The next mainline Star Wars movie has a director in Jon Watts.
Per the Hollywood Reporter (building off initial reporting from Knight Edge Media), Watts will helm the first installment in what’s said to be a trilogy penned by Simon Kinberg. It’s expected that this set of films will take place post-Rise of Skywalker and continue the Skywalker Saga. THR further claimed Daisy Ridley’s Rey will feature in this new set of sequels in some capacity, though it’s currently unclear how.
At time of writing, this first film hasn’t been greenlit by Disney yet. But of the franchise’ many films that’ve been announced (or implied to be in development), this is reportedly the “furthest along.” Either way, the movie brings Watts and Kinberg back to the fold: the former co-created and directed the short-lived Skeleton Crew, while Kinberg wrote and co-created Star Wars Rebels.
Outside this franchise, both men are Marvel alums, with Kinberg having written or produced several X-Men films and Watts directing the Home trilogy of Spider-Man movies. (And almost directing the most recent Fantastic Four film.)
Disney’s been struggling with making Star Wars movies for years now, so jury’s out on whether Watts and Kinberg’s film will see the light of day. We’ll have more on the situation as it develops—until then, the franchise returns to theaters with Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28, 2027.
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