Few franchises in Hollywood history generate devotion quite like ‘Star Wars‘ does, and right now that conversation is being reshaped by a filmmaker who has been part of the galaxy far, far away longer than most casual fans might realize. Simon Kinberg has returned to Lucasfilm’s orbit in a major way, and the implications for the future of one of cinema’s most beloved sagas are enormous.
Kinberg co-created the fan-loved animated series ‘Star Wars Rebels’ alongside Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck, and also served as a creative consultant on ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. More recently, he served as executive producer on ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’, confirming his continued standing as a trusted figure within Disney’s major franchise machinery.
The news that ignited the current wave of debate broke when Deadline reported exclusively that Lucasfilm had closed a deal with Kinberg to write and produce a new trilogy of ‘Star Wars’ films alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. The initial report suggested these three films were intended to comprise Episodes 10, 11, and 12 of the Skywalker Saga, continuing the numbered sequence that began with George Lucas’s 1977 original. Almost immediately, insiders pushed back on that framing, with some claiming the trilogy would instead launch a brand new saga separate from the existing storyline.
Kennedy herself stepped in to offer clarity in a conversation with Deadline, describing Kinberg’s trilogy as “the next iteration, the new saga that moves us into the future.” She also confirmed that development was moving at considerable speed, saying Kinberg was heading into the scripting phase and that the studio expected to see something “probably around June.” Reflecting warmly on his history with Lucasfilm, Kennedy noted that after a long stretch working on the ‘X-Men’ franchise, Kinberg “segued into this space beautifully.”
Those who have followed Kinberg’s relationship with ‘Star Wars’ closely will not be surprised by the enthusiasm surrounding this project. Speaking to Inverse, the filmmaker described the franchise as “my religion,” and reflected that co-creating ‘Rebels’ gave him the extraordinary chance to “write a few verses of the Bible.” That level of personal investment, layered on top of decades of experience across major Hollywood franchises, has given a cautiously optimistic tone to what might otherwise have been a routine industry announcement.
What the trilogy will actually look like on screen remains largely unknown. Kennedy confirmed the films will take place after the events of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ and will focus primarily on new characters, though she noted some faces from the sequel trilogy may return. Reports have also suggested that Daisy Ridley’s Rey could appear in the trilogy in a supporting capacity, with new leads occupying the central spotlight. Kinberg’s trilogy joins a crowded Lucasfilm slate that already includes James Mangold’s dawn-of-the-Jedi story, a Ryan Gosling-led film from Shawn Levy, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey-focused project.
Whether these films ultimately carry official episode numbers or chart a genuinely fresh narrative course, the momentum behind Kinberg’s trilogy is real and building. If this new ‘Star Wars’ chapter does pick up in the era after ‘The Rise of Skywalker’, would you rather see it bring back Rey and the sequel generation in a meaningful way, or hand the keys to an entirely new set of characters and start fresh?