Initially rumors, but now reported by trades, Jon Watts is being lined up by Lucasfilm to direct their next movie, reportedly Star Wars: Episode X. Watts is no stranger to the Star Wars Universe having co-created and directed episodes of Skeleton Crew. Though, of course Watts biggest successes were the first three Spider-Man MCU films.
The film is reportedly the first of the Simon Kinberg trilogy announced by previous Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy. Presumably Episodes X-XII are being developed this time as one cohesive story given Kinberg’s involvement. However, for now there is no suggestion Watts is being recruited for anything more than Episode X.
As per THR, though I will say first the break this news before the trade was leaker Caleb Williams who put a name to his earlier claim (related section below) hours before THR published. Daniel RPK also beat THR to the punch, but there is levels of reliability to this game and trades rarely wrong.
‘Jon Watts, the director behind a trio of Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, is now attached to direct the first installment of the Simon Kinberg-penned trilogy. It is a return to the franchise for Watts, who previously co-created Star Wars series Skeleton Crew in 2024.’
‘Kinberg has been working on writing a mystery trilogy since late 2024. The project is intended to act as the next chapter in what is referred to as the Skywalker Saga, the stories featuring the multi-generations of the Luke Skywalker family. The previous movies have been Episodes I through IX. The next one would be Episode X. Rey Skywalker, the Jedi played by Daisy Ridley in last trilogy released from 2015 and 2019, would appear in some capacity in the new trilogy.’
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‘Sources say the project is still in development and has not yet been greenlit by parent company Disney, although it seems to be project the furthest along the development track after Starfighter.’
If they are looking for a director, then once they do and the director has a say, they’ll decide whether to push ahead is my guess, or find another director. I don’t see a scenario where the movie doesn’t move ahead, but clearly they want a director that will not just film Kinberg’s script. and yet as the trade says, Watts does feel like a safe choice for this film. Perhaps a little too safe for me.
I enjoyed all three of Watts Spider-Man movies, Far From Home the most. I like him as a director, but I’m not sure I’d have chosen him for this. The far bigger concern from me is and always has been that it’s being written by Simon Kinberg. I know Kinberg was involved in the early stages of Rebels and some of the episodes he wrote were decent, but I can’t say he’s ever impressed me as a writer. How many writers get the chance to write the same film twice after the previous one not working and still mess it up? I am of course referencing both attempts to do the Phoenix story in the FoX-Men films.
I hope this works as always with Star Wars, but I’m long past the stage of having faith in the studio at this point. Let’s hope I am wrong, for the sake of the franchise. Can it survive a third mediocre trilogy in a row? As always leave any thoughts below.
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