Jon Watts is attached to direct the first film in a new Star Wars trilogy being written by Simon Kinberg, putting the filmmaker in line to return to the franchise after his work on the 2024 series Skeleton Crew.
The project is envisioned as the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga and would begin with Episode X, following the nine previous installments. However, the movie remains in development and has not yet received a green light from Lucasfilm parent company Disney. Lucasfilm had no comment.
Kinberg has been developing the still-mysterious trilogy since late 2024. The planned films would continue the multigenerational story of Luke Skywalker’s family, while Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is expected to appear in some capacity. Ridley played the Jedi in the trilogy released between 2015 and 2019.
Although several key pieces are now taking shape, the new trilogy is not as far along as Lucasfilm’s next theatrical entry. The studio is deep in post-production on Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling.
Starfighter is expected to arrive in theaters on May 27, 2027, a date coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars. The Kinberg-written project appears to be the film furthest along in development after Levy’s movie.
Watts returns to Star Wars
Watts previously co-created and co-wrote Skeleton Crew, which starred Jude Law. He also directed two episodes of the series.
The show assembled a notable group of directors alongside Watts, including David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and the Daniels. The prospective Episode X would mark Watts’ move from a Star Wars streaming series to one of the franchise’s central theatrical storylines.
Before Skeleton Crew, Watts directed the indie thriller Cop Car and was then selected by Marvel to oversee the relaunch of the Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland. He directed all three films in that run: 2017’s Homecoming, 2019’s Far From Home and 2021’s No Way Home.
Those productions grew in scale and box-office performance with each installment, giving Watts experience handling increasingly large, big-budget movies. That track record places him in familiar franchise territory as Lucasfilm shapes its possible continuation of the Skywalker Saga.
Watts’ work after the Spider-Man trilogy included Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The Apple project had its theatrical release upended, while an announced sequel ultimately was not going to be made.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus remains Star Wars: Starfighter and its expected May 27, 2027, theatrical release. Beyond that movie, Watts’ attachment gives the Kinberg trilogy a director for its opening installment, but Disney approval remains a crucial outstanding step.
If the project moves forward as intended, it would extend the Skywalker Saga beyond Episode IX, with Rey returning in an as-yet-unspecified role. For now, the scope of her involvement, the trilogy’s story and its production timetable remain unconfirmed.