The cinematic future ofStar Warslooks admittedly bright given the 10 projects in development, but the unfortunately common production issues Lucasfilm has faced under Disney make some more unlikely to happen than others. The last decade has been massive forStar Wars.Not only was the sequel trilogy released, but the franchise also staked a claim on the small screen viaStar Wars’various TV shows. After a fairly lengthy break from the big screen,Star Wars’upcoming moviesare set to return the franchise to its former cinematic glory.

This pivot away from movies to TV shows came as a result of the sequels being some ofStar Wars’worst-ranked moviesby audiences. The divisive nature ofStar Wars: The Last JediandStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, specifically, saw Disney switch focus to TV shows likeThe Mandalorian. Since 2019,Star Wars’success has been solely confined to Disney+ after the controversial reaction to the sequel trilogy and the troubled productions of Lucasfilm’s anthology movies.

Taika Waititi Star Wars

WhileupcomingStar Warsshowsare still expected, the galaxy far, far away is set to return to the theater. This is certainly exciting after a recent hiatus, but the production issues that plagued the anthology movies and the sequel trilogy still loom large in the minds of audiences. For this reason, many of the confirmed upcomingStar Warsmovies are unlikely to ever come to fruition, despite some being certainties of the next few years.

10Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film

Updates Have Been Few & Far Between

Not even six months afterThe Rise of Skywalker, it was announced that Taika Waititi would write and direct aStar Warsmovie. Waititi worked onThe Mandalorianseason 1 as a director and the voice of IG-11, leading him to pitch a newStar Warsfilm that strayed from the confines of the Skywalker Saga. It was announced that Waititi would write the film as he filmed other projects likeThor: Love and Thunder.Fast-forward three years to 2023, and the film still did not have a script amid rumors of it being canceled.

Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie: Announcement, Franchise Future, & Will It Happen?

Audiences were intrigued by the 2020 announcement that Taika Waititi was working on a Star Wars movie, but is it still happening four years later?

Regardless, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the film was still in development. It was reported that Waititi would continue working on the script after the WGA strike of 2023 was resolved, yet little has been heard of the film over a year after the strike ended. When combining this lack of news with Waititi’s last few projects being lesser-received than his earlier work in Hollywood,this film is the least likely ofStar Wars’upcoming movies to actually happen.

Taika Waititi looking surprised in front of an image of film

9Lando

More Recent Updates Do Not Make Lando Any More Likely

In 2020, it was announced that a Disney+ series centered around Lando Calrissian would be developed. After a long period of inactivity on this project, it was announced that the original showrunner - Justin Simien - was stepping down from the project. This came with the news that the actor responsible for young Lando inSolo: A Star Wars Story,Donald Glover, would team up with his brother Stephen to turnLandointo aStar Warsfeature film.

It seems Lucasfilm is placing more stock in other movies, makingLandoan unlikely probability…

Shawn Levy in front of images from the Star Wars sequel trilogy

This was last confirmed in September 2024, yet no news has been provided since. While the concept of aLandomovie written by the Glover brothers is overly exciting, the inactivity regarding the project’s development between 2020 and 2023 is cause for concern. Moreover, it seems Lucasfilm is placing more stock in other movies, makingLandoan unlikely probability.

8Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Film

One Big TV Show Stands In The Way Of This Project

In November 2022, yet anotherStar Warsfilm was announced to be in development by director Shawn Levy. It was reported that Levy would begin active development on the project after working on Marvel Studios’Deadpool & WolverineandStranger Thingsseason 5. As was the case with Waititi’s movie, the WGA strike of 2023 halted early development, but Levy remained steadfast that the film would happen.

As of the end of 2024, Levy has already completed work onDeadpool & Wolverine. Similarly,Stranger Thingsseason 5 is expected to wrap shooting in early 2025, with the installment being released later that year. With that in mind, Levy should have the time to commit himself to aStar Warsmovie in 2025, making this project more likely thanLandoor Waititi’s film. That said, it remains to be seen whether Levy begins work on another MCU movie afterDeadpool & Wolverine’s success or whether he will outright confirm full development with Lucasfilm has begun.

Rian Johnson between posters for Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the Skywalker Saga of Star wars

7Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy

Will The Divisive Director Ever Return To Star Wars?

Despite being themost divisiveStar Warsmovie of all time,Star Wars: The Last Jedicaused Lucasfilm to have a great deal of faith in writer-director Rian Johnson prior to the film’s release. This faith, and clear love forEpisode VIIIof the Skywalker Saga, was rewarded with a deal for Johnson to craft an entireStar Warstrilogy. Like Waititi’s film, these three movies were set to be removed from the mainlineStar Warssaga. Then came the storm.

Lucasfilm’s pivot away from the original script for Episode IX that tied closer toThe Last JedithanThe Rise of Skywalkerdid proved how reactive the studio can be, reducing Johnson’s chances of returning.

Simon Kinberg in fron of a zoomed in image of the official Star Wars timeline.

The Last Jedisplit theStar Warsfanbase in two, and it still has not recovered seven years later, throwing Johnson’s trilogy into doubt. Stepping back fromStar Warsas a result, Johnson began working on theKnives Outtrilogy for Netflix. Despite claims from both Kathleen Kennedy and Rian Johnson that the trilogy will happen once the latter finishes his work with Netflix, it does not look hopeful. Lucasfilm has proven to be reactive to fan outcries since operating under Disney, rendering the chances of a figure as controversial as Rian Johnson returning toStar Warsunfortunately slim.

6Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy

The Most Recently Announced Star Wars Movies

In November 2024, theStar Warsfandom was struck with massive news:Simon Kinberg is developing aStar Warstrilogy. Rumors spiraled between these three movies being Episodes X, XI, and XII, or simply another standalone trilogy of stories devoid of Skywalker Saga connections. Regardless, it seems the reports are true and Kinberg’s series is in the works.

