New Jedi Order Movie Paused?

An unconfirmed rumor is making the rounds that The New Jedi Order movie with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey is on hold but not cancelled either. The news isn't really a surprise considering the movie has been having script problems with multiple writers removed from the project which suggests Lucasfilm doesn't know what they want, just what they don't want when its presented to them. 

Supposedly the pause is to allow for two other Star Wars films still at the idea stage, one from Shawn Levy and another from James Mangold. If that is the case that means this hold will be at least two or more years in length as there is no indication that either film even reached the finished script stage, much less started pre-production. 

Modern Star Wars films have consistently had problems with scripts, directors, and schedules and who knows what else that is hidden by NDAs. My general opinion is the mismanagement of Lucasfilm is such that you can't count on one of their films until its at least half way through production. By then they are too financially committed to not see it to completion.

Writer Out for New Jedi Order Movie

Another Star Wars movie writer has hit the eject button. Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) is out as writer for Star Wars: New Jedi Order movie that would focus on Rey (Daisy Ridley). He was the replacement for original writers Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson. Why he left or was kicked off the project is unknown but its not entirely a surprise as the Star Wars movies seem to go through several writers and directors before reaching the screen, if they don't get outright cancelled first. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is currently still the director of the film which is targeting a December 2026 release date which is becoming more unlikely to achieve.

Three New Star Wars Movies Announced

Star Wars Celebration 2023 has begun in London which means a bunch of news dropped this morning about upcoming plans for the franchise. Previous posts have covered most of the TV news. On the movie front three new films are in the works. Not a trilogy however, each is separate from each other and in completely different eras of Star Wars.

The first announced movie is the continuing adventures of Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker that is set about 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker "as she builds a new Jedi Order."  This is the same project that Damon Lindelof recently left with Steven Knight signed up immediately to replace him. Assuming it can stay on schedule, this is the one aiming for a December 2025 release date. Based on an image from her appearance, this period of time is dipping into the Extended Universe by calling this era the "New Jedi Order".

Speaking of titles taken from the Extended Universe, another era has been added called "Dawn of the Jedi". This era is 25,000 years in before A New Hope and will be directed by James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) which will explore the emergence of the Jedi.

The third film in the works will be directed by Dave Filoni and set during post Return of the Jedi years of the current TV series that he is apart of. The film is about the "escalating war between the Imperial remnant and the New Republic" that will likely bring much of the cast from The Mandalorian, Boba Fett and Ahsoka along for the ride.

If your curious, the now nine eras of Star Wars are Dawn of the Jedi, The Old Republic, The High Republic, Fall of the Jedi, Rise of the Empire, Age of Rebellion, The New Republic, Rise of the First Order, and New Jedi Order.