiction and fantasy content centered on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. The studio's house style blends mythic storytelling with groundbreaking visual effects, combining practical effects with cutting-edge CGI through its Industrial Light and Magic division. The Star Wars universe spans theatrical films, Disney+ live-action series (The Mandalorian, Andor, Ahsoka), animated series (The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Visions), and immersive experiences.

ILM's StageCraft LED volume technology, developed for The Mandalorian, has become a defining production tool for the studio. The system projects photorealistic environments on LED walls surrounding the set, allowing real-time in-camera compositing. For The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), ILM developed a custom Apple Vision Pro app to simulate IMAX projection during filming. The studio's technique range includes rubber-mask and animatronic creatures, stop-motion animation, motion-control miniatures, LED volume work, photogrammetry, and Gaussian Splatting.

As of January 2026, Lucasfilm is led by Dave Filoni as President and Chief Creative Officer, with Lynwen Brennan as Co-President. Filoni replaced Kathleen Kennedy, who stepped down after 14 years as president. The studio develops all projects internally and does not accept unsolicited submissions. Writers and directors interested in working on Lucasfilm properties would need to be approached by the company or connected through representation at major agencies.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding visual effects budgeting and planning, see Budget Breakdown for Independent Films. For technical context on sound design and post-production audio, see ADR and Foley Explained. For distribution strategy considerations for franchise films, see Distribution Deals Explained.