Watts Tapped for New Star Wars Trilogy
Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind a trio of Spider-Man movies starring Tom Holland, has been attached to direct the first installment of a new Star Wars trilogy written by Simon Kinberg. The project is intended to serve as the next chapter in the Skywalker Saga, the multi-generational story of the Luke Skywalker family. The previous episodes ran from I through IX, and the next would be Episode X. Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker, the Jedi from the 2015–2019 trilogy, is expected to appear in some capacity in the new trilogy. Lucasfilm declined to comment.[S1]
Insiders indicate the film is still being worked on and Disney, its parent company, has not given it the go-ahead. Even so, it is said to be the most advanced of the projects in development behind Star Wars: Starfighter, which is now in post-production. Shawn Levy directs Starfighter, with Ryan Gosling in the lead role, and it is set to reach theaters on May 27, 2027, the same year the Star Wars franchise marks its 50th anniversary.[S1]
A Reliable Hand for a Storied Franchise
Watts is regarded as a safe pair of hands for a series that has at times had trouble keeping directors in place. Following his indie thriller Cop Car, Marvel brought him on to oversee the reboot of the Spider-Man films. Across 2017's Homecoming, 2019's Far From Home and 2021's No Way Home, those movies expanded in both scope and ticket sales, showing he could handle enormous, costly productions.[S1]
Since leaving Spider-Man behind, he made Wolfs, the Apple film starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt that had a bumpy theatrical rollout and a sequel that was announced but ultimately never produced. He also helped create and co-wrote Skeleton Crew, the Jude Law-led series that earned praise but drew a small audience and gave the Star Wars galaxy an Amblin-style feel. Watts helmed two of its episodes, working alongside directors such as David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard and the Daniels. Knight Edge Media was first to report his involvement.[S1]
