Even while Lucasfilm is busy finishing Star Wars: Starfighter, the studio may already be mapping out the franchise’s next major chapter. According to reports, Simon Kinberg is writing a new trilogy that would continue the Skywalker Saga, potentially beginning with Episode X. Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is expected to appear in some capacity if the project moves forward.
Jon Watts, best known for directing the Tom Holland Spider-Man films, is now attached to helm the first installment. It would mark a return to Star Wars for Watts, who co-created the 2024 series Skeleton Crew. Kinberg has reportedly been developing the secretive trilogy since late 2024, with the goal of extending the story of the Skywalker family beyond the nine episodic films.
The project is still in development and has not yet been greenlit by Disney, according to sources. Even so, it is said to be the furthest along of Lucasfilm’s post-Starfighter projects.
Starfighter itself is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Gosling. It is scheduled to hit theaters on May 27, 2027, aligning with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars.
Watts is viewed as a steady choice for a franchise that has famously cycled through directors. After making the indie thriller Cop Car, he was selected by Marvel to relaunch Spider-Man. Homecoming (2017), Far From Home (2019), and No Way Home (2021) grew into massive box-office successes, proving Watts could handle the scale and pressure of blockbuster filmmaking.
His post-Spider-Man credits include Wolfs, the George Clooney–Brad Pitt film that became a high-profile Apple misfire after its theatrical rollout was upended, along with a sequel announcement that never materialized. He also co-created and co-wrote Skeleton Crew, the Jude Law-led series that earned strong reviews and an Amblin-style tone, though it was not widely seen. Watts directed two episodes of the show, which featured directors such as David Lowery, Lee Isaac Chung, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and the Daniels.
For now, the Kinberg-Watts trilogy remains unconfirmed by Disney. But if it gets the green light, it could set the stage for the next generation of Star Wars storytelling—and possibly bring Rey back to the center of the galaxy far, far away.