Report: New Details Emerge About ‘Star Wars’ After Lucasfilm Suspends Movie Production
A galaxy full of cinematic plans doesn’t always mean a clear path forward. While Lucasfilm continues unveiling an array of new Star Wars projects, the broader roadmap remains murky. For every exciting reveal, fans are left piecing together how the next chapter fits into the ever-expanding–and constantly shifting–narrative web.
At Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy rolled out a high-profile trio of films led by directors James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Their projects joined previously discussed entries from Shawn Levy and Taika Waititi, while long-dormant title Rogue Squadron, once shelved, was said to be back on the table with Patty Jenkins.
Each of these upcoming films offers a distinct take. Mangold’s vision dives deep into the origins of the Force, heading further back in time than any previous entry. Filoni’s project, meanwhile, gears up for a sprawling crossover event uniting plotlines from The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, and Skeleton Crew.
But in early 2024, the direction took a sharp turn. Lucasfilm announced The Mandalorian and Grogu, to be directed by Jon Favreau and scheduled for a 2026 theatrical release. The movie, intended to transition Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen, effectively concludes The Mandalorian’s Disney+ run. Reports followed that Season 4 of the series had ceased active development.
That shift altered expectations across the release calendar. Obaid-Chinoy’s movie, set after The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and starring Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker, had been assumed to launch the next phase. Two titles–New Jedi Order and A New Beginning–have surfaced but remain unofficial.
Then, in November 2024, Lucasfilm made another big move: filmmaker Simon Kinberg was hired to write and produce an entirely new Star Wars trilogy. Known for directing X-Men: Dark Phoenix and producing The Martian, Kinberg’s trilogy is shaping up as a major addition.
“The new story is not meant to be a continuation of the Skywalker Saga, the name of the overall arc of the popular and pop culture-dominating Star Wars movies known as Episodes 1 through 9,” The Hollywood Reporter noted in its coverage of Kinberg’s hiring.
“The intent here is to have brand new characters and a new story, and not have it be a continuation, sources tell [THR]. (Although that does not mean that some characters could not or would not pop up.)”
That news immediately raised questions about how Kinberg’s trilogy might overlap or contradict Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-led film. While the projects are said to be separate, some insiders aren’t convinced the paths won’t collide. Kennedy later clarified that Kinberg’s trilogy is being developed to establish its own direction outside the Skywalker saga.
“But Rey, the scavenger-turned-Jedi played by Daisy Ridley in the last three episode movies, is key to the franchise’s next turn,” THR reported. “That potentially puts Kinberg’s trilogy story development, as early in its conceptual stages as it may be, on a collision course with the Rey standalone movie that is actively in the works with director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.”
A source told THR, “[Rey] is the most valuable cinematic asset, in some ways maybe the only one, Star Wars has right now.” George Nolfi (The Banker) was previously attached as screenwriter for the Rey film, but a recent update threw the timeline back into uncertainty.
“According to scooper Daniel Richtman, ‘The Rey movie is on hold once again, as both the Shawn Levy and James Mangold Star Wars films are moving forward first. The project is not canceled–just temporarily on hold,'” SFF Gazette reported.
Despite that reported suspension of production, new details suggest the New Jedi Order storyline will now serve as the main thread, replacing the Mando-Verse. Richtman again offered insight via Cosmic Marvel:
Lucasfilm’s plans for the ‘Star Wars: New Jedi Order’ era have reportedly been revealed:
• It will be similar to the Mandoverse.
• It will begin with Daisy Ridley’s upcoming film.
• It will gradually build toward a major event that brings together characters introduced in past films.
Meanwhile, Levy’s own film, officially revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, is expected to follow The Mandalorian and Grogu. Titled Star Wars: Starfighter and slated for 2027, it stars Ryan Gosling, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith, and takes place around five years post-The Rise of Skywalker.
Mangold’s Force origin story also appears to be gaining momentum. While Lucasfilm had once tapped Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for a similar trilogy that never materialized, those concepts seem to be re-emerging through Mangold’s film. He and others have recently confirmed the thematic connection in interviews.
While Lucasfilm maintains multiple tracks for development, fans remain in a wait-and-see mode. The shifting priorities and overlapping timelines have inspired speculation and even fan-made content. The YouTube channel Darth Trailer posted a concept teaser imagining Rey’s story as Star Wars: Episode X–The New Jedi Order.
As Lucasfilm juggles multiple directions at once, the coming years will prove critical in shaping what Star Wars looks like on the big screen.
What are your thoughts on where the franchise is heading? Share your take with us in the comments.
