Two plannedStar Warsprojects from Lucasfilm with Kevin Feige and Patty Jenkins might no longer go forward at all. This news comes in the wake of preliminary talk about a new project being added from another similarly high-profile filmmaker.
Star Warsis the most popular science fiction franchise in history, almost single-handedlyestablishing the space opera sci-fi genreas legitimate at a time when it had been considered a bit of an insult within the sci-fi community to refer to any work as such. Since the success of the original and prequel trilogies and acquisition by Disney, theStar Warsfranchise has re-expanded to include a new sequel film trilogy, one-off stories likeRogue One, and several smaller projects for the streaming service Disney Plus. After the success ofThe Mandalorian, the company went on to announce many more projects.
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However, it seems some of these projects were announced prematurely, a habit that has already led to Disney cautioning Lucasfilm against announcingStar Warsprojects early.Varietyrevealed that insiders at the company had disclosed that two projects that were in the works are now shelved with little chance of resurgence. The two in question are the plannedRogue Squadronfilm, which was to be helmed byWonder Womandirector Jenkins, and an unnamed project from Marvel Studios boss Feige.
Lucasfilm has joined a larger industry trend, with situations like Kathleen Kenedy’s indefinitepostponement of Rian Johnson’s plannedStar Warstrilogybecoming all too common. As if not yet aware of the problem, it’s come out recently that filmmaker Taika Waititi is working on aStar Warsproject that he will direct and is in talks to star in, with no working title, release date, or substantial crew information. This same premature announcement style, as well as the penchant for creative talents to revel in their proposed contributions to the franchise, almost ensures that this ends up suffering postponement or shelving as well.
While certainly not a consensus yet, that attitude is certainly on track to being mainstream as the evidence of a pattern continues to pile up. The effect that these types of backstage failures might have on fan morale and engagement can already be seen in other franchises, with some fans so distraught that theShazam: Fury of the Godsdirectorhad to offer fans some reassurance about Zachary Levy’s character via social media. WhileStar Warshas certainly weathered its fair share of fan backlash and controversy, the slow death of fan interest that might arise from DCEU-style cancelations and delays could certainly make the franchise’s post-Mandolorianfuture dicier than it needs to be.
