The potential involvement of Jon Watts in the Star Wars universe marks a significant development for Lucasfilm. Watts has a proven track record with major Disney franchises, having successfully steered Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: No Way Home for Marvel Studios. His experience with large-scale blockbusters and character-driven storytelling makes him a compelling choice for the next chapter of Star Wars.
This new film is reportedly the first in a planned trilogy written by Simon Kinberg, a veteran of the X-Men film series and creator of Star Wars Rebels. While no deal with Watts has been finalized and Disney has yet to officially greenlight production, the reports suggest that Lucasfilm is keen on his profile, especially given his prior foray into the galaxy far, far away as co-creator and director on the upcoming Disney+ series, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
The narrative direction for this proposed film points towards a continuation of Rey Skywalker's story, picking up after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Daisy Ridley is anticipated to return, potentially joined by new, lesser-known talent. The status of other sequel trilogy stars like John Boyega (Finn) and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) in this new project remains unconfirmed.
This development comes at a crucial time for Star Wars films. The recent theatrical release, The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, reportedly underperformed at the global box office, earning $346 million worldwide against a $165 million budget (excluding marketing). This figure places it as the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars film in the franchise's history when not adjusted for inflation, highlighting the pressure on Lucasfilm to deliver a compelling cinematic experience.
Prior to these reports, a different Rey-centric film, Star Wars: New Jedi Order, potentially directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, was understood to be the next theatrical venture. However, sources suggest that project may have been tabled in favor of Kinberg's trilogy. Lucasfilm's strategy appears to be evolving as it navigates the future of its flagship property.
Fans can look forward to another Star Wars film, Starfighter, set to hit French cinemas on May 26, 2027. Directed by Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Deadpool & Wolverine), this film is slated to star Ryan Gosling, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith, indicating a diverse slate of projects in various stages of development for the beloved franchise.