The Star Wars movie universe just gained a major new name behind the camera. Jon Watts, the filmmaker behind Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, has reportedly emerged as the director for the first movie in Simon Kinberg’s upcoming Star Wars trilogy.
The report landed on September 26, 2026, and quickly sent Star Wars fans into speculation mode. The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap both reported that Watts will direct the opening film in Kinberg’s trilogy, while other outlets have connected the project with Star Wars: Episode X and a possible continuation of the Skywalker Saga.
However, one important detail still needs caution: Lucasfilm has not publicly confirmed the full project details. TheWrap reported that Lucasfilm declined to comment, while other reports describe the movie as a potential continuation of the Skywalker story rather than a completely separate saga.
That uncertainty actually makes the news more interesting.
After years of announced Star Wars projects changing direction, Lucasfilm now appears to have a filmmaker with direct franchise experience ready to take on one of its biggest upcoming stories.
Jon Watts Could Take Star Wars Into a New Era
Jon Watts already understands how to build a blockbuster franchise around recognizable characters.
He directed Tom Holland’s first three Spider-Man movies, starting with Spider-Man: Homecoming and continuing through Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Those films helped establish Watts as one of the directors capable of combining massive franchise expectations with humor, youthful characters and emotional storytelling.
Now he could bring that experience to a very different universe.
Watts also has something many potential Star Wars directors do not: he already worked inside the franchise.
He co-created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford and directed episodes of the Disney+ series. That experience gave him an opportunity to explore the galaxy from a younger and more adventurous perspective before potentially moving into a major theatrical production.
That connection makes his reported involvement feel much more significant than a simple Marvel-to-Star-Wars career move.
The New Trilogy Comes From Simon Kinberg
The project comes from writer and producer Simon Kinberg, who has a long relationship with major franchise storytelling.
Kinberg helped develop Star Wars Rebels with Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck. He also worked as a consultant around Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Lucasfilm first connected Kinberg with a new Star Wars trilogy in 2024. At that time, reports described the project as a fresh story, but questions quickly emerged about its relationship with the Skywalker Saga.
Now those questions have returned with even more attention.
TheWrap reports that early accounts described Kinberg’s trilogy as Episodes X through XII, while other reports have treated it as a standalone saga.
More recent reporting from Deadline has pushed the story toward a Skywalker continuation, while Knight Edge Media says Lucasfilm currently circles Watts specifically for the first chapter, which it identifies as Episode X.
So, for now, fans should separate reported details from officially confirmed information.
What We Know So Far
| Detail | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Star Wars |
| Studio | Lucasfilm |
| Director | Jon Watts, according to multiple reports |
| Writer | Simon Kinberg |
| Project | First film in a new trilogy |
| Possible Title | Star Wars: Episode X |
| Saga Connection | Reportedly follows the Skywalker Saga |
| Cast | Not officially announced |
| Release Date | Not announced |
| Production Date | Not officially announced |
The project has momentum, but Lucasfilm has not released a complete public announcement with all of these details.
Why Jon Watts Is an Interesting Choice
The biggest reason this story stands out is Watts’ history with young heroes.
His Spider-Man trilogy centered on Peter Parker as he grew from a high-school student into one of the MCU’s most important heroes.
Then Skeleton Crew gave Watts another chance to tell a coming-of-age adventure inside the Star Wars universe.
That combination could prove useful if Kinberg’s trilogy introduces a new generation of characters.
Of course, nobody knows the story yet. Lucasfilm has not revealed the main characters, villains, timeline details or even the official title.
But Watts’ previous work suggests that he knows how to make enormous franchises feel personal.
That could become an important part of the next Star Wars era.
Star Wars Episode X Could Continue After The Rise of Skywalker
This is the detail fans are watching most closely.
If the latest reports prove accurate, Kinberg’s trilogy could take the story beyond 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
That would make the project potentially the first major theatrical continuation of the Skywalker Saga after the sequel trilogy.
Knight Edge Media reports that Lucasfilm is circling Watts for Episode X and expects the film to continue the saga after The Rise of Skywalker.
