5 Years Ago, Star Wars Made Its Biggest Movie & TV Slate Announcement Mistake

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It’s been five years since Lucasfilm first promised three new Star Wars films, and unfortunately, those movies still haven’t moved forward. Lucasfilm has cancelled several planned Star Wars projects in recent years, even those that were being developed by well-known directors and writers.

In addition to the three Star Wars movies announced five years ago, Lucasfilm revealed three more at Star Wars Celebration 2023: a crossover within the world of The Mandalorian, a continuation of Rey’s Jedi Order, and a story exploring the origins of the Jedi. However, the next two films scheduled for release – The Mandalorian & Grogu and Starfighter – in May 2026 and 2027, aren’t connected to those previously announced projects.

At Disney’s Investor Day in 2020, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy unveiled a range of upcoming films and Disney+ series, including several set in the Star Wars universe. While shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Acolyte, Ahsoka, and Visions eventually premiered on Disney+, Kennedy also announced three new Star Wars movies that have yet to be released, even five years later.

As a huge fan of The Mandalorian, I was really excited when they announced Rangers of the New Republic as another spin-off, along with the Ahsoka series. Unfortunately, it seems those plans have been scrapped. It all happened after Gina Carano, who played Cara Dune, was let go by Lucasfilm because of some controversial things she posted on social media. It’s a shame, because I was really looking forward to seeing where that show would go.

So, about those new Star Wars movies they announced… honestly, there’s been basically zero movement on any of them. It’s a little frustrating as a fan, because we haven’t seen any real progress on any of the three projects since the initial announcement.

Rogue Squadron

Patty Jenkins, the director of Wonder Woman, was set to direct Rogue Squadron, the next Star Wars film after The Rise of Skywalker. The movie was planned to follow the events of The Rise of Skywalker and come out in December 2023, but Disney delayed it due to problems with its development.

After a period of inactivity, it looks like Rogue Squadron is being revived as a series for Disney+. While director Patty Jenkins was previously working on a script for the film last year, it’s currently unknown if she’s still involved now that the project has shifted to streaming.

Untitled Taika Waititi Movie

As a huge Star Wars fan, I was so excited to hear that Taika Waititi – the director of Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok, who also won an Oscar – is going to write and direct his own Star Wars movie! He later shared that he had a fantastic idea for it and really wanted to bring his unique style and sense of humor to the galaxy far, far away. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with!

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, Kathleen Kennedy jokingly said Taika Waititi is working on his own schedule, suggesting his Star Wars film is still being considered (according to ScreenRant). Waititi is currently very busy with other projects, which makes it uncertain if the film will ever be made.

A Droid Story

Lucasfilm was planning to combine animation and visual effects in a new project called A Droid Story. This Disney+ movie would have featured a new droid hero on a unique mission, with the help of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Over the past five years, Lucasfilm has provided updates on almost all of the projects announced at the 2020 Disney Investor Day. However, there’s been no news at all about A Droid Story, suggesting it was likely cancelled, possibly because Disney and Lucasfilm didn’t have the time or resources to pursue it.

BONUS.) Lando

When it was first announced, Lando was intended to be a limited-run series created by Justin Simien, the creator of Dear White People, but he is no longer involved. It was later revealed the show would focus on Donald Glover’s younger version of the character from Solo. However, the project has changed significantly over the past five years.

Originally planned as a Disney+ series, Lando is now being developed as a feature film written by its star and his brother, Stephen Glover, who also co-created the show Atlanta. Recent reports indicate the Star Wars project is moving forward again, with Glover aiming for a lighthearted and enjoyable movie, though its eventual completion isn’t guaranteed.

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2025-12-20 03:10