Another ‘Star Wars’ Pitch From a Major Director Was Turned Down by Lucasfilm

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Fans are still surprised Disney turned down a proposed Star Wars story from Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh, but it turns out another well-known director also faced rejection. Star Wars is currently in a strange position; the upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, hasn’t generated as much excitement among fans as Disney had hoped. While a new Star Wars movie used to be a massive event, it now struggles to gain attention. It’s not that talented filmmakers aren’t interested – Academy Award nominee David Fincher even had his own story idea for a film set in the Star Wars universe.

According to entertainment reporter Jeff Sneider in his newsletter, director David Fincher (known for films like Seven, Fight Club, and Zodiac) discussed the possibility of directing a Star Wars movie after Episode IX. Sneider says he knows the idea Fincher pitched, but is keeping the details – including which character it would have focused on – secret, just in case the project ever moves forward.

According to Sneider, David Fincher remained a fan of Star Wars even after Episode IX and had a compelling vision for a continuation of the story. However, despite being willing to compromise on the budget, Fincher insisted on having final cut – complete creative control – over the project. Lucasfilm wasn’t willing to grant him that, which ultimately ended the discussions.

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It’s important to remember that this information is unconfirmed, as neither Lucasfilm nor David Fincher has officially addressed it. Fincher has a strong connection to the world of Star Wars, having started his career at ILM working on films like Return of the Jedi and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. He was even considered to direct a film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and later offered Episode IX, but he turned both down, stating he wasn’t interested in working on large franchises. However, things appeared to shift between 2017 and 2019.

Understanding why Lucasfilm didn’t choose Steven Soderbergh or David Fincher requires looking at the timing and the situation at the time. David Fincher reportedly reached out around 2019 or 2020, shortly after The Rise of Skywalker came out and potentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. By then, his most recent movie released in theaters was 2014’s Gone Girl, and his next film, Mank, premiered only on Netflix. Lucasfilm was increasingly focused on Star Wars content for Disney+, their streaming service. While they considered directors like Patty Jenkins, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson for films, they appeared hesitant to give a director with Fincher’s level of control—someone who’s likely stayed with Netflix because they offer creative freedom and generous funding—the reins.

By 2021, Lucasfilm appeared ready to make more Star Wars films for theaters. They initially gave the green light to a project from Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh, but Disney later cancelled it. While Lucasfilm may not have wanted to give David Fincher complete artistic freedom, they were open to him directing. Even though Fincher’s experience with Alien 3 made him hesitant about large-scale blockbusters, he remained interested in Star Wars. With the future of the franchise still unfolding, could Fincher be persuaded to direct a Star Wars film again?

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2025-10-24 17:47