Jon Watts is attached to direct the next Star Wars movie, the first film in a Simon Kinberg–written trilogy that trade reports frame as the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga. Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and TheWrap all reported the attachment on Sept. 26, 2026. Lucasfilm declined to comment. The project is still in development and has not been greenlit by Disney yet.
That is the clean answer to the weekend search spike: a director is named, a trilogy writer is attached, and the franchise is talking about going past Episode IX again.
TL;DR
- Jon Watts (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, No Way Home; Skeleton Crew) is attached to direct the first film in a new Star Wars trilogy (Variety, THR).
- Simon Kinberg is writing the trilogy. Deadline and THR describe it as continuing the Skywalker Saga (Episode X and beyond); TheWrap notes some framing as a standalone “new saga.”
- Daisy Ridley’s Rey is expected to appear in some capacity, per Deadline and THR.
- The project is in development, not greenlit. Lucasfilm had no comment. Knight Edge Media broke the Watts news.
- Separate from this: Star Wars: Starfighter (Shawn Levy, Ryan Gosling) is still the next theatrical release, aimed at May 2027.
- Bamfuzzle angle: franchise-director news that updates the live Star Wars cluster without duplicating Padmé, Abeloth, or general rumor roundups.
Direct answer: Watts directs film one of Kinberg’s trilogy. Reports lean Skywalker Saga / Rey return. No Disney greenlight yet. Starfighter (2027) is still the next movie on the calendar.
Who is directing the next Star Wars movie?
Jon Watts. He is best known for Tom Holland’s Marvel Spider-Man trilogy (Homecoming, Far From Home, No Way Home). He also co-created Disney+’s Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford and directed episodes of that series, so this is a return to Lucasfilm, not a cold open.
Variety notes Watts, his company Freshman Year, and producer Dianne McGunigle signed a first-look feature deal with Walt Disney Studios in 2024. THR frames him as a “reliable” big-budget pick after the Spider-Man hits, while also nodding to the rockier Apple release of Wolfs. For Discover readers, the résumé that matters is simpler: he has already shipped three mega-franchise movies and one Star Wars series.
Is this a new Skywalker Saga trilogy or a separate saga?
Most major reports say Skywalker Saga. Deadline says Lucasfilm tapped Watts to helm the first installment in a new trilogy of the Skywalker Saga, written by Kinberg. THR goes further and says the next chapter would be Episode X, with Rey Skywalker appearing “in some capacity.”
TheWrap is the caution note. It reports Watts directing the first film in Kinberg’s trilogy, then says some early chatter treated the project as chapters 10–12 while others insisted it was a standalone “new saga,” closer in spirit to abandoned trilogy plans once linked to other filmmakers.
Until Lucasfilm confirms labeling, the honest line is: the dominant trade framing on Sept. 26 is Skywalker Saga continuation, with TheWrap keeping the door open on branding.
“A new Star Wars movie is currently in development with director Jon Watts attached.”
That Variety lead is the floor. Everything about Episode numbers and Rey is still reportorial scaffolding until Disney greenlights and announces.
What is Simon Kinberg’s role in the Star Wars trilogy?
Kinberg is writing (and, in earlier reporting, producing) the trilogy. He co-created Star Wars Rebels with Dave Filoni and consulted around the Disney-era feature brain trust. Outside Star Wars, he is best known for X-Men writing and producing credits.
Reports disagree on how long he has been on this specific trilogy. Deadline says he has been working on it since 2018. THR says he has been writing a “mystery trilogy” since late 2024. Do not flatten those into one date. Cite both, and treat Kinberg’s attachment as confirmed while the start year stays contested.
Will Daisy Ridley return as Rey?
Trade reports say yes, in some form. Deadline says Ridley has been “reportedly eyed to reprise” Rey as the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga. THR says Rey would appear “in some capacity” in the new trilogy.
That is not the same as a casting confirmation, a start date, or a plot synopsis. Rey’s last theatrical chapter was The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Any return talk should stay tagged to Deadline/THR sourcing until Lucasfilm or Ridley speaks.
Has Disney greenlit the Jon Watts Star Wars movie?
