The cinematic future of Star Wars looks admittedly bright given the 10 projects in development, but the unfortunately common production issues Lucasfilm has faced under Disney make some more unlikely to happen than others. The last decade has been massive for Star Wars. Not only was the sequel trilogy released, but the franchise also staked a claim on the small screen via Star Wars’ various TV shows. After a fairly lengthy break from the big screen, Star Wars’ upcoming movies are set to return the franchise to its former cinematic glory.
This pivot away from movies to TV shows came as a result of the sequels being some of Star Wars’ worst-ranked movies by audiences. The divisive nature of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, specifically, saw Disney switch focus to TV shows like The Mandalorian. Since 2019, Star Wars’ success has been solely confined to Disney+ after the controversial reaction to the sequel trilogy and the troubled productions of Lucasfilm’s anthology movies.
While upcoming Star Wars shows are still expected, the galaxy far, far away is set to return to the theater. This is certainly exciting after a recent hiatus, but the production issues that plagued the anthology movies and the sequel trilogy still loom large in the minds of audiences. For this reason, many of the confirmed upcoming Star Wars movies are unlikely to ever come to fruition, despite some being certainties of the next few years.
10
Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film
Updates Have Been Few & Far Between
Not even six months after The Rise of Skywalker, it was announced that Taika Waititi would write and direct a Star Wars movie. Waititi worked on The Mandalorian season 1 as a director and the voice of IG-11, leading him to pitch a new Star Wars film that strayed from the confines of the Skywalker Saga. It was announced that Waititi would write the film as he filmed other projects like Thor: Love and Thunder. Fast-forward three years to 2023, and the film still did not have a script amid rumors of it being canceled.
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Regardless, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the film was still in development. It was reported that Waititi would continue working on the script after the WGA strike of 2023 was resolved, yet little has been heard of the film over a year after the strike ended. When combining this lack of news with Waititi’s last few projects being lesser-received than his earlier work in Hollywood, this film is the least likely of Star Wars’ upcoming movies to actually happen.
9
Lando
More Recent Updates Do Not Make Lando Any More Likely
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In 2020, it was announced that a Disney+ series centered around Lando Calrissian would be developed. After a long period of inactivity on this project, it was announced that the original showrunner – Justin Simien – was stepping down from the project. This came with the news that the actor responsible for young Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Donald Glover, would team up with his brother Stephen to turn Lando into a Star Wars feature film.
It seems Lucasfilm is placing more stock in other movies, making Lando an unlikely probability…
This was last confirmed in September 2024, yet no news has been provided since. While the concept of a Lando movie written by the Glover brothers is overly exciting, the inactivity regarding the project’s development between 2020 and 2023 is cause for concern. Moreover, it seems Lucasfilm is placing more stock in other movies, making Lando an unlikely probability.
8
Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Film
One Big TV Show Stands In The Way Of This Project
In November 2022, yet another Star Wars film was announced to be in development by director Shawn Levy. It was reported that Levy would begin active development on the project after working on Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine and Stranger Things season 5. As was the case with Waititi’s movie, the WGA strike of 2023 halted early development, but Levy remained steadfast that the film would happen.
As of the end of 2024, Levy has already completed work on Deadpool & Wolverine. Similarly, Stranger Things season 5 is expected to wrap shooting in early 2025, with the installment being released later that year. With that in mind, Levy should have the time to commit himself to a Star Wars movie in 2025, making this project more likely than Lando or Waititi’s film. That said, it remains to be seen whether Levy begins work on another MCU movie after Deadpool & Wolverine‘s success or whether he will outright confirm full development with Lucasfilm has begun.
7
Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy
Will The Divisive Director Ever Return To Star Wars?
Despite being the most divisive Star Wars movie of all time, Star Wars: The Last Jedi caused Lucasfilm to have a great deal of faith in writer-director Rian Johnson prior to the film’s release. This faith, and clear love for Episode VIII of the Skywalker Saga, was rewarded with a deal for Johnson to craft an entire Star Wars trilogy. Like Waititi’s film, these three movies were set to be removed from the mainline Star Wars saga. Then came the storm.
Lucasfilm’s pivot away from the original script for Episode IX that tied closer to The Last Jedi than The Rise of Skywalker did proved how reactive the studio can be, reducing Johnson’s chances of returning.
The Last Jedi split the Star Wars fanbase in two, and it still has not recovered seven years later, throwing Johnson’s trilogy into doubt. Stepping back from Star Wars as a result, Johnson began working on the Knives Out trilogy for Netflix. Despite claims from both Kathleen Kennedy and Rian Johnson that the trilogy will happen once the latter finishes his work with Netflix, it does not look hopeful. Lucasfilm has proven to be reactive to fan outcries since operating under Disney, rendering the chances of a figure as controversial as Rian Johnson returning to Star Wars unfortunately slim.
6
Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy
The Most Recently Announced Star Wars Movies
Custom Image by Nathaniel Roark
In November 2024, the Star Wars fandom was struck with massive news: Simon Kinberg is developing a Star Wars trilogy. Rumors spiraled between these three movies being Episodes X, XI, and XII, or simply another standalone trilogy of stories devoid of Skywalker Saga connections. Regardless, it seems the reports are true and Kinberg’s series is in the works.
