Every Star Wars Project at Risk of Cancellation After Lucasfilm Shakeup

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The Star Wars universe is entering a new era with Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, stepping down. Dave Filoni, the creative force behind popular series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahsoka, will now lead the franchise’s creative direction. Considering his nearly twenty years with Lucasfilm, this move is seen as a positive step for the iconic sci-fi saga.

Dave Filoni’s promotion is likely to lead to exciting new developments for Star Wars, but it could also mean some planned projects get canceled. While shows like The Mandalorian & Grogu and the Star Wars: Starfighter series are probably secure, other movies and shows in earlier stages of development might not align with Filoni’s long-term plans. As Lucasfilm shifts its focus, these projects could be put on hold or scrapped altogether.

Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film Is Pretty Much Dead Already

Taika Waititi, the director of films like Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, was announced in 2020 as the creator of a new Star Wars movie. This film would explore a fresh part of the Star Wars galaxy with a completely original story and cast. For a while, there wasn’t much news about the project, so it was unexpected when Kathleen Kennedy recently shared that it was still being developed. She mentioned that Waititi had completed a script that she described as funny and excellent.

Taika Waititi’s planned Star Wars movie is one of many projects that have been cancelled. While Kathleen Kennedy says some work continues, it’s doubtful the film will ever be made. As Dave Filoni develops the future of Star Wars, he probably wants a consistent vision for the franchise. This means Waititi’s script will likely be put on hold in favor of Filoni’s plans.

Simon Kinberg’s Episode X Already Feels Rushed

Even though Lucasfilm promoted Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as the end of the Skywalker family’s story, plans are already underway for a new Star Wars trilogy – Episodes X, XI, and XII. Simon Kinberg will lead the project, which Kathleen Kennedy has called “the next saga.” Currently, very few details are available about these upcoming films or how they connect to other Star Wars content.

This project was intended to launch a fresh direction for the franchise. However, considering when it was announced, it seems more aligned with Kathleen Kennedy’s plans than Dave Filoni’s. With so little news since the initial announcement, it’s possible the project will be quietly cancelled or significantly changed if Filoni takes the lead.

The Hunt for Ben Solo Is Still Dead

I was really surprised to hear last year that Adam Driver was almost in a sequel! Apparently, Steven Soderbergh was going to direct a story set after the sequel trilogy, and it would have shown Ben Solo somehow surviving his duel with Rey in The Rise of Skywalker. Lucasfilm was on board, but Disney shut it down. They just couldn’t figure out a way to logically bring Ben back from the dead, and I guess they didn’t want to risk confusing fans.

Lucasfilm still has ideas for a story about Ben Solo, but it’s unlikely the recent changes in leadership will bring that project to life. The decision to cancel the Ben Solo spin-off came from very high up within the company and isn’t expected to be reconsidered. As Star Wars moves forward, characters like Ben Solo probably won’t be as central to the stories as they were in the most recent trilogy of films.

Rogue Squadron’s Fate Remains Uncertain

As a huge movie fan, I was really excited when Patty Jenkins, the director of Wonder Woman, announced she was going to make a Star Wars film called Rogue Squadron back in 2020. The idea was to follow a new group of young fighter pilots as they worked their way up in the Navy. It sounded awesome – basically a Top Gun in space! I loved that it would have taken that classic feel and given it a fresh, sci-fi twist, which felt like something different for Star Wars.

After the initial announcement of Rogue Squadron four years ago, many Star Wars fans believed the project had been scrapped. However, in 2024, the writer revealed she was still developing the script and had renewed her contract with Lucasfilm. While Rogue Squadron hasn’t been officially cancelled, its completion seems doubtful, especially with the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter exploring similar ideas. It appears Rogue Squadron will likely fade away quietly, like many other planned Star Wars spin-offs.

Dawn of the Jedi Is Inexplicably on the Backburner

In 2023, director James Mangold, known for films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Logan, was chosen to helm a new Star Wars movie. This film will be set 25,000 years before the Skywalker Saga and will tell the story of how the Jedi Order began and first learned to use the Force. Mangold intends for the movie to be a large-scale epic, similar to the classic film The Ten Commandments.

Initially, Mangold’s film project appeared to be progressing smoothly, but Kathleen Kennedy recently announced it’s been paused. While the script is finished, Lucasfilm isn’t currently working on it. This decision could be because Mangold is busy with the upcoming Swamp Thing movie for DC, or because Dave Filoni has a different idea for where Star Wars should go next.

Rey’s New Jedi Order Keeps Getting Hit With Delays

In the fall of 2022, Lucasfilm announced several new Star Wars movies, including a continuation of the story after The Rise of Skywalker. This new film will follow Rey Skywalker, played by Daisy Ridley, years later as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing. While the movie is expected to center on Rey, some believe she may play a supporting role as a mentor to a new group of Jedi.

Lucasfilm says Rey’s planned spinoff movie is still happening, but ongoing delays are making fans doubt it will ever be finished. This, combined with differing visions for the future of Star Wars from Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, suggests characters from the sequel trilogy – like Rey – might not have as big a role as originally intended.

Dave Filoni’s Mandoverse Movie Is Surprisingly In Danver

For several years, Dave Filoni has been working on a currently unnamed movie that will bring together characters from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. The film will wrap up the storyline involving Grand Admiral Thrawn and the remaining forces of the Empire. It’s expected to be the concluding chapter for these shows before the Star Wars franchise explores new narratives.

It’s a bit ironic that Dave Filoni’s new job might actually prevent him from directing the planned Mandalorian movie. His increased duties could mean he won’t be as hands-on with the film as he once would have been, though other directors could take over. Updates on the movie have been scarce lately, which has worried some fans about whether it’s still being made. We’ll probably get more information after The Mandalorian & Grogu is released in May.

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2026-01-25 02:10