The next Star Wars movie, which will be directed by Patty Jenkins, will premiere in 2023. When Disney acquired Lucasfilm back in 2012, they immediately went to work on producing a new slate of Star Wars films, releasing the three installments of the sequel trilogy and two spinoff movies between 2015-2019. That was a much faster pace than viewers were accustomed to with Star Wars, and even Disney admits they rushed out content too quickly. As a result, the franchise is taking a break from the big screen, following last December's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Given how secretive Lucasfilm operates, there have been many questions about the future of Star Wars movies. At various points in the last few years, everyone from Rian Johnson to Kevin Feige have been attached to projects, but most of the studio's plans were being kept under lock and key. The most audiences knew about the next Star Wars movie is that it's scheduled to hit theaters in 2023. But now, viewers know what it will be about and who's calling the shots.
At Disney's Investor Day, it was announced Jenkins will direct a movie called Rogue Squadron, which opens in theaters in 2023. To commemorate the news, Jenkins shared a video on Twitter, discussing her inspiration for the project. Watch it in the space below:
This is a major development for a few reasons. Not only is it concrete details about the next Star Wars move, Jenkins becomes the first woman to direct a feature film in the franchise. Over the past handful of years, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said repeatedly she wanted a woman to direct a Star Wars movie, but nothing came to fruition on that front until now. The studio was criticized for its lack of diversity behind the camera, as the first five Disney Star Wars films were all directed by white men. It's important to note Bryce Dallas Howard and Deborah Chow have helmed The Mandalorian episodes (and Chow is working on the Obi-Wan show), but this is still an important step forward for Lucasfilm.
Jenkins, of course, is best known for her work on the DC Extended Universe's Wonder Woman movies, with Wonder Woman 1984 currently earning rave reviews ahead of its premiere on Christmas Day. She reads as a strong choice to make a Star Wars film, as she's demonstrated a strong balance between spectacle and character in her other tentpoles. Additionally, it sounds like Rogue Squadron has a touching backstory, as Jenkins is using it to pay tribute to her father, who was a fighter pilot. That means Rogue Squadron could have a personal touch that helps it resonate with audiences and ensures Star Wars has a triumphant return to the big screen.
Source: Disney