Lucasfilm currently has at least eight Star Wars movies in development. Several of these are set in the New Republic era, with projects helmed by Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian and Grogu), Dave Filoni (Heir to the Empire), and Patty Jenkins (Rogue Squadron). Other films include Lando and projects directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Shawn Levy, Simon Kinberg, James Mangold (Dawn of the Jedi), and Taika Waititi. Notably, the films by Obaid-Chinoy, Levy, and Kinberg reportedly take place after Episode IX, which could potentially form a threequel trilogy.
Kinberg could oversee this hypothetical trilogy, with Obaid-Chinoy and Levy directing the first two installments. Obaid-Chinoy is already confirmed to work on a film focusing on Rey, while Levy reportedly expressed interest in portraying an older version of the character as well. These ideas can be combined into the second half of Volume II (Rey's story) of the Skywalker Saga, exploring some of the accidental narrative threads left by the first half of Volume II. Although a trilogy like this might sound like a nightmare scenario to some fans, it would feature an overarching plan or overseer.
A new hero
This trilogy could draw inspiration from George Lucas’s original sequel trilogy plans, which centered on a new hero named Kira, Luke rebuilding the Jedi Order, and Leia establishing the New Republic. In this updated version, Rey and Poe could take over Luke and Leia’s roles. Finn could serve as Grandmaster, as he knows what it's like to need a place to belong and can offer the same to others. Lucas’s outline also featured Darth Maul as the main antagonist, leading a criminal empire alongside his apprentice Darth Talon. For this trilogy, Darth Krayt could replace Maul while keeping Talon as ally.
Rey’s journey, in particular, could focus on her struggle with abandonment. In the sequel trilogy, Rey formed connections with Han, Luke, and Leia, only for each parent-figure to shift their focus to Ben Solo. Just like how Anakin had an arc overcoming his parent-figure issues, the same can be done with Rey. Rey’s arc could begin with her and Ben having a child named Kira (conceived through Ben’s life-force transfer). Struggling with abandonment herself, Rey must learn to be the parent she never had to ensure Kira doesn’t fall to the Dark Side and Krayt's side.
One with the Force
The sequel trilogy introduced the Force Dyad concept, which fits with existing ideas like the Force Monad (the Chosen One) and the Force Triad. This trilogy can have Anakin explain he became the new Father, and when Ben grew in the Dark Side, he corrected this by putting Rey into the Light Side of the Triad, resulting in her natural affinity with the Force. However, Ben’s return to the Light in Episode IX disrupted this balance, leading to Rey losing her Force affinity. This would send Rey on a quest to restore her connection to the Force, which plays into her initial abandonment of Kira.
The Rise of Skywalker also introduced the Sith Eternal, who worshipped Palpatine as if he were the only true Sith. This is similar to the Rule of One, where devotees served one Dark Lord. In Legends this was Darth Krayt. As mentioned before, Darth Krayt could take Maul’s place from Lucas’s original plans, leading a criminal empire with Darth Talon that opposes Leia’s new Galactic Alliance. Unlike the demilitarized New Republic, the Galactic Alliance would remain armed, having learned from the Rebellion and the First Order that even a small force can topple galaxy-wide governments.
The rest of the Star Wars saga
However, this hypothetical threequel trilogy are only three of many movies Lucasfilm has planned. However, Disney will need to carefully schedule these releases. The Mandalorian & Grogu is currently set for May 22, 2026, but it may shift to avoid clashing with Disney's own Avengers: Doomsday. In the past, Disney released Star Wars movies in December, a trend that could continue to sidestep Marvel competition in May. It would only have to navigate around Avatar releases, but that can be done be releasing some movies as tv movies in the same year as Avatar releases.
Aside from this hypothetical trilogy, five other films still need placement on the release schedule. Favreau’s and Filoni’s movies are expected to arrive first, followed by Rogue Squadron, Lando, and Dawn of the Jedi, given the relative availability of Jenkins, Glover, and Mangold. However, Levy and Waititi have several other commitments. A possible release slate could thus look like: Favreau's movie in 2026, Filoni's in 2026, Avatar 4 and Lando in 2028, Mangold's in 2029, Obaid-Chinoy's Episode X in 2030, Avatar 5 and Rogue Squadron in 2031, Levy's Episode XI in 2033, Waititi's in 2034, and finally Episode XII in 2035.