Lucasfilm has found its next director for the Skywalker saga. The Hollywood Reporter confirms Jon Watts is attached to direct the first film of a proposed new trilogy, with Simon Kinberg writing the screenplay.
The Skywalker saga is now heading toward twelve films, not nine. Lucasfilm and Disney are planning a trilogy to continue the story that concluded in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Very little has been revealed about the upcoming films, but they will apparently pick up where the saga left off.
Watts’s Track Record
Watts is no stranger to blockbuster filmmaking. He made his directorial debut with the horror feature Clown, then moved into franchise work with the Spider-Man movies. His three Spider-Man films for Sony and Disney all dominated the box office.
He is also no stranger to Star Wars. Watts wrote, produced, and directed the Disney+ series Skeleton Crew, which premiered in 2024.
Kinberg’s Writing Credits
Kinberg was first attached to the project in 2024. He has penned a number of X-Men movies and co-created the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. He also served as a creative consultant on The Force Awakens, the first movie of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
What We Know So Far
- The trilogy will continue the story from Rise of Skywalker
- Simon Kinberg is writing the screenplay
- Jon Watts is directing the first film
- The saga is now heading toward twelve films
That is the full extent of the confirmed details. Lucasfilm has not announced release dates, titles, or casting. The company’s future plans have largely been cloaked in shadow, and this confirmation is one step closer to yelling “Action!”
The Announcement
The Hollywood Reporter’s report is the basis for everything we know so far. It confirms the director and the writer, and little else. Lucasfilm has not commented beyond that report, and there is no statement from the company confirming the trilogy’s existence.
The Creative Team
Watts and Kinberg bring very different backgrounds to the project. Watts has spent his career building blockbusters, from Clown to the Spider-Man series. Kinberg has spent his working across franchises, with X-Men movies and Star Wars animation on his resume.
Their combined experience covers both big-budget spectacle and character-driven storytelling. Whether that translates to a successful Star Wars film remains to be seen.
The Timeline
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| The Force Awakens released | 2015 |
| Rise of Skywalker released | 2019 |
| Skeleton Crew premiered | 2024 |
| Kinberg first attached | 2024 |
| Watts now attached to direct | Now |
The Verdict
The announcement is a win for Star Wars fans. A new Skywalker trilogy sounds like a real thing, with Jon Watts attached to direct and Simon Kinberg writing. The story gives us actual names instead of vague promises.
This is a story worth following.
See the video the story is built around at Collider.
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