Jon Watts, known for directing Marvel Studios' Spider-Man trilogy, has been tapped to direct the next Star Wars film that continues the Skywalker Saga. This upcoming movie is reportedly part of a trilogy being written by Simon Kinberg.
While Disney has not officially greenlit the project, The Hollywood Reporter and Knight Edge Media have indicated that Watts will helm the first film in this new phase of the Skywalker Saga. Watts previously worked with Lucasfilm on the Disney Plus series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, a role that appears to have impressed the studio enough to offer him a major Skywalker Saga film.
Lucasfilm has been cautious about continuing the flagship Star Wars movie series since Star Wars: Episode 9 - The Rise of Skywalker concluded the narrative in 2019. Many projects have been announced and subsequently shelved, with most new Star Wars content emerging as Disney Plus shows or video games. The recent theatrical release, The Mandalorian and Grogu, underperformed at the box office, and the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, may serve as a test for the franchise's appeal outside the Skywalker Saga. If Starfighter does not meet expectations, a hypothetical Star Wars Episode 10 could become crucial for the future of Star Wars films.