David Benioff and Dan Weiss, creators of the hit series Game of Thrones, have spoken out about their canceled Star Wars film, indicating that the concept of exploring the origin of the Jedi Order didn't align with Lucasfilm's plans. The film, which was set to be the first in a series announced by Lucasfilm in 2018, was supposed to kick off in 2022 but faced cancellation due to what were initially cited as scheduling conflicts. They revealed their story would have covered the inception of the Jedi Order and the first lightsabers. They also expressed frustration with the title of Rian Johnson's film, The Last Jedi, feeling it impinged on the concept they were developing. Concerns over Star Wars film releases have been growing amongst fans, especially with several announced movies quietly fading from schedules or being outright canceled, despite grand reveals like Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron or Kevin Feige's now-canceled project. While Rian Johnson's trilogy seems to stagnate without cancellation, others like a potential film by Taika Waititi have a distant prospective release. Meanwhile, Lucasfilm plots forward with three new films announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, including potential extensions to TV series storylines and a return for Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker.
What are the upcoming Star Wars film projects?As of current announcements, there are several Star Wars projects in various stages of development: a film from Dave Filoni that may conclude storylines from The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, a project by James Mangold related to the origins of The Force, a film featuring Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey Skywalker set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and The Mandalorian & Grogu movie by Jon Favreau set to enter production. Scheduled release dates for Disney's Star Wars films are May 22, 2026, December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, though it's unclear which films these dates correspond to and if they will be met.
Background information on Game of Thrones creators: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss gained notoriety through their work on HBO's Game of Thrones series, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels. Their work on the show led them to a brief association with Lucasfilm to produce Star Wars content, although those plans eventually fell through. The Game of Thrones TV series ran for eight seasons and sparked significant interest in high-budget, serialized fantasy television. Despite a controversial final season, the show's impact on television storytelling and pop culture remains substantial.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Comments
It's a bit of a bummer to hear about Benioff and Weiss's Jedi origins flick getting the axe—exploring the deep lore of Star Wars always has potential for epic storytelling. With all these schedule shuffles and cancellations though, it seems like Lucasfilm's vision for Star Wars is more like a work-in-progress than a clear roadmap—at least we've still got some exciting projects to look forward to
It's always a bummer to hear about creative differences derailing exciting projects—Benioff and Weiss's vision for the Jedi origins sounded like a fresh dive into Star Wars lore. However, the shifting landscape of the franchise, with its mix of cancellations and new announcements, reflects the challenging task of balancing fan expectations with the desire to explore new territories in a galaxy far, far away.
Benioff and Weiss's Jedi origin flick could've been a fresh exploration for hardcore fans, but seems like the ever-evolving Star Wars cinematic universe had other plans—a common tale lately with all the shuffle. Still, it's intriguing to think about what could've been as we gear up for the new slew of flicks, especially knowing that Rey's saga will continue—it's like watching a game update; not every anticipated feature makes the cut, but the next patch might just surprise you.