It seems John Watts going back to a galaxy far, far away! The “Wolfs” filmmaker is perhaps best known for directing three films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” He is now set to direct the next film in the “Star Wars” franchise after the release of 2027’s “Star Wars: Starfighter,” directed by Shawn Levy.
It looks like the next ‘Star Wars’ movie already has a director
Fans who have been looking forward to the next entry in the Skywalker Saga finally have reason to rejoice! The Hollywood Reporter published a report on Saturday, September 26, saying that Jon Watts will direct the first part of the trilogy Simon Kinberg currently writing. This isn’t Watts’ first adventure into a galaxy far, far away, as he co-created the Disney+ series “Skeleton Crew” in 2024.
Although Kinberg has been working on the project since the end of 2024, there is not much information about the project at the moment. However, it is widely believed to be the next installment of the Skywalker Saga, which includes Episodes X through XII. Lucasfilm has not commented at this time.
Insiders revealed that the project is still in development and has not yet received an official green light, which made many fans immediately think of the disappointing news about “The Hunt for Ben Solo”.
Fans have been clamoring for the return of Adam Driver since ‘The Hunt For Ben Solo’ was cancelled
If this new installment is indeed the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga, many fans are hoping so Adam Driver it will return in some capacity. The actor played Kylo Ren / Ben Solo in the sequel trilogy. Han Solo and Leia Organa’s troubled son died at the end of 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker” to save Rey (Daisy Ridley) after defeating Emperor Palpatine for what appears to be the last time.
However, in October 2025, Driver shocked the world when he told the Associated Press that he had been working on a “Star Wars” movie with director Steven Soderbergh for years. The film was supported by Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice president Cary Beck, and then – Lucasfilm’s chief creative officer Dave Filoninow co-president of Lucasfilm.
“We took the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver said at the time. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was it.”
Dave Filoni talks about the possible return of Adam Driver
The deleted film sparked a fan campaign, but it remains to be seen if Lucasfilm will bring Driver back to the franchise. At the Disney D23 event in August 2026, Filoni was asked if they had reconsidered the fate of “The Hunt for Ben Solo”.
“We’re not doing that picture right now. That’s all I can say,” he said with a wave of the Jedi hand.
Later that same day, Deadline asked Filoni a similar question. “He’s not here. You can’t find him here,” Filoni said when asked about what happened to Driver in the “Star Wars” franchise. “The Force is not with us in that regard. I love the love you feel for him.”
However, it seems that Driver is still on good terms with Disney, as the actor revealed that he will be joining the new “X-Men” reboot in a sinister role.
What Kathleen Kennedy Had to Say About the Simon Kinberg Trilogy
During her exit interview with Dateline in January 2026, the outgoing head of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy Simon Kinberg said he was “working” on the new trilogy.
“He wrote something that we read in August, and it was very good, but it wasn’t there. We’ve pretty much finished the story, and then we spent a lot of time on the treatment, which he literally finished about four weeks ago,” she said at the time. “And it’s a very detailed treatment, like 70 pages. And so it’s expected to give us something in March.”
She went on to discuss future “Star Wars” projects. Interestingly enough, she described Steven Soderbergh’s “The Hunt for Ben Solo” as “on the back burner,” when Driver said in October 2025 that the project had been scrapped.
Kennedy said that Steven Soderbergh’s film ‘On The Back Burner’
“We’ve talked about this new trilogy and then the things you mentioned. Mangold is really on the back burner as is Soderbergh.
“Dave, I know that Dave and Lynwen are very involved in what Simon is doing, and it would be a new trilogy,” she continued. “In the timeline of things, that takes you well into 2030 plus. So that’s what’s next for us.”
Fortunately, fans don’t have to wait long to get to theaters to see a new “Star Wars” movie, like “Starfighter,” starring Ryan Goslingto be released in May 2027.