Rian Johnson has confirmed that his upcoming Star Wars trilogy is still in development at Lucasfilm.
In an interview with Empire, Johnson revealed that the project is still in the works, but is currently on the back burner. "I’ve stayed close to Kathleen [Kennedy] and we get together often and talk about it," he said. "It’s just at this point a matter of schedule and when it can happen. It would break my heart if I were finished, if I couldn’t get back in that sandbox at some point." Johnson previously directed 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the eighth episode in The Skywalker Saga.
Johnson's Star Wars trilogy was announced in Nov. 2017, ahead of The Last Jedi's theatrical release. Despite periodic updates from the director, the project remains in the early stages of development, which Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has explained is because of Johnson being "unbelievably busy with Knives Out and the deal that he made at Netflix for multiple movies." It is currently unknown what Johnson's trilogy will be about, but it is expected to be unrelated to The Skywalker Saga.
Multiple Star Wars Films Are Currently in the Works
Three more Star Wars films are in active development at Lucasfilm, with Taika Waititi's standalone project reportedly the farthest along. The writer-director offered an update on his Star Wars film in June 2022, revealing that he was still writing the screenplay. He also revealed that his film will introduce new characters and worlds to the galaxy far, far away. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is also working on a standalone film with Loki creator Michael Waldron writing the screenplay. Kennedy has also stated that Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron, which will "introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride," is still expected to release despite being removed from the release calendar and "pushed off to the side for the moment."
The company is also in the process of expanding its television slate with Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte set to join The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and Ahsoka on Disney+ in the future. Skeleton Crew takes place after the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi and stars Jude Law in a "galactic version of classic Amblin coming-of-age adventure films of the '80s." The Acolyte, meanwhile, will be set during the waning days of the High Republic era, with Amandla Stenberg recently boarding the series as its lead star. Lucasfilm is also developing multiple animated series, including second seasons of Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Star Wars: Visions as well as the anthology series Tales of the Jedi.
Source: Empire