Disney has reportedly picked Jon Watts to helm the first movie in a new Star Wars trilogy written by Simon Kinberg, marking the next chapter in the Skywalker Saga according to reporting from The Hollywood Reporter. The news arrives as Lucasfilm attempts to rebuild its theatrical slate after a seven-year drought that only ended with this year's The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film that earned a 5/10 from IGN and was deemed a box office disappointment by Disney. For fans who have watched the franchise struggle to recapture the magic of George Lucas' original vision on the big screen, this hiring signals a serious commitment to course-correcting the movie side of the galaxy far, far away.
The project remains early in development — Disney has not officially greenlit the trilogy, and no release window has been announced. But The Hollywood Reporter's sources indicate it is further along than most other Star Wars film projects currently in the pipeline. The only confirmed project ahead of it is Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter, which carries a May 28, 2027 release date. This positioning suggests Lucasfilm sees genuine momentum behind Kinberg's treatment, even as the studio navigates leadership transitions and mixed reception to recent television efforts like The Acolyte.
Here's a thinking process:
Hollywood Reporter echoed Daniel Richtman's earlier claim that Jon Watts has been chosen to direct the opening film of the new Star Wars trilogy under Kinberg. Watts returns to the saga after co‑creating 2024’s Skeleton Crew, a series that carved out a dedicated fanbase even as other recent Disney+ Star Wars shows drew a mixed response. Lucasfilm
Story details remain largely under wraps, though sources indicate Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker will play a role in the new trilogy. This confirms Kinberg has settled on continuing the Skywalker Saga rather than launching a completely separate narrative, resolving conflicting reports from 2024 that suggested the new films might break entirely from the established lineage. Watts has only been attached to direct the first installment so far, leaving the door open for different directors on subsequent chapters — a common approach for modern trilogies.
Here's a thinking process:
If accurate, Watts' hiring suggests Lucasfilm wants a director who understands how to blend character-driven storytelling with large-scale franchise mechanics — exactly what the Spider-Man trilogy accomplished across Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home. The Skywalker Saga concluded in 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker, which IGN rated 7/10 and many critics felt capped the nine-film arc with a whimper rather than a bang. A new trilogy continuing that lineage needs a filmmaker who can honor legacy characters while introducing fresh perspectives, and Watts' work on Skeleton Crew demonstrated he can navigate Star Wars' specific tone.
The involvement of Rey Skywalker also carries weight. Ridley's character was the emotional anchor of the sequel trilogy, and her return would provide direct narrative continuity while allowing the story to explore the consequences of her choice to adopt the Skywalker name. Kinberg's background writing for Star Wars: Rebels gives him experience with the franchise's animated lore, while his live-action credits like Mr. and Mrs. Smith show he can handle character dynamics at blockbuster scale. The 70-page treatment Kathleen Kennedy referenced suggests the story architecture is substantially developed, even without a formal greenlight.
Here's a thinking process:
In 2024, the industry buzzed as reports surfaced that Kevin Kinberg was writing a fresh Star Wars trilogy. At first, there was uncertainty: some outlets suggested it would keep the Skywalker saga alive, while others hinted at a brand‑new concept. James Kennedy’s January interview with Deadline laid out the full picture. He said Kinberg had drafted a script back in August that the team considered solid but incomplete. “We basically flipped the story and then spent a lot of tightening the treatment,” Kennedy recounted. The final draft, he added, is a hefty 70‑page document finished roughly four
Watts' own history with the franchise is recent but relevant. Skeleton Crew, which he co-created, premiered in 2024 and found an audience despite the franchise's broader television struggles. His departure from the Spider-Man franchise after No Way Home — handing duties to Destin Daniel Cretton — freed him for this opportunity. Meanwhile, the franchise's theatrical track record remains spotty: The Rise of Skywalker disappointed critics, The Mandalorian and Grogu underperformed at the box office, and fans continue campaigning for Adam Driver's return as Kylo Ren in the canceled Hunt for Ben Solo project. Against that backdrop, this trilogy represents a pivotal attempt to prove Star Wars movies still matter.
The project's unofficial status means everything remains fluid — no release date, no confirmed cast beyond Rey's rumored involvement, and no guarantee the trilogy proceeds as planned. But its position ahead of most other film projects in development, second only to Starfighter, indicates genuine institutional momentum. Watch for updates around major industry events or investor calls, where Lucasfilm typically signals which projects are moving toward production. For now, the Skywalker Saga's next chapter has a writer with a detailed treatment and a director with franchise blockbuster experience — more foundation than most Star Wars films have had in recent years.
