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The Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Rise of Skywalker sequel led by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and starring Daisy Ridley appears to have lost its screenwriter as Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has reportedly departed.
Variety learned of his leaving and said Disney is now actively speaking with potential replacements. Knight joined the project in March 2023 after previous writers Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson departed.
This setback means production on the currently unnamed sequel won’t begin until several months into 2025 at the earliest, Variety said. This means it’s unlikely to hit the first of two still open Star Wars release dates of December 16, 2026, and is perhaps more likely to arrive on the next, December 17, 2027 date instead.
Little is known about the film given its lack of writer and release date, though it will focus on Ridley’s Rey Skywalker as she rebuilds the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. The actress said in November 2023 it’s a “really cool” film that isn’t at all what she expected. “I haven’t read anything, but I know the story,” she said at the time. “It’s really worth telling, worth exploring, and I think people will be excited.”
The next Star Wars film, and the only one with an actual title and release date amid the myriad announced projects, is The Mandalorian and Grogu. This sequel to Season 3 of The Mandalorian hits theatres on May 22, 2026.
The 2026 and 2027 dates Disney has locked in are, as mentioned, still completely open. The Rise of Skywalker sequel was expected to fill the first of these slots but as this is now unlikely, fans are back to the drawing board on figuring out what’s coming next.
Possibilities include Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold’s film focused on the dawn of the Force, or another set to be a culmination of Star Wars shows like Ahsoka and The Mandalorian from Lucasfilm’s chief creative officer Dave Filoni.
Thor Ragnarok and Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi is also working on a Star Wars film, though its progress is slow and steady as it’s not expected until around 2030. Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy’s film is in a similar boat, though reportedly picked up a writer in July.
Star Wars: Episode 8 – The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson also has an entire trilogy of films announced, but these aren’t in active development either. And finally, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins had a Rogue Squadron movie announced before it was cancelled due to her commitments to Wonder Woman 3. That film was cancelled itself, however, and Jenkins said she still owes Disney a Star Wars script and thus sparked hope that Rogue Squadron is back in development.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
