The galaxy far, far away has seen its fair share of canceled projects, and the ambitious “First Jedi” trilogy is officially one of them. Yet, from the remnants of this shelved vision, a bold new story is emerging—one fans should be excited about.
Back in April 2023, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy took to the stage at Star Wars Celebration in London, outlining an ambitious roadmap for the franchise. After the polarizing response to Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Kennedy faced immense pressure to revive excitement among fans. She unveiled several new projects, each poised to redefine the future of the galaxy.
Among the casualties of Lucasfilm’s reshuffling prior to this were Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron (which might still be alive, per new rumors), Rian Johnson’s trilogy, and Kevin Feige’s proposed Star Wars film. However, Kennedy’s new announcements managed to reignite hope.
One of these projects, led by Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold, will delve into the “Dawn of the Jedi,” exploring the origins of the Force. Meanwhile, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s upcoming film will see Daisy Ridley reprise her role as Rey Skywalker, rebuilding the Jedi Order. And Dave Filoni, the creative force behind The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, will direct a feature film that ties together the New Republic era, likely culminating in a clash with Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen).
The Rey Skywalker project recently gained The Bourne Ultimatum writer George Nolfi as its latest scribe, replacing Damon Lindelof, Justin Britt-Gibson, and Steven Knight who all occupied the role previously. Meanwhile, Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” carries echoes of the abandoned “First Jedi” trilogy once envisioned by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Announced in 2018, the scrapped trilogy aimed to chronicle the Jedi’s origins. At the time, Kennedy praised Benioff and Weiss, calling them “some of the best storytellers working today,” and promised their vision would “break new ground” for the franchise. But their involvement quietly fizzled out.
Reflecting on the project during a Happy Sad Confused podcast interview, Weiss revealed, “I think we got relatively far story-wise with the first one. We had a basic roadmap for the other two. It was a shame. The truth is, our batting average on things conceived to things actually finished has never been tremendously high, and there will always be ones that get away for various reasons.”
When asked about any overlap with Mangold’s new film, Weiss was gracious: “I love Jim. He’s a great dude. All the best of luck to him.”
Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” is now moving forward at an impressive pace. According to a report from SFF Gazette, production is set to begin this December, with casting slated for the summer. The screenplay, co-written by Mangold and Andor’s Beau Willimon, is expected to be completed in the coming months.
“Today, we have a positive update courtesy of scooper @MyTimeToShineH,” SFF Gazette shared. “It’s said that the current plan is for the movie to begin shooting in December. The script, written by Mangold and Andor‘s Beau Willimon, will be completed by the summer, and it’s then casting will begin.”
Speaking with MovieWeb, Mangold provided a glimpse into his vision: “The Star Wars movie would be taking place 25,000 years before any known Star Wars movies take place. It’s an area and a playground that I’ve always [wanted to explore] and that I was inspired by as a teenager. I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it’s almost immovable, and you can’t please anybody.”
Mangold elaborated further during Star Wars Celebration Europe, telling Empire Magazine: “It takes place 25,000 years before Episode IV, and it’s about the discovery of the Force. I told Kathy [Kennedy] I wanted to make a kind of Bible movie, a kind of Ten Commandments of Star Wars—kind of a Cecil B. DeMille film about the arrival of the Force, and that’s what I’ve been pecking away at between press events.”
As Mangold’s project gains traction, Lucasfilm is also preparing for another major theatrical release. Early 2024 promised the debut of The Mandalorian and Grogu which arrives in theaters in May 2026. Helmed by Jon Favreau, it will continue the beloved duo’s adventures.
Meanwhile, Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film, rumored to star Ryan Gosling (Barbie), is reportedly moving toward production this fall. Although Lucasfilm scrapped its planned December 2026 release, progress on projects like “Dawn of the Jedi” and Levy’s film is laying the groundwork for Star Wars’ long-awaited return to the big screen.
What are your thoughts on Mangold’s vision for “Dawn of the Jedi”? Share your excitement (or concerns) in the comments below!