Deadline has also reported that the next trilogy revisits the Skywalker family story.
But TheWrap highlights a different possibility: some sources still describe Kinberg’s movies as a new saga rather than direct Episodes X through XII.
That difference matters.
Calling the project Episode X suggests a direct continuation of the numbered saga. Calling it a new saga suggests that Lucasfilm could launch another story in the same universe without following the Skywalker family as closely.
Until Lucasfilm confirms the project’s structure, both descriptions need careful attribution.
Could Rey Return?
Naturally, the possibility of a Skywalker continuation has revived another huge question:
Will Daisy Ridley return as Rey?
Lucasfilm previously announced a separate movie centered on Rey, with Ms. Marvel director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attached to direct. That project would follow Rey as she attempts to build a new Jedi Order.
However, the Rey project and Kinberg’s trilogy have not officially merged.
Some current reports speculate about Rey’s involvement, but Lucasfilm has not announced her casting for the Watts movie.
That means fans should avoid treating Rey’s return as confirmed.
The same applies to other sequel-trilogy characters.
At this point, Lucasfilm has not announced whether characters such as Finn, Poe Dameron, Rose Tico or other familiar faces will appear.
Jon Watts Has Already Earned His Star Wars Connection
Watts does not need an introduction to the galaxy far, far away.
Skeleton Crew gave him direct experience with the franchise, and the series showed a different side of the universe.
Instead of focusing on Jedi Masters, Sith Lords or established heroes, the series followed young characters who found themselves caught in a much bigger galactic adventure.
That approach could help explain why Lucasfilm would consider Watts for a new trilogy.
He knows the visual language of Star Wars. He understands how the franchise balances adventure and character relationships. Most importantly, he has already worked with Lucasfilm before.
His move into theatrical filmmaking would therefore feel like a continuation rather than a complete career reset.
Lucasfilm Needs a Strong Theatrical Pipeline
The timing also matters.
Lucasfilm has spent years developing multiple Star Wars movies, but several previously announced projects never reached production.
The studio has continued to expand the franchise through television, including Disney+ shows, while its theatrical plans have repeatedly changed.
Now Lucasfilm has several major movies moving through development.
One of the biggest upcoming projects is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. Lucasfilm’s official site lists the movie among its current productions and continues to build interest around the next theatrical phase of the franchise.
That puts the reported Watts-Kinberg movie into a much bigger strategy.
Rather than relying on one film, Lucasfilm appears to be building several possible paths for the future of Star Wars.
Watts and Kinberg Could Form an Interesting Creative Pair
There is another reason this combination has caught attention.
Watts brings a director’s experience with blockbuster characters.
Kinberg brings years of experience writing and producing interconnected franchise stories.
Together, they could create a trilogy that develops its characters across several films.
That structure would give Lucasfilm room to introduce new heroes, establish new conflicts and expand the mythology without trying to explain everything in one movie.
It also gives the studio an opportunity to create a new entry point for audiences who may not have followed every Star Wars project from the past decade.
That possibility remains theoretical, though.
Neither Watts nor Kinberg has publicly revealed the story.
What Happened to Other Star Wars Movies?
The Watts news also arrives after years of uncertainty around the franchise’s movie slate.
Lucasfilm has announced several projects since The Rise of Skywalker, including movies connected to different eras and characters.
Some projects moved forward for a while and then disappeared from the active slate. Others changed directors or writers.
TheWrap specifically noted several projects that have failed to materialize since 2019, including films connected to Taika Waititi, Rey and Lando.
That history explains why fans remain cautious whenever a new Star Wars movie enters the headlines.
A director attachment represents an important development, but it does not automatically guarantee that a film will reach theaters.
For Watts and Kinberg, the next major milestone will involve Lucasfilm formally announcing the project’s production plans.
When Could Jon Watts’ Star Wars Movie Start Filming?
No official filming date exists yet.
Earlier reports suggested that Kinberg’s trilogy had started gaining momentum and could enter production as early as 2027. Dark Horizons reported that the project appeared to be moving quickly, although the outlet also noted that Lucasfilm had not confirmed the development.
