After audiences’ lukewarm response to Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Rise of Skywalker, Disney decided to take a hiatus from Star Wars films. In the meantime, the space opera brand has been absolutely thriving on Disney+ following the massive success of The Mandalorian as well as The Bad Batch. Lucasfilm has already announced ten different Star Wars shows that will be coming to the platform before long.
The feature film division has not enjoyed that same level of clarity. The departure of Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss from the franchise along with the radio silence from Rian Johnson has left many wondering what the future for Star Wars films will look like. Rest assured, Lucasfilm has many different Star Wars movies in various stages of development, and it’s just a matter of time before fans learn more about them. Here’s every Star Wars film that is currently in development.
Rogue Squadron
The first new Star Wars film released in theaters after Rise of Skywalker will be Rogue Squadron. The movie will be directed by Patty Jenkins, best known for the Wonder Woman films. Jenkins has a uniquely intimate relationship with the subject matter, as her father was an Air Force Captain that tragically died in service to his country. This inspired the director to want to make the greatest fighter pilot movie of all time, as she said in a teaser released last year. The official Star Wars website says the film will “introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy.”
Jenkins has said that though the film will take inspiration from the highly acclaimed Rogue Squadron video games and books, her story will be wholly original. Rogue Squadron is being written by Matthew Robinson, whose credits include Love and Monsters and The Invention of Lying. The movie is set to be released in theaters on December 22, 2023.
A Droid Story
A Droid Story is a new animated feature coming exclusively to Disney+. The film is a partnership between Lucasfilm Animation and longtime collaborators Industrial Light & Magic. This new adventure will introduce a new hero guided by Star Wars‘ original droid duo: R2-D2 and C-3PO. The iconic droids will be taking this mysterious new character on a special mission known only to them. The entire Skywalker Saga was seen through their metal eyes, so it’s only fitting that these two get to usher in a new era of Star Wars.
Taika Waititi’s Film
The acclaimed director of such films as Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi, is taking his first step into the larger world of Star Wars. While details of the project remain scarce, it was reported that the visionary director is writing the film with Krysty Wilson-Cairns, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind 1917, and the forthcoming Edgar Wright film, Last Night in Soho. Recently, Waititi indicated that the movie is still a long way off, but expressed excitement in the story he’s cooked up.
Waititi previously dipped his toes into the galaxy far, far away with The Mandalorian, voicing IG-11 and directing the Season 1 finale. The virtuoso writer-director-actor is known for his quirky sense of humor and a keen eye for unexpected emotional sincerity. It will be fascinating to see what strange things he pulls off while playing in the Star Wars universe.
Kevin Feige’s Film
After 13 years of building out the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is branching out of the comic book world for the very first time. The producer extraordinaire is currently developing an untitled Star Wars film with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. Feige, who is reportedly a die-hard Star Wars fan, hired Michael Waldron, the head writer of Loki and the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, to pen the script. Very little has been revealed about this movie, as Feige is still focused on MCU Phase Four. However, he apparently has a “major actor” in mind for the film’s starring role. It’s also worth noting that Feige is not taking over the franchise, rather he’s partnering with Kennedy to produce one movie. After a spotless track record with Marvel, this is one to keep an eye on.
Untitled Rian Johnson Trilogy
Right before the release of The Last Jedi, it was announced that Rian Johnson would be directing a brand new trilogy, separate from the Skywalker Saga and taking place in a new era. After the controversial fan reaction to The Last Jedi, Johnson’s trilogy seemed far less concrete, following long stretches of time without any updates. However, Johnson insists his films are still in the works, but he has since moved on to other projects, namely Knives Out. The director signed a $465 million deal with Netflix to create two sequels for the whodunit mystery franchise, so Johnson will be preoccupied for the foreseeable future. No release date has been set for Johnson’s trilogy.
J.D. Dillard and Matt Owens’ Film
In February 2020, Variety reported that Lucasfilm was developing a Star Wars movie with Sleight director J.D. Dillard and Luke Cage writer Matt Owens. However, Lucasfilm has never officially confirmed this news. Deadline reported that the film would take place on Exegol, the hidden Sith planet where Palpatine staged his resurrection in The Rise of Skywalker. If Lucasfilm decides to go forward with the project, Dillard and Owens will be the first black creative team behind a Star Wars movie.
Two Anthology Films
Also on the docket are two untitled anthology movies with release dates for 2025 and 2027. It’s possible that one or both of these dates could belong to some of the previously mentioned films from this list, but it’s impossible to say without more information. Along with Rogue Squadron, these films will form an anthology trilogy, releasing every other December for the next half-decade.
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