Jon Watts is returning to a galaxy far, far away.
First reported by Knight Edge Media and confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, Watts is attached to direct the first installment of the Simon Kinberg-penned Star Wars trilogy. Lucasfilm intends for the new trilogy to act as the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga, making this untitled film Episode X.
For Watts, it’s a return to the sci-fi franchise. He previously co-created the eight-episode miniseries Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford. He also directed the first and eighth episodes.
Of course, Watts is best known for directing the first three Spider-Man movies set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — 2017’s Homecoming, 2019’s Far From Home, and 2021’s No Way Home. His other directorial efforts include Clown, Cop Car, and Wolfs.
Watts is seen as a reliable choice for the franchise, as he has shown to be capable of navigating the complexities of massive big-budget productions.
Episode X is expected to take the place of the previously announced New Jedi Order, which had Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy set to direct from a script by George Nolfi. That movie would have been set 15 years after the Star Wars sequel trilogy, with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey Skywalker. Ridley is expected to appear in some capacity in Episode X, although she will not be the lead.
It’s worth noting that THR‘s sources state that Episode X is still in development and has not yet been greenlit by Disney. However, it is apparently the project furthest along in the development track, making it the most likely film to be released after Shawn Levy’s Starfighter, which hits theaters on May 27, 2027.
What do you think of Jon Watts directing Episode X, or just Episode X being made in general?
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