A force behind the Force is leaving Lucasfilm. In an e-mail blast on Wednesday, Stephen J. Sansweet said he planned to end his reign as director of content management and head of fan relations for Lucasfilm, the company behind the “Star Wars” franchise, next spring.
Mr. Sansweet, once the Los Angeles bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, became known to millions of “Star Wars” fans as a keeper of the flame — and of a massive personal collection of “Star Wars” paraphernalia that fills a 5,000-square-foot barn at his home in Petaluma, Calif. In his e-mail Mr. Sansweet pointed to a posting on Starwars.com that recaps his 15-year career with Lucasfilm but quotes him as saying, “It’s time for another change and new challenges.” Still, it assures the faithful that he will remain involved with the fans, whatever his next endeavor — and includes a photograph of him dressed as an Ewok.