Lucasfilm Reverses Movie Decisions, Sets New ‘Star Wars’ Direction in 2026

Few franchises have announced as many films and delivered as few as Star Wars has since 2019. In the years following Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Lucasfilm has unveiled a steady stream of theatrical projects, only for many to stall, shift, or fade from the conversation entirely. Now, a trilogy from writer Simon Kinberg appears to be emerging as the studio’s most serious attempt to answer the question that has lingered since the Skywalker Saga ended: what comes next?

A Slate Defined by Delays

The clearest illustration of the problem dates back to Star Wars Celebration in 2023. There, Lucasfilm presented three films as the future of the franchise: James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-led film commonly referred to as New Jedi Order, and a Dave Filoni feature designed to unite the stories of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series.

More than three years later, none of those films has reached the screen. Obaid-Chinoy’s project in particular now looks unlikely to happen, with recent signs suggesting it may never be made, although Lucasfilm has not formally canceled it.

In their place, Lucasfilm has moved ahead with projects revealed after that event. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) returned the franchise to theaters, and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled to arrive on May 27, 2027, timed to the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars, which opened in the United States on May 25, 1977.

A Studio Under New Management

These decisions will now fall to a new leadership team. Kathleen Kennedy, who guided Lucasfilm through the entirety of Disney’s Star Wars era, has stepped down as president. Dave Filoni continues in a significant creative role, while Lynwen Brennan oversees business operations. Together, they take charge of a franchise with no shortage of ideas but a long record of difficulty turning announcements into finished films.

Enter Kinberg and Watts

Against that backdrop, Kinberg’s trilogy has steadily moved forward. He has been working on the story since late 2024, and the process has not been simple. An earlier iteration reportedly went through Lucasfilm’s review process before being judged not ready. Kinberg kept developing it, eventually producing a treatment of approximately 70 pages, with a full screenplay draft expected to follow.

The project gained significant momentum with news, first reported by Knight Edge Media and later detailed by The Hollywood Reporter, that Jon Watts is attached to direct the first film. According to THR, “the next phase of a potential new Skywalker Saga is coming into focus” as Lucasfilm continues post-production on Starfighter.

Early reports indicated that Kinberg’s films would move the franchise past the Skywalker family with new characters. THR‘s account suggests otherwise, stating, “The project is intended to act as the next chapter in what is referred to as the Skywalker Saga, the stories featuring the multi-generations of the Luke Skywalker family.” That would make the opening entry Episode X, and the outlet adds that Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker “would appear in some capacity in the new trilogy.” If so, the trilogy could effectively absorb the story Rey’s solo film was once meant to tell.

Caution is still warranted. Sources told THR the project “is still in development and has not yet been greenlit by parent company Disney,” though it seems to be “the furthest along the development track after Starfighter.” Lucasfilm declined to comment.

Why Watts Fits

THR calls Watts “a reliable choice for the franchise.” His three Spider-Man films, Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home, demonstrated, in the outlet’s words, that “Watts proved he could navigate the complexities of massive big-budget productions.”

He also knows this galaxy. Watts co-created and co-wrote Skeleton Crew, described by THR as “the well-regarded but unfortunately not greatly seen series that starred Jude Law and brought an Amblin vibe to the Star Wars universe,” and directed two of its episodes.

Kinberg, meanwhile, has kept a low profile. His most recent public signal was a photograph from Skywalker Ranch overlooking Lake Ewok, which revealed nothing about the story, cast, or schedule but confirmed his ongoing presence at the studio.

What Comes Next

No release date or casting has been announced, and Disney has yet to give its approval. Still, after years of projects that never progressed beyond an announcement, a trilogy with an established writer, a proven director, and a clear place in the saga represents meaningful progress. For Lucasfilm’s new leadership, the challenge is no longer only returning Star Wars to theaters but deciding what the franchise’s next era will look like.

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