Once upon a time, Disney and Lucasfilm had plans to release a new Star Wars movie in theaters each and every year. Then, with the double whammy of the box office disappointment of Solo and the justly critically-mauled The Rise of Skywalker, plans were drastically scaled back as the attention was refocused on Disney Plus.
That’s resulted in hits like The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor, though the franchise’s true home has always been on the big screen, and it’s coming up to four years since the last theatrical release. Disney is clearly getting antsy, though hopes were high late last year about a fast-tracked new project set after The Rise of Skywalker from Lost creator Damon Lindelof.
Now, like so many other announced and then quietly canceled Star Wars movies, this one seems to be in trouble. Lindelof and writer Justin Britt-Gibson turned in a script in mid-February, and we’re guessing Lucasfilm hated it as they reportedly departed the franchise mere days later.
Variety reports that a replacement has been found in Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, who’s been tapped to quickly bash out a draft in advance of a possible reveal at next month’s Star Wars Celebration in London.
Ms. Marvel director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct, with the shoot scheduled to begin in February 2024, and a release date in December 2025.
Fans will be all too aware that many previous Star Wars movies under Disney have suffered from behind-the-scenes chaos, so let’s just hope whatever this project turns out to be is more The Force Awakens than The Rise of Skywalker. Fingers crossed Knight delivers a script that gets a thumbs up from Kathleen Kennedy, or more drama is on the way.