Michelle Rejwan
Michelle Rejwan produced Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, sharing that credit with Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams. Born the 8th of March 1982, she arrived at that milestone by a route that few would design deliberately. Her background included time at multiple universities, years as a personal assistant, and a college degree she completed only in her mid-twenties. What shaped that path, and how she turned it into a career at the center of a major film franchise, is what this documentary examines. She graduated from Columbia University's School of General Studies in 2008, and her professional story accelerated from there.
She enrolled first at the University of California, Los Angeles, staying for just one year before transferring to the University of Southern California. At USC, she took a leave of absence, stepping away from formal study to find work in the film industry.
Her first position there was as personal assistant to Allison Jones. She later moved to a second assistant role, this time working for Jeff Garlin. Those years away from academia gave her close-range experience of how the industry functioned. She returned to school to complete her degree, and shortly after graduating, she landed a job as J.J. Abrams' assistant.
Super 8, released in 2011, was Rejwan's first film with a formal producing credit, listed as associate producer. In 2013, she produced Star Trek Into Darkness. By 2015, her role had grown to co-producer on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In 2015, she also joined the Lucasfilm brain trust, an internal group that guides the creative direction of the Star Wars franchise. That position would prove as consequential as any single film credit. It set the foundation for a formal executive title that would arrive four years later.
In 2019, Rejwan was named Senior Vice President of Live Action Development and Production at Lucasfilm. The appointment confirmed what her years inside Lucasfilm's creative leadership had already indicated. She was now among the executives determining which Star Wars stories enter production.
Obi-Wan Kenobi premiered on Disney+ in 2022, with Rejwan serving as executive producer. Willow, Andor, and Light & Magic all launched under her executive producer credit in the same period.
In October 2022, it was reported that Rejwan had stepped down from the Senior Vice President role. She did not leave Lucasfilm, remaining in a full-time producing capacity. Her executive producer credit on Andor extended through 2025, a production that outlasted the title she had relinquished.
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Common questions
Who is Michelle Rejwan?
Michelle Rejwan is an American film producer, born the 8th of March 1982. She produced Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker alongside Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, and served as Senior Vice President of Live Action Development and Production at Lucasfilm until stepping down from that role in October 2022.
What films has Michelle Rejwan produced?
Michelle Rejwan's producing credits include Super 8 (2011), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). She also served as executive producer on the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Willow, and Light & Magic.
Who produced Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker alongside Michelle Rejwan?
Michelle Rejwan produced Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker with Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams. The film was released in 2019.
What universities did Michelle Rejwan attend?
Michelle Rejwan attended the University of California, Los Angeles, then transferred to the University of Southern California before taking a leave of absence. She completed her degree at Columbia University's School of General Studies in 2008.
When did Michelle Rejwan join the Lucasfilm brain trust?
Michelle Rejwan became a member of the Lucasfilm brain trust in 2015, the same year she co-produced Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The brain trust is the internal creative group that guides the direction of the Star Wars franchise.
What Disney+ series did Michelle Rejwan executive produce?
Michelle Rejwan served as executive producer on Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Willow, and Light & Magic for Disney+. Obi-Wan Kenobi launched in 2022, Willow ran through 2023, and Andor continued through 2025.
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12 references cited across the entry
- 1Michelle Rejwan Joins the Lucasfilm Executive TeamJune 17, 2019
- 2Lucasfilm Hires 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Producer Michelle RejwanDave McNary — June 17, 2019
- 3How Michelle Rejwan Went from Assistant to 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Co-ProducerLaurie Sandell — November 18, 2015
- 4Lucasfilm Hires Star Wars Producer Michelle Rejwan '08GSCAA Arts Access — July 1, 2019
- 5Lucasfilm Taps Michelle Rejwan as Senior VP Live Action Development and ProductionAaron Couch — June 17, 2019
- 7'Obi-Wan Kenobi' to Debut in May on Disney+Aaron Couch — February 9, 2022
- 8'Willow' producers not worried about fantasy competitors 'House of the Dragon' & 'Rings of Power'Josh Weiss — July 8, 2022
- 9How 'Rogue One' prequel 'Andor' will span 5-year period across two Sarlacc-sized seasonsJosh Weiss — July 7, 2022
- 10Michelle Rejwan Steps Down As SVP At Lucasfilm, Returns To Producing With Overall Deal At Lucasfilm & Walt Disney StudiosNellie Andreeva — October 18, 2022
- 11Lucasfilm Exec Steps Down Amid Stagnant Star Wars Movie SlateSpencer Perry — October 19, 2022