With Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron becoming the latest Star Wars movie to fall apart following "creative differences" with Lucasfilm, the franchise's future in theaters has been very much in doubt. After all, neither Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige nor Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi's respective films appear close to becoming a reality.
However, after recent rumours that Lost and Watchmen showrunner Damon Lindelof is tackling a big screen Star Wars project for the studio, that's now been confirmed by Deadline (via SFFGazette.com).
The trade confirms that Lindelof is developing the movie with Ms. Marvel's Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy now set to direct. The prolific scribe is co-writing the untitled project, though this report doesn't name that person.
While this all sounds rather exciting, it's best to temper expectations for the time being. While this Star Wars movie appears close to becoming a reality, insiders reveal that the script is still being written, likely meaning we're a long way off from seeing cameras start rolling.
It's said that, "sources add it was important to Lucasfilm and Lindelof that a director be brought on so that person’s own vision for where they see this story headed gets included in the script."
Since this news broke, some apparent plot details have surfaced, and it does sound like this one is moving along far quicker than those being worked on by Feige (who has tapped Loki writer Michael Waldron to pen the script) and Waititi. The latter is teaming up with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917) on his script.
As noted, Obaid-Chinoy directed a number of episodes of Ms. Marvel, but is also known for her Oscar-winning documentary shorts Saving Face and A Girl in the River, The Price of Forgiveness. She was also recently tapped to helm Paramount's Brilliance starring Will Smith.
Stay tuned to SFFGazette.com for updates on this one as we have them.