Lucasfilm has tapped Spider-Man director Jon Watts to helm the first film in a new Skywalker Saga trilogy written by Simon Kinberg, according to reports from Deadline and Knight Edge Media. The project returns the franchise to the Skywalker family line after eight years, with Daisy Ridley eyed to reprise her role as Rey in a supporting capacity.
Jon Watts Leads New Skywalker Saga Trilogy
Jon Watts is officially attached to direct the opening installment of Simon Kinberg’s developing Star Wars trilogy. Watts is already familiar with the franchise, having co-created the Disney+ streaming series Skeleton Crew, which debuted last year. Before entering the galaxy far, far away, Watts directed three Spider-Man films: Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Kinberg’s franchise history includes co-creating the animated series Star Wars Rebels, which aired on Disney XD from 2014 to 2018, alongside writing feature films such as X-Men: Dark Phoenix and Prime’s series adaptation of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Industry reports indicate that Lucasfilm has not yet secured a formal greenlight for Kinberg’s project from its parent company, Disney. Lucasfilm declined to comment on the development.
Daisy Ridley Returns as Rey in a Supporting Capacity
Daisy Ridley is reportedly slated to return as Rey, though her character will not anchor the narrative as the main protagonist. This new trilogy operates independently of the previously announced standalone film centered on Rey with the working title The New Jedi Order. Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, that individual project has faced extensive delays and multiple script rewrites, landing in prolonged development limbo.
Rey previously led the sequel trilogy as the central protagonist across three core episodes. The Skywalker Saga began in 1977 with Episode IV: A New Hope, followed by The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. The prequel trilogy subsequently ran from 1999 to 2005 with The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. The sequel trilogy concluded that nine-film arc in 2019 with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Franchise Expansion and Theatrical Slate
The franchise recently returned to theatrical releases with Mandalorian & Grogu. Lucasfilm is also preparing for the May 28, 2027 premiere of Star Wars: Starfighter, which features Ryan Gosling in the lead role as the brand approaches its 50th anniversary next year.
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