Star Wars' New Trilogy Being Episodes 10-12 & Continuing The Skywalker Saga Would Be A Huge Insult To Rey & Daisy Ridley

A brand-new Star Wars trilogy is evidently in the works, but if these movies are intended to be episodes 10-12, it would be a major disrespect to Rey.

As the most recent announcement on this list, Kinberg’s trilogy already holds more credence than Johnson’s trilogy,Lando, or the movies in development by Levy and Waititi. Lucasfilm and Disney would not let these rumors and reports circulate if they were not true, meaning the likelihood of this coming to fruition is, for once, quite high. 2025 will undoubtedly be a big year for confirming or damning whether Kingberg’s films will blossom but, at the moment, they cannot be written off like some other prospected projects in a galaxy far, far away.

Rey wielding her lightsaber in The Rise of Skywalker in front of imagery of Star Wars' Skywalker Saga

5Rogue Squadron

Patty Jenkins' Long-Awaited Movie Has A New Hope

If this list had been written a year ago,Rogue Squadronwould be dead last regarding the ranking of how likely it is to happen. However, the long-dormant film based onStar Warsvideo games received new hope in March 2024.Rogue Squadronwas first announced to be in development by director Patty Jenkins and was set to be the nextStar Warsmovie afterThe Rise of Skywalker. After a troubled early production schedule,Rogue Squadronwas repeatedly pushed back until being shelved indefinitely, which many thought to mean it would never see the light of day.

Gamecube

August 22, 2025

That said, in March 2024, Patty Jenkins revealed toColliderthat she and Lucasfilm had reignited their initial deal just before the WGA 2023 strikes happened. Jenkins stated that this meant she was back working onRogue Squadronand intended to deliver a script to Lucasfilm. This was a result of the new-look DC Universe by James Gunn, which removed Jenkins' commitments to work onWonder Woman 3. With that film dead, Jenkins turned her attention back toStar Wars, makingRogue Squadronmore likely to happen than it has been in years.

4Rey’s “New Jedi Order” Film

The First Of Four Likely Star Wars Movies

The remainder of this list consists ofStar Warsmovies that have at least a 65% chance of happening. WhereRey Skywalker’s “New Jedi Order” storyis concerned, thisStar Warsfilm hits that mark well. The film is simply more likely to happen than not given the big deal of its announcement, the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey, and the attachment of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy as director. Admittedly, the loss of Steven Knight as the film’s screenwriter dented the hopes that it would come as soon as 2026, but it should still see the light of day.

3James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” Film

The Jedi Prequel Film May Come Sooner Rather Than Later

Before Steven Knight’s departure from Rey’s “New Jedi Order” project, it would have been ranked higher than James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” movie. Instead, this development, as well as some rumors that have been circulating, have changed its favor. Mangold was announced as the writer-director of this movie, set 25,000 years beforeStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,at the same time as Rey’s return was confirmed. This came with the caveat, though, that Mangold had to finish work onIndiana Jones 5andA Complete Unknownfirst.

Dawn Of The Jedi: What We Know About The Star Wars Origin Movie

Set during the Dawn of the Jedi, James Mangold’s upcoming Star Wars movie will finally reveal the ancient history of the Jedi - and the Force itself.

After work was completed on these two projects, it was up in the air whether Mangold would work on his “Dawn of the Jedi” film first, or the DCU’sSwamp Thing. Rumors at the tail end of 2024 have claimed that Mangold has chosenStar Warsas his next project which, when combined with the addition ofAndor’s Beau Willimon as screenwriter, makes this film more likely than ever to actually happen. Hopefully, some concrete information that Mangold will be shooting this film next will be given in 2025. Until then, the signs look promising.

Luke Skywalker stood in front of the Prime Jedi insignia

2Dave Filoni’s New Republic Film

A Lack Of Updates Do Not Hinder This Film’s Chances Of Coming To Fruition

Ironically, the film announced to be coming by Dave Filoni alongside “Dawn of the Jedi” and “New Jedi Order” has received the least in the way of concrete updates, yet is still the most likely to happen of the three. The reason for this is Filoni’s sheer importance to Lucasfilm of late. In 2023, Filoni was made the Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm and began steering most creative projects, from TV projects likeThe MandalorianandAhsokatoStar Warsmovies like the New Republic story he was revealed to be writing.

Filoni is not going anywhere and neither are his stories…

Din Djarin and Grogu fly away from an explosion in concept art for The Mandalorian & Grogu movie

Filoni’s work has also been mostly praised by critics and fans alike, including both his recent live-action work and animated projects. Therefore, Filoni is not going anywhere and neither are his stories. This film was said to culminate the events ofStar Wars' New Republic timeline, stemming from another upcoming movie andAhsokaseason 2. After Filoni finishes production on the latter, work will undoubtedly begin on his first directorialStar Warsfeature film.

1The Mandalorian & Grogu

The Next Theatrical Star Wars Movie Is A Guarantee

The most likely upcomingStar Warsmovie to happen isThe Mandalorian & Grogu. Announced in January 2023,The Mandalorian & Grogu’s production has gone incredibly smoothly, with the film having wrapped filming by December 2024. Post-production has already begun and the film is on course to meet its May 2026 release date. With such an untroubled production,The Mandalorian & Grogufeels unfamiliar, but it will usherStar Warsback to the big screen, seven years after the franchise’s hiatus began.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Cast

The Mandalorian and Grogu is a Star Wars movie directed by Jon Favreau that continues Disney+’s immensely popular TV Show, The Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Updated Logo