The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have enlisted director/writer J.D. Dillard (
Sleight,
Sweetheart,
Devotion) and writer Matt Owens (
Luke Cage;
The Defenders;
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to develop a new film set in the greater
Star Wars universe.
While plot details are murky at best, Deadline is reporting that the film may take place on the hidden Sith plant of Exegol, which was introduced last year in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and revealed to be the secret hiding place of the resurrected Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). -
Deadline's claim has since been debunked by THR's Borys Kit, who wrote the original story.
It's uncertain, however, at this point in time whether their potential film will receive a traditional theatrical release or if it's being prepped for a debut on the Disney+ streaming service.
It should be noted that this new Dillard/Owens project is a completely new development and has no ties to the Kevin Feige/Kathleen Kennedy-backed project nor does it have any connection to the Rian Johnson trilogy, which is reportedly still in some stage of development.
Disney has already booked December 16, 2022; December 20, 2024 and December 18, 2026 as potential release dates for future
Star Wars films, but it remains uncertain which of these productions will ultimately occupy the aforementioned dates, especially considering the studio seems to be shifting their attention to expanding the franchise via Disney+ rather than rush it back to the big screen after the underwhelming box office returns of J.J. Abrams'
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.