James Mangold Provides Update on His ‘Star Wars’ Movie

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As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a penchant for sci-fi epics and a soft spot for Star Wars, I can’t help but feel a twinge of excitement when hearing about James Mangold‘s upcoming project. With his unique storytelling abilities and an impressive track record with Lucasfilm, I have high hopes that his take on the First Jedi will be nothing short of extraordinary.

With James Mangold’s movie, titled “A Complete Unknown“, set to premiere soon, fans are eagerly waiting for updates on his upcoming “Star Wars” project as well. Mangold was announced in May 2023 at Star Wars Celebration as the director of a film focusing on the First Jedi. So far, not much information has been disclosed about Mangold’s upcoming “Star Wars” film, but the director has hinted that progress is being made.

In my recent chat with Deadline, Mangold shared an exciting update: he and his writing partner, Beau Willimon (renowned for Andor and House of Cards), are still refining the script for our project. Mangold mentioned that they’re diligently working to complete a draft. Given his busy schedule finalizing A Complete Unknown and promoting it, I can imagine these past few months have been challenging.

As he told Deadline:

Together with Beau Willimon, I’ve been penning this work. I’m unsure about what lies ahead as we haven’t reached the final stages yet; our goal is to complete a rough draft.

The State of ‘Star Wars’

Mangold has had past connections with Lucasfilm, having taken up directorial roles for the Indiana Jones movie “Dial of Destiny” and initially being considered as the director for a Boba Fett standalone film before it eventually transformed into the streaming series known as “The Book of Boba Fett.

It appears that Mangold’s “Star Wars” film has been given ample time for production due to other “Star Wars” projects currently being developed at Lucasfilm. For instance, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” directed by Jon Favreau, wrapped up filming and is scheduled for release in May 2026. Similarly, a movie focusing on the character of Rey, helmed by director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, seemed to be progressing towards a December 2026 premiere. However, the project has faced challenges behind the scenes, as its screenwriter has recently left the production. As a result, the December 2026 slot initially reserved for a new “Star Wars” film was reassigned to the animated film “Ice Age 6.” The Rey movie is now expected to debut in 2027, pushing Mangold’s “Star Wars” film back to a potential 2028 release.

Giving Mangold a bit more time to perfect his “Star Wars” movie may not be a bad idea, considering he’s also linked to write and potentially direct the upcoming “Swamp Thing” for James Gunn’s DCU. As of now, “Swamp Thing” doesn’t have a set release date, but it might come out before Mangold starts work on his new “Star Wars” film, given that the DCU movie might not need as much time to film. If Mangold started working on “Swamp Thing” immediately after the premiere of “A Complete Unknown,” it could theoretically be released in 2026 along with other DCU titles such as the streaming series “Lanterns” and the movie “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Some might view the numerous Star Wars films in development at Lucasfilm as a sign of uncertainty or confusion about the brand from Disney or Lucasfilm. However, it could equally indicate their intention to explore multiple projects, seeking fresh ideas and innovations. This approach reduces the burden on a single movie concept to revive the franchise, allowing for careful consideration and refinement of concepts, or waiting for the ideal filmmakers instead of rushing releases. Mangold’s film focusing on the origin story of the first Jedi promises an intriguing, uncharted chapter in the Star Wars universe that fans eagerly anticipate, regardless of the production timeline.

There is no release date yet set for James Mangold’s
Star Wars
film.

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2024-12-08 23:31