Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Sequels Are About To Be Forgotten as New Franchise Update Reported
As Lucasfilm pushes deeper into Disney+ territory with shows set across the Star Wars timeline, its big-screen ambitions remain more uncertain. Only one theatrical release is officially locked in, while several others continue to shift in and out of focus.
Jon Favreau is currently set to bring The Mandalorian and Grogu to theaters on May 22, 2026—the first live-action Star Wars film to hit the big screen since 2019. The feature-length outing, starring the fan-favorite duo, has sparked speculation that it could serve as a replacement for the previously anticipated Season 4 of The Mandalorian.
However, Lucasfilm has yet to confirm if the fourth season is still in the cards. In typical Lucasfilm fashion, plans are in development, but nothing is locked.
While that project has a date, much of Lucasfilm’s theatrical slate is still in flux. A second movie once slated for December 2026—long thought to be Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-centric installment—has been quietly removed from the schedule. In its place: Ice Age 6 from 20th Century Studios.
Meanwhile, another Star Wars feature appears to be rapidly gaining momentum. Shawn Levy, director of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), is actively developing a movie set in the galaxy far, far away with screenwriter Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project). “There’s a Star Wars movie that I’m developing,” Levy told IndieWire. “You never know what’s going to become undeniable and get made next.”
Though Lucasfilm has declined to comment, The Hollywood Reporter shared a few key insights about the project. “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,” the outlet wrote. “It is meant to be a stand-alone movie, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.”
Casting rumors have only added fuel to the speculation. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Gosling is in talks to star in Levy’s project. “Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away. 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.”
As for production timelines, entertainment insider Daniel Richtman (via Comic Book Movie) claims it could begin filming as early as this fall in the UK. The Hollywood Reporter echoed that report, writing: “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.”
In a recent Deadline interview, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy offered some clarity on how Levy’s film fits into the broader picture, particularly in relation to Favreau’s upcoming New Republic-era story.
“…Shawn’s is a standalone Star Wars story that’ll take place post-nine, maybe five or six years out. And *Mandalorian* really stands on its own because there, we’re dealing with a whole other era in the New Republic,” Kennedy explained.
“We have other development going on in that space as well. So that’s the space that we’re pretty much focused on right at the moment because, obviously, with Mandalorian, we have a pretty good sense of where that’s going. And with this, it’s all pretty much new characters. We may bring some of the characters back from the sequel saga, but pretty much new characters.”
And those new characters may include some A-list faces. Daniel Richtman also reported (via Comic Book Movie) that Civil War (2024) star Jesse Plemons “has the offer” to play the main villain in Levy’s film—potentially setting the stage for a dramatic clash with Gosling’s lead.
Despite the growing attention around Levy’s standalone, it’s far from the only movie in the pipeline. James Mangold is developing “Dawn of the Jedi,” a film set 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga. Dave Filoni is also at work on a New Republic-centric feature, believed to be drawing inspiration from the beloved “Heir to the Empire” storyline.
Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron—once shelved—has also re-entered the conversation, while Taika Waititi’s mysterious Star Wars film has reportedly stalled. Kennedy has said the door remains open for Waititi, though his schedule remains the primary hurdle.
At one point, insiders believed that Daisy Ridley’s Rey would appear in Levy’s movie, as Lucasfilm viewed her as the franchise’s most valuable cinematic asset following Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019). But Gosling’s rumored casting may signal a creative shift.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-centric movie is still in some stage of development. Rumors suggest it would follow Rey as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. That project, however, has hit multiple development snags. Damon Lindelof was previously attached to a version set 60 years after The Rise of Skywalker, possibly with Helen Mirren as an older Rey.
Also swirling in development purgatory: a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg, which some believe could eventually evolve into Episodes X through XII—posing a potential challenge to the relevance of Obaid-Chinoy’s project.
While Disney+ continues to serve as the epicenter for Star Wars storytelling—with series like Andor, The Acolyte, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and The Book of Boba Fett all expanding the universe—it’s the theatrical side that remains the great unknown. Still, with The Mandalorian and Grogu officially dated and Levy’s film reportedly moving fast, Lucasfilm might be closing in on its next chapter on the big screen.
What’s your take on the future of Star Wars in theaters? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
