UPDATE: The trades have since confirmed the rumor; however, Deadline reports the trilogy has yet to receive a greenlight from Disney. It was also previously reported to be a ânew story not meant to be a continuation of the Skywalker Sagaâ but now the trades are saying it is a continuation of the Skywalker Saga.
Jon Watts is directing the first movie in Simon Kinberg’s new Star Wars trilogy, according to scooper Daniel Richtman.
Richtman posted the claim to his Patreon on Saturday:
“Jon Watts to direct the first film in the new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, written by Simon Kinberg.”
Lucasfilm has not confirmed anything, so this one stays a rumor for now.
Daniel Richtman Nailed The Exorcist Plot Leak
Richtman’s recent track record backs him up.
Earlier this month, the scooper leaked the full plot of Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist: Martyrs, revealing Scarlett Johansson goes up against John Leguizamo’s satanic serial killer. The details turned out to be right.
The Watts claim also fits with a report from earlier this week.
Journalist Caleb Williams said a director had been found for the Kinberg trilogy, adding that Kinberg himself “wasn’t considered” for the job and that filming could start as early as next year.
Williams didn’t name the director. Richtman just did.
Jon Watts Already Made A Star Wars Show
Watts is no stranger to a galaxy far, far away.
He created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with writer Christopher Ford. The Disney+ series, starring Jude Law, premiered in December 2024, with Watts directing episodes and executive producing alongside Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.
Before that, Watts directed all three Tom Holland Spider-Man movies for Marvel and Sony. Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed close to $2 billion worldwide.
Watts was also set to direct Marvel’s Fantastic Four but walked away from the project in 2022.
Simon Kinberg’s Trilogy Starts A New Saga
Lucasfilm closed its deal with Kinberg back in November 2024. He is writing all three movies and producing them with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
Deadline originally reported the trilogy would continue the Skywalker Saga as Episodes 10 through 12.
Lucasfilm quickly shot that down, and the films are instead expected to kick off a brand new saga with new characters.
Kinberg goes way back with the franchise, having co-created the animated series Star Wars Rebels.
Next up on the big screen is Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, which opens May 28, 2027 in IMAX 70mm as part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration.
A standalone Darth Vader movie with Hayden Christensen is also rumored to be in the works, though Christensen recently shot the rumors down.
Star Wars Celebration runs April 1-4, 2027 in Los Angeles. If Lucasfilm plans to make the Kinberg trilogy and its director official, that is the stage.
