During a studio showcase presentation at the Star Wars Celebration event in London in 2023, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced three new Star Wars films were in development and that James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy would direct them.

During a recent interview to promote the new 20th Century Studios film, “A Complete Unknown”, James Mangold was asked about his upcoming Star Wars film, which will go back to the dawn of the Jedi, which will be 25,000 years before the events of movies.

James explained why he wants to make a movie set so many years before the events of films like “The Phantom Menace” or the Disney+ series, “The Acolyte”.

“The Star Wars movie would be taking place 25,000 years before any known Star Wars movies take place.  It’s an area and a playground that I’ve always [wanted to explore] and that I was inspired by as a teenager. I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it’s almost immovable, and you can’t please anybody.”

He also shared an update on the project, confirming that he, along with Beau Willimon have been working on the script:

To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. [Screenwriter Beau Willimon] and I, in relation to Star Wars, have been working on a script, and we’ll see what happens,”

No more details on this upcoming Star Wars film have been announced yet, such as when it might begin production or when it will get released in cinemas.  Disney currently has a few projects filmed, such as “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film, which will be hitting cinemas in May 2026, along with the second season of “Andor” arriving on Disney+ in April and a second season of “Ahsoka”, scheduled to begin filming later this year.

Roger’s Take: We’ve seen so many Star Wars films announced over the last few years that have come to nothing that I am still sceptical that this film will actually be made, especially after the box office disaster of “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” and most recently with “The Acolyte”.   While setting the film 25,000 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga will no doubt free up the story from many of the constraints of the lore of Star Wars, it’ll still have to comply with many of the basic rules, but this might be the best way for Disney to move beyond the current era.

Are you looking forward to a new Star Wars movie set before the events of the Skywalker Saga?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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