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As the most recent announcement on this list, Kinberg’s trilogy already holds more credence than Johnson’s trilogy, Lando, or the movies in development by Levy and Waititi. Lucasfilm and Disney would not let these rumors and reports circulate if they were not true, meaning the likelihood of this coming to fruition is, for once, quite high. 2025 will undoubtedly be a big year for confirming or damning whether Kingberg’s films will blossom but, at the moment, they cannot be written off like some other prospected projects in a galaxy far, far away.
5
Rogue Squadron
Patty Jenkins’ Long-Awaited Movie Has A New Hope
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If this list had been written a year ago, Rogue Squadron would be dead last regarding the ranking of how likely it is to happen. However, the long-dormant film based on Star Wars video games received new hope in March 2024. Rogue Squadron was first announced to be in development by director Patty Jenkins and was set to be the next Star Wars movie after The Rise of Skywalker. After a troubled early production schedule, Rogue Squadron was repeatedly pushed back until being shelved indefinitely, which many thought to mean it would never see the light of day.
|
Rogue Squadron Video Games |
Platform |
Release Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Rogue Squadron |
Nintendo 64 |
December 7, 1998 |
|
Episode I: Battle for Naboo |
Nintendo 64 |
December 18, 2000 |
|
Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader |
Gamecube |
November 18, 2001 |
|
Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike |
Gamecube |
October 21, 2003 |
That said, in March 2024, Patty Jenkins revealed to Collider that she and Lucasfilm had reignited their initial deal just before the WGA 2023 strikes happened. Jenkins stated that this meant she was back working on Rogue Squadron and intended to deliver a script to Lucasfilm. This was a result of the new-look DC Universe by James Gunn, which removed Jenkins’ commitments to work on Wonder Woman 3. With that film dead, Jenkins turned her attention back to Star Wars, making Rogue Squadron more likely to happen than it has been in years.
4
Rey’s “New Jedi Order” Film
The First Of Four Likely Star Wars Movies
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The remainder of this list consists of Star Wars movies that have at least a 65% chance of happening. Where Rey Skywalker’s “New Jedi Order” story is concerned, this Star Wars film hits that mark well. The film is simply more likely to happen than not given the big deal of its announcement, the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey, and the attachment of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy as director. Admittedly, the loss of Steven Knight as the film’s screenwriter dented the hopes that it would come as soon as 2026, but it should still see the light of day.
3
James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” Film
The Jedi Prequel Film May Come Sooner Rather Than Later
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Before Steven Knight’s departure from Rey’s “New Jedi Order” project, it would have been ranked higher than James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” movie. Instead, this development, as well as some rumors that have been circulating, have changed its favor. Mangold was announced as the writer-director of this movie, set 25,000 years before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, at the same time as Rey’s return was confirmed. This came with the caveat, though, that Mangold had to finish work on Indiana Jones 5 and A Complete Unknown first.
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After work was completed on these two projects, it was up in the air whether Mangold would work on his “Dawn of the Jedi” film first, or the DCU’s Swamp Thing. Rumors at the tail end of 2024 have claimed that Mangold has chosen Star Wars as his next project which, when combined with the addition of Andor‘s Beau Willimon as screenwriter, makes this film more likely than ever to actually happen. Hopefully, some concrete information that Mangold will be shooting this film next will be given in 2025. Until then, the signs look promising.
2
Dave Filoni’s New Republic Film
A Lack Of Updates Do Not Hinder This Film’s Chances Of Coming To Fruition
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Ironically, the film announced to be coming by Dave Filoni alongside “Dawn of the Jedi” and “New Jedi Order” has received the least in the way of concrete updates, yet is still the most likely to happen of the three. The reason for this is Filoni’s sheer importance to Lucasfilm of late. In 2023, Filoni was made the Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm and began steering most creative projects, from TV projects like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka to Star Wars movies like the New Republic story he was revealed to be writing.
Filoni is not going anywhere and neither are his stories…
Filoni’s work has also been mostly praised by critics and fans alike, including both his recent live-action work and animated projects. Therefore, Filoni is not going anywhere and neither are his stories. This film was said to culminate the events of Star Wars‘ New Republic timeline, stemming from another upcoming movie and Ahsoka season 2. After Filoni finishes production on the latter, work will undoubtedly begin on his first directorial Star Wars feature film.
1
The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Next Theatrical Star Wars Movie Is A Guarantee
The most likely upcoming Star Wars movie to happen is The Mandalorian & Grogu. Announced in January 2023, The Mandalorian & Grogu‘s production has gone incredibly smoothly, with the film having wrapped filming by December 2024. Post-production has already begun and the film is on course to meet its May 2026 release date. With such an untroubled production, The Mandalorian & Grogu feels unfamiliar, but it will usher Star Wars back to the big screen, seven years after the franchise’s hiatus began.
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The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Mandalorian & Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+’s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian. The film will replace The Mandalorian season 4 to bring the franchise back to the big screen and follow Din Djarin and his adventures with Grogu. The Mandalorian & Grogu is the first Star Wars film to be released since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
Director
Jon Favreau
Release Date
May 22, 2026
Writers
Dave Filoni
Cast
Pedro Pascal
, Steve Blum