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While fans are still dealing with the travesty that wasThe Acolyteand are looking forward toSkeleton Crew, it was reported that a newStar Warstrilogy was in development with Simon Kinberg writing and producing. Neither Disney nor Lucasfilm have given an official statement but it is rumored to be a new story with new characters.
Lucasfilm gas announced many film projects in the past, including a trilogy by Rian Johnson. However, most of these projects have been in limbo. On top of that, giving Kinberg the responsibility to handle a trilogy even before testing the waters may be a controversial decision. However, Kinberg does not come without experience.
Developing A NewStar WarsTrilogy Is A Slippery Slope
Apart from the originalStar Warstrilogy, no other films have received almost unanimous acceptance from fans or critics. It is a slippery slope to handle a trilogy of films from the mammoth franchise, which revolutionized Hollywood when the first (technically fourth) episode was released in 1977.
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While George Lucas himself did not receive love for his prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy was handled by J.J. Abrams and was commercially successful but criticized heavily (viaThe Numbers). Common criticisms included changing the personality of key characters like Luke Skywalker and banking too much on nostalgia.
SinceEpisode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, however, no film has been released. After multiple other projects,THRreported that Lucasfilm had tappedDark Phoenixdirector andX-Menwriter and producer Simon Kinberg to develop a new trilogy of films. While Kinberg is not confirmed to direct, he will reportedly be producing and writing all three films.
Will Simon Kinberg’s NewStar WarsTrilogy Be A Continuation Of The Skywalker Saga?
While the TV shows and Disney+ series have followed other characters in the world ofStar Wars, the films have mostly been centered on the Skywalkers. The only anomalies in the franchise have beenSolo: A Star Wars StoryandRogue One, which still had characters from the original trilogy.
J.J. Abrams’ sequel trilogy too focused on the Skywalkers, with both Kylo Ren and Rey having connections to the family. So the big question aboutSimon Kinberg’s new trilogy is that if it would follow tradition and keep it connected to the Skywalkers or go with an entirely new story. There have been conflicting reports about the same.
THR reported that the new trilogy will not be a continuation of the Skywalker Saga and will feature a new cast of characters in a new story. However, the site also mentioned that a new story does not mean old characters will not be seen in this world, with fan-favorite characters making an appearance here and there.
Deadline, on the other hand, reported that the new trilogy will be titled Episodes 10, 11, and 12 as part of the Skywalker Saga. The site, however, did mention that there were conflicting reports from insiders that the films would be a new saga. Disney and Lucasfilm are yet to give a confirmation about the deal.
What Has Simon Kinberg Done Before The NewStar Wars?
Simon Kinberg is no stranger toStar Warsor other big-scale franchise films. The writer has worked with Lucasfilm before as the creator and writer of the animated seriesStar Wars Rebelsand has also reportedly been a creative consultant onStar Wars: A Force AwakensandRogue One.
Kinberg’s biggest flex in his resume is probably his involvement in theX-Menfranchise. He was a writer onX-Men: The Last Standand then joined the franchise as a producer onX-Men: First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse,andDark Phoenix. He co-wrote the screenplays of the last three films and made his directorial debut withDark Phoenix.
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Apart from his work in theX-Menfranchise, he has also been a writer onMr. & Mrs. Smith,Fantastic Four(2015),This Means War,andSherlock Holmes. He also co-produced theDeadpoolfilms,The Martian, Chappie, Cinderella, Logan,and Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptations, starting withMurder on the Orient Express.
Kinberg has also reportedly been tapped by Paramount Pictures to produce aStar Trekfilm. The film will reportedly be directed by Toby Haynes, who directed the first two episodes ofAndor,and is written by Seth Grahame-Smith. The film is already reportedly in development, with Kinberg only set to produce the film (viaTHR).
Other FailedStar WarsProjects By Lucasfilm
One of the reasons whyStar Warsfans are so skeptical about the new announcement of a trilogy of films with Simon Kinberg is because Lucasfilm has done this before. The studio has announced multiple projects in development sinceEpisode IXand has failed to follow through on almost every single announcement related to a film.
While in the streaming space, the studio has released multiple shows, with onlyThe Mandalorianlasting more than a season, there have been no films since the end of the sequel trilogy. Many projects have been in development with noted creators such as James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover (viaTHR).
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A trilogy of films by Rian Johnson, who directed the controversialThe Last Jediwas also announced way back in 2017 (viaDeadline). But the filmmaker has been busy with hisKnives Outfranchise and the project seems to have been put on the backburner indefinitely. The only film that has reached production has been Jon Favreau’s upcomingThe Mandalorian & Grogufilm which reportedly wrapped filming in October (viaPuck).
Hence, fans are justifiably still unsure about how this new trilogy by Simon Kinberg will pan out and if it will even happen at all. However, the most fans can do is to remain optimistic and hope for an official confirmation.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2415
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
