Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron was once scheduled to be released in theaters this month, but like many Star Wars movies overseen by Kathleen Kennedy, it's a project that's somehow fallen by the wayside at Lucasfilm.
The next Star Wars movie is currently dated for May 2026 and is likely to be the one revolving around Daisy Ridley's returning Rey Skywalker. While Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) penned an early version of the screenplay, Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) has since been enlisted to write a new draft for filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
Set 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, the story will revolve around the sequel trilogy hero rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down.
It's previously been reported that the untitled movie will feature two Black leads, one male and one female, as the students Rey is teaching to carry forward the ways of the Jedi. Now, we have an update from Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic podcast (via SFFGazette.com) and it sounds like news is imminent.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if we got Star Wars news this month. Star Wars has always been a franchises that has like...things don’t always get announced. I remember years ago that this was uproar that Star Wars hadn’t hired a writer of colour, but I came out, after people told me privately, and said that they have writers of colour, but that they don’t want to respond to all the nonsense essentially."
"I do think that there are things lying in wait. Possibly casting news that are already done. I think that the Daisy Ridley movie has its leads already and it is just a matter of a reporter finding out."
We won't get too excited just yet but this seems to suggest at least some cast members will be revealed before the holidays. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have caused significant delays but Disney is keen to get Star Wars back in theaters where it belongs. We're also hearing the plan is still for shooting to commence in London next April.
In other news, a press release sent out by Disney+ previewing the streamer's slate appears to confirm the release of only Star Wars TV shows in 2024. Andor was previously confirmed for an August 2023 premiere, but shooting was disrupted over the summer and it looks like it's now heading our way in 2025.
Here's what Disney+ has confirmed is on the way:
'Star Wars: The Acolyte'' will premiere on Disney+ in 2024. The series is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.
'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' tells the story of four kids who find themselves lost in the vastness of the galaxy trying to find their way home. This series will arrive on the platform in 2024.
Stay tuned to SFFGazette.com for all the latest Star Wars updates as we have them.