The Most Anticipated Upcoming ‘Star Wars’ Movies Finally Get Detailed Update from Kathleen Kennedy

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It’s been seven years since a new movie was released in theaters, but that will change this summer with The Mandalorian & Grogu. However, several other potential Star Wars films have been announced and then quietly dropped as writers and directors struggled to create stories now that the Skywalker Saga is finished. As Kathleen Kennedy steps down as Lucasfilm president, she’s shared an update on the status of some of the most eagerly awaited future Star Wars projects and whether fans will be able to see them soon.

Currently, only two Star Wars movies have confirmed release dates: The Mandalorian & Grogu directed by Jon Favreau, and Starfighter from Shawn Levy, planned for 2027. However, several other potential projects are still under development. In a recent interview with Deadline, Kathleen Kennedy, who is leaving her position, gave updates on films being considered from directors James Mangold and Taika Waititi, as well as the much-anticipated Lando project with Donald Glover.

This is a tricky situation. The original script by Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon was really strong and innovative, but its development is currently paused. Taika Waititi has also submitted a script that I thought was very funny and well-done. Since I’m stepping down, the final decision isn’t up to me alone. Donald Glover wrote a script as well, and as you may know, Steve Soderbergh and Adam Driver collaborated with Scott Burns on another one – it was excellent. Ultimately, anything could happen if someone is willing to take a chance.

What I’ve been describing is a bit risky because these filmmakers aren’t interested in making typical movies. I’m enthusiastic about their vision, but the studio is hesitant, and that’s where things stand right now.

Simon Kinberg’s ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy is Still Moving Forward


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Although Rian Johnson’s planned trilogy seems to be off the table, a new series of films written and produced by Simon Kinberg is still in development. Kathleen Kennedy has indicated we should hear more about these projects in the coming months.

He’s currently working on the project. He previously wrote something we reviewed in August, and while it showed promise, it wasn’t quite right. We’ve since significantly revised the story and he recently completed a detailed, roughly 70-page treatment about four weeks ago. We anticipate receiving a draft from him in March.

Going on to address the overarching view of the Star Wars franchise’s future, Kennedy summed it up.

We’ve discussed the new trilogy and your ideas. Projects from Mangold and Soderbergh are currently on hold. The ideas from Taika and Donald are still being considered, but it’s up to the new team to decide if they’ll move forward. Dave and Lynwen are fully supporting Simon’s work on a new trilogy, which would likely take us well past 2030. That’s what we’re focusing on next.

This summer’s The Mandalorian & Grogu movie will be a key test for the future of Star Wars, much like Avengers: Doomsday will be for Marvel Studios later this year. While The Rise of Skywalker did well in 2019, the movie landscape has changed – big films don’t always guarantee huge success anymore. With this new movie heavily depending on continued interest in The Mandalorian after the somewhat controversial third season on Disney+, Dave Filoni faces a challenging time as he takes creative control of this massive franchise.

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2026-01-16 17:06