No. Deadline and THR both say the project has not received a greenlight from Disney. THR adds that it still appears to be the furthest-along development track after Starfighter. Lucasfilm declined to comment across Variety, Deadline, THR, and TheWrap.
So the Discover-safe status line is:
- Director attached.
- Writer attached.
- Saga framing reported.
- Not officially greenlit.
How does this fit next to Starfighter and other Star Wars plans?
Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, remains the next theatrical Star Wars film on the books, with a May 2027 target (THR says May 27; Deadline says May 28). Watts’s Kinberg film is a later chapter in development, not a swap that bumps Starfighter.
Since 2019, Lucasfilm has leaned hard into series and side stories while several announced features stalled or reshuffled, including projects once linked to Taika Waititi, a Rey-focused film, and a Lando movie. That backlog is why a named director on the Kinberg trilogy matters: it is a concrete staffing update in a franchise that has floated a lot of titles without cameras rolling.
For Bamfuzzle’s existing cluster, this sits beside evergreen explainers like Who Plays Padmé in Star Wars?, Who Is Abeloth in Star Wars?, and the broader 2026 Franchise Rumors roundup. Those pages cover character lore and rumor likelihood. This piece answers the new question: who is directing the next saga movie, and is it real yet?
Why does Jon Watts matter for Star Wars right now?
Because the franchise’s theatrical identity has been stuck between nostalgia, streaming spinoffs, and unfinished sequel-trilogy threads. Watts is a studio-friendly director who already speaks Lucasfilm’s TV language through Skeleton Crew and Disney’s feature language through Spider-Man.
The fan debate will split the usual ways: some want a hard reset, some want Rey’s story continued cleanly, some want a brand-new cast. None of that is settled by a Sept. 26 attachment. What is settled is the staffing news. Watts is the name on film one. Kinberg is the writer. Disney still has to say yes.
If you are tracking how Hollywood keeps recycling franchise IP rather than betting on originals, Bamfuzzle’s Hollywood Originality Report is the wider data picture behind this kind of announcement.
What’s next?
Watch for three things before this becomes more than a trade scoop:
- A Disney or Lucasfilm confirmation (or denial).
- A clear label: Episode X / Skywalker Saga vs. new saga branding.
- Any official word on Ridley, supporting cast, or a release window after Starfighter.
Until then, prefer updating this URL over spinning a second near-duplicate “Star Wars trilogy rumors” post.
FAQ
Who is directing the next Star Wars movie?
Jon Watts is attached to direct the first film in Simon Kinberg’s planned trilogy, per Variety, Deadline, THR, and TheWrap (Sept. 26, 2026).
Is Jon Watts making a Skywalker Saga movie?
Deadline and THR describe the project as continuing the Skywalker Saga. TheWrap notes some alternate “new saga” framing. Lucasfilm has not confirmed the label.
Is Daisy Ridley returning as Rey?
Deadline and THR report she is expected to appear in some capacity. That is not yet an official casting announcement.
When does the Jon Watts Star Wars movie come out?
No release date has been announced. The next dated theatrical Star Wars film is still Starfighter in May 2027.
Has Disney greenlit the trilogy?
No. Multiple trades say it remains in development without a Disney greenlight.
What else has Jon Watts done in Star Wars?
He co-created Skeleton Crew (2024) and directed episodes of the series.
Sources
- Variety (Payton Turkeltaub), Sept. 26, 2026: Watts attached; Kinberg script; Spider-Man / Skeleton Crew background; Disney first-look deal; Knight Edge Media first report.
- Deadline (Glenn Garner), Sept. 26, 2026: Skywalker Saga trilogy framing; Kinberg since 2018; Ridley eyed; not greenlit; Starfighter May 28, 2027 note; Lucasfilm no comment.
- The Hollywood Reporter (Borys Kit), Sept. 26, 2026: Episode X framing; Rey in some capacity; Kinberg mystery trilogy since late 2024; not greenlit; Starfighter May 27, 2027; Watts Skeleton Crew episodes.
- TheWrap (Umberto Gonzalez), Sept. 26, 2026: first film in new trilogy; Skywalker vs “new saga” ambiguity; Kinberg Rebels / Force Awakens consulting background; Lucasfilm declined comment.
