Star Wars Episode X is moving forward at Lucasfilm, with Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Brand New Day) directing from a script by Simon Kinberg (Dark Phoenix). The movie signals the studio's intention to continue the Skywalker Saga in the post-Rise of Skywalker timeline, a decision which has split opinions.
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, early plot details for the movie have leaked, starting with a report from Daniel Richtman. He's learned that Watts' Episode X will have two leads, with Rey serving as a mentor to them. While her movie isn't dead, it is on hold, suggesting the project—first announced in 2023—has likely been sidelined to continue her story here instead.
Trusted Star Wars insider @fiveswalker has since weighed in, sharing additional context. Lucasfilm is reportedly looking to cast a male and female lead, likely unknowns and in their early to mid-20s.
"Episode X will have duo leads like Finn and Rey," the scooper explains. "Their dynamic is very much that archetype, but with a more clearly defined romantic component. [The] male lead comes from a harsh orphaned background just like Rey and is swept up into the story after being implicated in a killing."
"[The] female lead comes from high society, a perfectionist. Royalty," they continued. "She and the male lead are caught up in a big adventure together, with her bringing him into the larger 'world's stage' of Star Wars characters we know."
Later, they added that the male lead will not be Flynn Gray's unnamed character from Star Wars: Starfighter, despite rumours about the upcoming movie pointing to him becoming one of Rey's apprentices.
It's certainly intriguing, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, link these two have to the wider Star Wars Galaxy. Rey is technically the last Skywalker standing, though Episode X could be Lucasfilm's opportunity to bring back Kylo Ren, a.k.a. Ben Solo.
The Mandalorian and Grogu wasn't the box office hit Disney and Lucasfilm expected. Now, all eyes will be on next summer's Star Wars: Starfighter to see if the Star Wars franchise can shrug off the perception that it's a streaming property.
Watts is no stranger to Star Wars. He developed and directed episodes of Disney+'s Skeleton Crew, which holds a 92% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The filmmaker also has blockbuster experience, having helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home for Marvel Studios.
Kinberg's track record isn't quite as good. He wrote the Oscar-nominated Ridley Scott film The Martian, but is also responsible for duds like X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, and Dark Phoenix.
Stay tuned for updates on Star Wars Episode X as we have them.