Director Jon Watts is set to take the helm of the next Star Wars feature film, according to reports. Watts previously directed the Spider-Man trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was the showrunner for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. He will be directing a screenplay written by Simon Kinberg, who has worked on Star Wars Rebels and X-Men films.
This new project is the first of an intended trilogy that Kinberg has been developing since 2024. Kinberg will also serve as producer for the film. Several entertainment outlets reported Watts’ involvement in the upcoming Star Wars movie.
Lucasfilm confirmed at Star Wars Celebration in April 2025 that a new trilogy by Kinberg was among several theatrical projects in development. However, Lucasfilm has not officially announced a title for the first movie. Reports have referred to the project as a possible Episode X because it could follow the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
It’s not yet clear if this film will complement or replace the New Jedi Order project from director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The film has not been officially announced by Lucasfilm with a title or release date.
The situation is further complicated by the large number of Star Wars movie projects that have been developed in recent years. Some have moved forward while others have stalled or been dropped.
One of those projects was The Hunt for Ben Solo. The proposed movie was developed by Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh. It would have explored Ben Solo’s story after The Rise of Skywalker. However, Dave Filoni said at D23 in August 2026 that Lucasfilm was not making that film.
Lucasfilm has not announced whether the Watts and Kinberg project will use any ideas from The Hunt for Ben Solo.
Daisy Ridley has previously been attached to the New Jedi Order project as Rey. It’s uncertain whether she will be the main character or a mentor figure in the Kinberg project. Reports have suggested Rey could appear in some form, but Lucasfilm has not confirmed her involvement in the Watts film.
The next Star Wars movie currently scheduled to hit theaters is Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28, 2027. That film will take place after the events of the sequel trilogy. Watts and Kinberg are both known for their work in the Marvel universe, with Watts directing Spider-Man films and Kinberg writing or producing X-Men movies, according to a report from Gizmodo.
Starfighter is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon. Lucasfilm describes it as an original standalone adventure set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker. The cast also includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Flynn Gray and Amy Adams.
Disney has faced challenges in developing new Star Wars films in recent years. Several announced projects have changed direction or failed to reach production.
Watts already has experience inside the Star Wars franchise. He co-created Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford and directed the show’s first and final episodes. The Disney+ series followed a group of children lost in the galaxy during the New Republic era.
Watts also directed Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Kinberg’s Star Wars credits include helping create the animated series Star Wars Rebels with Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck.
If the new project moves forward as reported, it would mark Watts’ first Star Wars feature film. It would also bring Kinberg’s planned trilogy another step closer to production.
Lucasfilm has not yet announced a release date for the Watts and Kinberg movie.
IMAGE: Marvel Studios panelists at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.. Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia, taken 2016-07-23, CC BY-SA 2.0