The latest reports now give fans a director to watch, but they do not provide a confirmed production schedule.
That leaves several major questions unanswered.
- Will Lucasfilm announce Episode X soon?
2. Will Watts direct only the first movie?
3. Will he eventually return for the second and third installments?
And will the studio connect the trilogy directly to Rey’s story?
For now, none of those questions has an official answer.
The Biggest Questions Around Episode X
The Watts news creates a long list of questions for fans.
Will This Really Be Episode X?
Several reports now use the Episode X label, but Lucasfilm has not publicly confirmed that title. TheWrap has also highlighted conflicting reports about whether Kinberg’s trilogy will continue the numbered saga or create a separate story.
Will Daisy Ridley Return?
There is no official confirmation that Ridley will appear in the Watts-directed film.
Will Jon Watts Direct All Three Movies?
Current reporting focuses on Watts directing the first film. That does not automatically mean he will direct the entire trilogy.
When Will Production Begin?
Reports have suggested 2027 as a possible target, but Lucasfilm has not announced a production start date.
Who Will Star?
The cast remains unknown.
When Will the Movie Release?
Lucasfilm has not announced a theatrical release date.
Why This Story Is Trending Right Now
The Watts report arrives at exactly the kind of moment that can reignite the Star Wars conversation.
The franchise has spent years between major theatrical releases while fans waited to see which projects would actually reach production.
Now a filmmaker with a major blockbuster résumé and an existing Star Wars connection has reportedly joined one of the studio’s most closely watched projects.
That gives the story a much stronger hook than another early-stage project announcement.
Watts directed three Spider-Man films.
He helped create Skeleton Crew.
Kinberg co-created Star Wars Rebels.
And the new trilogy could potentially continue the Skywalker story.
Put those pieces together, and Lucasfilm has a creative team with experience across both blockbuster filmmaking and the Star Wars universe.
The only missing piece is the story.
Final Thoughts
Jon Watts’ reported move into the next Star Wars trilogy could become one of the most important director developments in Lucasfilm’s current movie plans.
The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap both report that Watts will direct the first film in Simon Kinberg’s trilogy, while other reports identify the project as a possible Episode X and continuation of the Skywalker Saga.
Still, fans should keep one thing in mind: Lucasfilm has not publicly confirmed every detail surrounding the project.
The title, cast, release date, production schedule and exact connection to the Skywalker Saga remain unclear.
What we do know makes the project especially interesting.
Jon Watts already knows how to handle a massive superhero franchise. He already worked inside the Star Wars universe through Skeleton Crew. Simon Kinberg already has deep connections to the franchise through Star Wars Rebels and his earlier work around the sequel era.
Now their reported collaboration could open the next major chapter of Star Wars on the big screen.
And if this really becomes Episode X, the next question will not simply be who directs it.
It will be where the Skywalker story goes next.
FAQ
Is Jon Watts directing the new Star Wars movie?
The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap report that Jon Watts will direct the first film in Simon Kinberg’s new Star Wars trilogy. Lucasfilm has not publicly confirmed the full details.
Is the new Star Wars movie Episode X?
Several current reports describe the project as Star Wars: Episode X. However, TheWrap reports conflicting information about whether Kinberg’s trilogy will continue the numbered Skywalker Saga or operate as a new saga.
Who is writing the new Star Wars trilogy?
Simon Kinberg is writing the trilogy. He also has previous Star Wars experience as a co-creator of Star Wars Rebels.
Has Jon Watts worked on Star Wars before?
Yes. Watts co-created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and directed episodes of the Disney+ series.
Will Daisy Ridley return as Rey?
Lucasfilm has not confirmed Daisy Ridley’s involvement in the Watts-directed movie. A separate Rey movie remains part of Lucasfilm’s broader plans.
When will the new Star Wars trilogy start filming?
No official production date exists. Some reports have suggested that filming could begin as early as 2027, but Lucasfilm has not confirmed that schedule.
When will Jon Watts’ Star Wars movie release?
Lucasfilm has not announced an official release date.
Check out our Visual Web Story on Jon Watts Directing Star Wars Here!
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