
Lucasfilm has an ever-growing list of announced projects, but fans hold no hope when it comes to what will be released next. Now, a new casting update may signal what will come to the franchise following 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Following the polarizing reception of Disney’s sequel trilogy, Lucasfilm has shifted its focus away from the big screen, opting instead to expand the Star Wars universe via streaming. Since the launch of The Mandalorian in 2019, Disney+ has become the go-to hub for fresh Star Wars content. From The Book of Boba Fett to Ahsoka and the newest addition, Skeleton Crew, the New Republic era is thriving. Meanwhile, projects like Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the now-canceled The Acolyte from Leslye Headland, and Dave Filoni’s The Bad Batch are further enriching the galaxy far, far away.
Now, with three successful seasons under its belt, Jon Favreau is taking The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) to the silver screen. Slated for a May 22, 2026 release, this highly anticipated film could potentially replace The Mandalorian Season 4, though Lucasfilm remains tight-lipped on the matter. The movie is reported to include Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Bishop, while Emmy-winner Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) is tapped to play Rotta the Hutt, and Dave Filoni is expected to reprise his Clone Wars role as the bounty hunter Embo.
Initially, a second Star Wars film was set for December 2026, rumored to be Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey Skywalker project. However, Disney has since scrapped that date, swapping it out for Ice Age 6 under 20th Century Studios. At present, The Mandalorian and Grogu stands as the sole confirmed Star Wars movie with a locked-in release date, leaving fans wondering what’s next.
In the midst of this uncertainty, reports suggest more Star Wars films are still brewing behind the scenes. Insider Daniel Richtman recently claimed that Taika Waititi’s untitled Star Wars project has been shelved. The Thor: Ragnarok (2017) filmmaker appears to have distanced himself from the franchise, while Patty Jenkins’ on-again-off-again Rogue Squadron is reportedly back in development.

Meanwhile, another major director is gearing up for his own Star Wars adventure. Shawn Levy, best known for directing last year’s billion-dollar hit Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), is actively developing a Star Wars film alongside The Adam Project writer Jonathan Tropper. Levy was first attached to the galaxy far, far away in 2022, and numerous new reports suggest this may be what Lucasfilm will go with next.
Scooper @MyTimeToShineH claims Levy’s project is “moving fast” and has already attracted A-list talent. While no names have been officially confirmed, The Hollywood Reporter‘s recent report suggests that the rumor holds some truth. Three-time Oscar nominee and The Fall Guy star Ryan Gosling is said to be in negotiations to headline Levy’s Star Wars film.
“Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away,” THR reports. “The three-time Oscar nominee is in negotiations to topline the Star Wars feature project that will be directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.”
The report backs up earlier claims that production could start as soon as this fall. Daniel Richtman previously stated that “it may start shooting as early as this Fall in the UK.”
THR adds: “If a deal makes, the project would continue to fly like the Millennium Falcon, becoming not only Levy’s next movie but also the next Star Wars movie to go into production, with cameras potentially rolling this fall.”
While details about Levy’s Star Wars project remain scarce, THR hints that it will stand apart from the Skywalker Saga.
“It is, however, to be unconnected to the so-called Skywalker Saga, the stories centered on well-established and beloved characters Luke Skywalker and his father, Anakin,” they wrote. “It is meant to be a stand-alone movie, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Lucasfilm had no comment on any impending deal or the project’s details.”
At one point, rumors swirled that Daisy Ridley’s Rey might have been involved in Levy’s film, but with Gosling’s potential casting, that idea seems to have been shelved.
Back in late 2024, sources suggested that Ridley’s Rey—last seen embracing the name Rey Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019)—was Lucasfilm’s most valuable cinematic asset. However, with The Mandalorian and Grogu leading the charge and Levy’s project fast-tracked, Rey’s story appears to be taking a back seat–especially after the scrapping and removal of the December 2026 movie, which, as stated earlier, was seemingly a lock for the in-development “New Jedi Order” entry.
While Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-focused movie remains in development, it’s reportedly facing numerous hurdles. Meanwhile, Damon Lindelof was once attached to a project set 60 years after The Rise of Skywalker, featuring an older Rey, possibly played by Oscar winner Helen Mirren.
Beyond these projects, Lucasfilm continues to juggle ambitious plans. Obaid-Chinoy’s film is rumored to explore the rise of a new Jedi Order, while James Mangold’s upcoming “Dawn of the Jedi” will take audiences 25,000 years into the past. Meanwhile, Dave Filoni’s highly anticipated film will tackle the New Republic era, and will likely culminate the many threads of that chapter.
Adding more intrigue, Simon Kinberg is said to be working on a fresh Star Wars trilogy that might step away from the Skywalker legacy entirely. Some reports indicate this trilogy could become Episodes X-XII, which could be another hurdle for Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-centered narrative.
With so many projects in various stages of development, it’s clear that the Star Wars galaxy is expanding in unexpected ways. Whether these bold ventures will come to fruition remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the Force is still strong with Lucasfilm.
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