Star Wars Shakeup: Rey’s Return Movie Put on Ice as Lucasfilm Switches Priorities

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Lucasfilm has temporarily paused work on a forthcoming Star Wars movie to focus on other projects within the galaxy, a decision likely due to the gap in film releases since 2019’s Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Despite this hiatus, Lucasfilm continues to produce new Star Wars content for Disney+. However, many upcoming films announced by the studio have remained in developmental stages with only a few making it to production.

The current development of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars movie featuring Daisy Ridley as Rey, initially announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, has been paused and resumed several times. The latest news on the Rey film comes from entertainment insider Daniel Richtman, who shared on Patreon that the production is “paused again.” However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean the project has been canceled; instead, it’s currently experiencing a temporary halt.

Based on Richtman’s report, it seems Lucasfilm is focusing on projects led by Shawn Levy and James Mangold for their upcoming Star Wars films. In 2023, it was announced that Mangold’s movie would delve into the early days of the Jedi and the roots of the Force. Due to Mangold’s involvement in promoting his film AComplete Unknown, development on this project temporarily slowed down; however, now that that campaign has concluded, it seems like this movie is back at the top of Lucasfilm’s priority list again.

In the meantime, Shawn Levy’s “Star Wars: Starfighter” is rapidly gaining momentum with a 2027 release date on the horizon, and has recently attracted actors Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth to its cast. This upcoming Star Wars film will be released after the 2026 movie starring The Mandalorian and Grogu, and it may also serve to pave the way for Rey’s return in her next film, which could be one of the reasons it has taken priority over Obaid-Chinoy’s project.

With the release of the Untitled Rey Film once more at Lucasfilm, it finds itself surrounded by promising productions. Lucasfilm has disclosed various captivating projects that encountered obstacles in their production process.

All the Star Wars Films in Limbo at Lucasfilm

Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie

It’s been more than five years since it was revealed that Taika Waititi was developing a Star Wars movie, following his accomplishments with Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit. Despite his continuous claims about the project’s progress, including hiring co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns, no Star Wars-related films from Waititi have been released so far. Instead, he has completed several other projects like Thor: Love and Thunder, Next Goal Wins, and Time Bandits.

Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, reassured fans about Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film at Star Wars Celebration 2025 by telling Screen Rant that “Taika works at his own pace,” and that they will begin production once the director is prepared.

Taika operates on his own schedule. In fact, there’s no one else quite like him, and the work he’s accomplished so far is truly exceptional, not to mention hilarious. I’ve repeatedly encouraged him to let us know when he feels prepared and has the time, as we’ll be ready to move forward with the project.

Kennedy disclosed that they had brought in Tony McNamara, known for his work on “The Great,” to collaborate with Waititi on the project. She expressed her optimism about their collaboration, saying, “I’m hoping we can make it happen,” but also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the development stage, stating, “In the process of creating something new, you never fully know the outcome.

Rogue Squadron

In a dazzling video announcement in 2020, it was disclosed that Rogue Squadron was in the works, with director Patty Jenkins (known for Wonder Woman) showcasing her enthusiasm for the Star Wars movie by wearing a fighter pilot uniform and discussing its significance to her personally. To date, this is the only footage that has been produced for the film, as the production of Rogue Squadron has faced challenges in moving beyond the development phase.

Following what appeared to be her departure from Wonder Woman 3, Jenkins confirmed in 2022 that she was dedicated to directing Rogue Squadron. Since then, she re-signed with Lucasfilm and reportedly submitted a fresh script for the movie. However, at this point, the film remains stuck in development limbo at the studio, as no further production updates have been announced.

Lando

In a striking turn of events, Donald Glover’s portrayal of Lando Calrissian in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” generated quite a buzz, leading Lucasfilm to promptly develop a standalone project featuring the cunning smuggler.

Initially planned as a Disney+ series, the Lando project has now shifted into becoming a full-length feature film. Both Donald Glover and his brother Stephen Glover are collaborating on the script for this movie. As of late, there haven’t been any new developments, suggesting that it’s currently in storage at Lucasfilm.

Dave Filoni’s Star Wars Movie

Dave Filoni is the architect behind expanding Star Wars’ animated realm of productions, encompassing shows like “The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels.” He has skillfully guided these series into the live-action TV spectrum with “Ahsoka” and “The Mandalorian.

In 2026, I’ll be part of an exciting journey when The Mandalorian moves from the small screen to the big screen alongside Grogu, in what’s known as The Mandalorian and Grogu. This transition paves the way for Dave Filoni’s Star Wars film, announced in 2020, which aims to bridge the worlds of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka into a grand, cinematic finale. As I write this, Filoni is diligently working on Season 2 of Ahsoka, and we’re all eagerly waiting to see how The Mandalorian and Grogu performs before moving forward with the film.

Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy

Rian Johnson’s contributions to “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Last Jedi” led to mixed opinions among fans, yet Lucasfilm seemed pleased with the “Knives Out” filmmaker and offered him a three-picture deal in 2017. However, as we stand today, around eight years later, no news has emerged regarding Johnson’s planned trilogy.

In 2022, the director mentioned that discussions regarding his Star Wars movie were ongoing, primarily because of a scheduling conflict, as he chose to focus on completing Knives Out and Poker Face first.

Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy

Following the apparent conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with Episode IX, fans were thrilled when it was announced in 2024 that Simon Kinberg had signed on to pen a fresh Star Wars trilogy, spanning from Episodes 10 to 12.

Previously this year, Deadline reported that Kennedy stated Kinberg’s Star Wars project was progressing rapidly and vigorously, with a draft expected to be completed by June.

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2025-06-20 00:34