We recently learned that Lucasfilm's next Star Wars movie, Rogue Squadron, had been delayed due to director Patty Jenkins having some undisclosed scheduling issues. There was no word on what they might be, leading to speculation that the filmmaker might have parted ways with the studio over possible "creative differences."
Of course, it was shaping up to be an extremely busy few years for Jenkins between Rogue Squadron, Wonder Woman 3, and her Cleopatra movie that's set to feature Gal Gadot in the title role. With that in mind, those so-called scheduling issues were easy enough to buy into!
Either way, something had to give, and Deadline is now reporting that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland is replacing Jenkins as the director of Paramount Pictures' Cleopatra. She will now serve as a producer, and the trade notes that the Wonder Woman 1984 helmer is using this opportunity to focus on both the sequel to that 2020 release and Rogue Squadron.
In other words, she remains attached to that adventure in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, and this news could free her up to begin working on the movie sooner than we expected.
As for Skogland, it's said that "the scope of [The Falcon and The Winter Soldier], which played like a Marvel tentpole, appealed to execs for what they are aiming for with this film." Chances are this takes her out of the running for Captain America 4, though it will depend on how quickly all of these projects begin production as we head into 2022.
What are your thoughts on this change in direction for Cleopatra?