Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy recently offered fascinating insights into the future direction of the Star Wars saga. Speaking at last week's screening of the original 1977 print of Star Wars in London, Kennedy shed light on how the studio is approaching the franchise in the post-The Rise of Skywalker era.
Kennedy told the audience, "I really think that now we’re in a position where it’s broadened the possibility of stories and filmmakers we can bring in to tell stories that mean something to them – it doesn’t necessarily have to connect to every little thing that’s been done in Star Wars; it can actually be a standalone story that then builds into many, many other stories.”
Instead of trying to recreate the magic of the original trilogy, this suggests a strategic shift at Lucasfilm that's now focused on more standalone narratives that aren't strictly beholden to every past continuity detail, potentially opening the door for greater creative freedom and diverse storytelling.
In other news, Kennedy confirmed she'll remain in London for the commencement of filming on Star Wars: Starfighter, which is set to begin shooting in September.
She enthusiastically teased the upcoming project, stating, "It's gonna be pretty big." This update indicates a significant new cinematic venture is on the horizon for the beloved galaxy far, far away.
| In Active Development/Pre-Production |
Early Development |
| STAR WARS: The Mandalorian & Grogu- currently scheduled to be released on May 22, 2026; directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver |
James Mangold Dawn of the Jedi movie- said to explore the origins of the Force and the Jedi order, taking place 25,000 years before any known Star Wars events |
| STAR WARS: Starfighter - currently scheduled to be released on May 28, 2027; directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling |
Rian Johnson Star Wars trilogy |
| Rey-focused The Rise of Skywalker sequel - no release date, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and starring Daisy Ridley |
Taika Waititi's Star Wars film |
|
Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron film |
|
Donald Glover's Lando film |
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Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy |
As for the next Star Wars film set to hit theaters, a trailer for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu was released at the Star Wars Celebration event in Japan, although it has yet to be formally released online.