Jon Watts, who directed Tom Holland’s three Spider-Man films, is attached to direct the first movie in Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news over the weekend after Knight Edge Media first reported that Lucasfilm was circling Watts.
Per THR, the trilogy is meant to continue the Skywalker Saga. Episodes I through IX followed the family of Anakin, Luke, and Leia, so this first film would be Episode X. Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is expected to appear in some capacity, with no word yet on how large that role is.
Where the Project Stands
Disney has not greenlit the film. THR’s sources describe it as still in development, though further along than any Lucasfilm feature other than Starfighter. There is no release date and no official title, and Lucasfilm declined to comment.
Kinberg has been writing the trilogy since late 2024. He co-created Star Wars Rebels and wrote several X-Men films, including Days of Future Past, and he is also producing.
Watts Comes Back to the Galaxy
Watts co-created Skeleton Crew, the 2024 Disney+ series starring Jude Law, and directed its first and final episodes. The show was well reviewed but drew a small audience. Before Spider-Man, Watts made the low-budget Kevin Bacon thriller Cop Car.
Rey’s Place in the Trilogy
Knight Edge also reports that Lucasfilm is casting relatively unknown actors as the male and female leads, with Rey possibly starting in a smaller role that expands over the three films. THR has not confirmed that part.
Rey’s standalone movie has had a long, stalled road. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy was announced as director at Star Wars Celebration 2023, and the script has since passed from Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson to Steven Knight to George Nolfi. It has been reported on hold more than once, and some coverage this weekend says it is paused again so Episode X can move first.
The Star Wars Calendar
Starfighter, Shawn Levy’s movie starring Ryan Gosling, is still the only upcoming Star Wars film with a date. It opens May 28, 2027, the 50th anniversary weekend of the original film, and will play in IMAX 70mm. The original 1977 Star Wars returns to theaters on February 19, 2027.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Gizmodo, Rolling Stone, Scified, Dark Horizons, StarWars.com
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