Disney has reportedly selected Jon Watts to direct the first installment of a new Star Wars trilogy that would extend the Skywalker Saga, according to reporting first surfaced by Daniel Richtman and later corroborated by The Hollywood Reporter. The project, which remains officially unannounced by Lucasfilm, would mark Watts's return to the sci-fi franchise after he served as a co-creator on the 2024 series Skeleton Crew.
Watts is best known for directing the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Tom Holland Spider-Man trilogy, beginning with Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017 and continuing through Far from Home in 2019 and No Way Home in 2021. He later handed future Holland Spider-Man films to Destin Daniel Cretton, and his most recent feature, Wolfs, premiered in 2024. His attachment to Star Wars would place him at the helm of one of the studio's most closely watched properties.
The new films are being written by Simon Kinberg, whose credits include Star Wars: Rebels and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Story details remain largely under wraps, though reports indicate that Daisy Ridley's sequel-trilogy Jedi, Rey Skywalker, will play a role in the narrative. Watts has so far been tapped only for the first movie of the planned trilogy.
It remains unclear when the next chapter will begin production or reach theaters. Sources cited by The Hollywood Reporter noted that Disney has not officially greenlit the project as foundational work continues. Even so, the site described the trilogy as further along in development than most other Star Wars projects, with only Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter — currently set for a May 28, 2027 release — ahead of it.
The Skywalker Saga concluded its nine-film arc with Episode 9 – The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, a film that drew disappointing critical reception. Disney subsequently slowed its theatrical Star Wars output, and this year's The Mandalorian and Grogu ended a seven-year gap without a new Star Wars movie. That project also faced mixed reviews and underwhelming box office returns, which Disney deemed a disappointment in theaters.
Television has offered a brighter spot for the franchise. Seasons 1 and 2 of the Rogue One prequel Andor earned critical acclaim, while shows including Maul – Shadow Lord and Skeleton Crew found dedicated audiences despite a mixed reception for 2024's The Acolyte. Additional projects remain in various stages of development, including Maul – Shadow Lord Season 2 and Ahsoka Season 2, both expected to premiere next year.
Lucasfilm head Dave Filoni has signaled a bright future for Star Wars films even as leadership shifts behind the scenes. Fans continue to campaign for Adam Driver to reprise his role as Kylo Ren in the canceled Hunt for Ben Solo film. For now, the Watts project represents the studio's most advanced attempt to bring the Skywalker Saga back to the big screen.