Jon Watts to Direct Star Wars Episode X — SkimNews
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- Jon Watts has been tapped to direct Episode X, the first film in a planned new Star Wars 'Skywalker Saga' trilogy; Watts previously directed the first three Tom Holland Spider-Man films and co-created the Star Wars Disney+ series Skeleton Crew.
- Simon Kinberg, screenwriter of multiple X-Men films, was revealed in 2024 as the writer of the planned new trilogy.
- Daisy Ridley's Rey is believed to play a central role in the story, per the Hollywood Reporter.
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (this past summer) was the franchise's first Star Wars theatrical film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.
- Ryan Gosling's Starfighter is due May 2027, timed to the 50th anniversary of A New Hope.
- Lucasfilm has not yet officially confirmed Watts' hiring for Episode X.
Why it matters: The Skywalker Saga has been dormant on the big screen since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, with The Mandalorian and Grogu this past summer marking the first theatrical return. Lucasfilm's reported — but unconfirmed — hire of Watts for Episode X pairs with the May 2027 Starfighter release timed to the franchise's 50th anniversary, framing a deliberate theatrical reboot.
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