A new report indicates that Lucasfilm is shaking up its “Star Wars” film development slate, with both the Kevin Feige and Patty Jenkins projects shelved. In addition filmmaker Taika Waititi may be starring in his own “Star Wars” film.
Lucasfilm first announced Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” in December 2020 but then two years later pulled the title from its planned December 2023 release as the project was still a long way from production.
Today, Variety reports that according to its sources the film is no longer in active development at the studio and is essentially dead. Said sources say the same thing for the project to be produced by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
Feige was first linked to a “Star Wars” film back in September 2019 which quickly led to talk that he could be replacing Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm. That didn’t happen, but the project was moving along with screenwriter Michael Waldron (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”) set to pen a script.
However Feige’s Marvel commitments are set to keep him busy for many years, whilst Waldron has moved on to write the script for “Avengers: Secret Wars”. Similarly Rian Johnson’s commitments to “Knives Out 3” and a second season of “Poker Face” will keep him busy for a while.
The trade’s sources indicate “Thor: Love and Thunder” filmmaker Taika Waititi continues to work on his possible “Star Wars” film and will most likely have a major role in it as well – not as the lead but likely as a key supporting player.
The studio is also reportedly remaining committed to a “Star Wars” movie from two-time Oscar-winning documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (“Ms. Marvel”) which has Damon Lindelof (“Watchmen”) and Justin Britt-Gibson (“Counterpart”) attached to write the script.
The studio will reportedly begin to unveil its plans for the future of “Star Wars” cinema at the Star Wars Celebration convention in London on the weekend of April 7th.
