Ranking the Most Promising — and Most Concerning — Projects on Filoni’s Star Wars List

Hook: Why fans are nervous — and hopeful — about Filoni’s new slate

If you get all your Star Wars updates from fractured social feeds, you already know the pain: an avalanche of announcements, mixed creative signals, and the nerve‑wracking question — will these projects honor canon and actually be good? In early 2026 Lucasfilm entered a clear inflection point: Kathleen Kennedy left and Dave Filoni stepped up as co‑president, and a new internal slate of in‑development projects was publicly discussed. That shift promised creative clarity but raised fresh concerns about strategy and execution.

The inverted‑pyramid verdict: top takeaway up front

Short version: Filoni’s stewardship is a net win for canon integrity and longform storytelling, but the slate as reported mixes genuinely exciting creative bets with high‑risk, franchise‑fatiguing moves. The projects most likely to succeed combine Filoni’s narrative strengths with director‑led vision and middling budgets; the riskiest are headline‑grabbing character vehicles or vague megaproductions without clear showrunners.

How we ranked these projects

This list ranks each in‑development project tied to the Filoni era by three criteria: creative promise (originality, auteur/creative talent), canon fit (how well the project integrates with existing Star Wars continuity and Filoni’s storytelling sensibilities), and box office / commercial potential (theatrical prospects, merchandising, and cross‑platform value). Where public details were scarce, we used industry signal heuristics: attached creatives, era setting, and Lucasfilm’s recent priorities (late 2025–early 2026).

Top 10: Ranking the most promising — and the most concerning — projects on Filoni’s list

1. The Mandalorian & Grogu (Feature) — Most Promising

Why it ranks high: This is Filoni’s strongest card. He co‑created The Mandalorian and shepherded Grogu’s arc from a streaming surprise into one of the franchise’s most bankable IPs. The pair’s cinematic debut has enormous built‑in awareness and cross‑platform synergy (Disney+ seasons feed theatrical interest and vice versa).

• Creative promise: Very high — Filoni understands tone, pacing and serialized mythmaking.
• Canon fit: Excellent — directly continuous with the shows Filoni helped build.
• Box office potential: High — dependable franchise draw, strong merchandising upside (toys, books, collectibles).

Risks: a theatrical Mando film must balance spectacle with intimacy — mishandling that tonal balance risks alienating both casual moviegoers and the core fanbase. Smart move: aim for a mid‑to‑upper budget that preserves practical effects and character work rather than turning the film into a VFX tentpole that dilutes Filoni’s strengths.

2. Ahsoka (Feature or Continued Arc) — Very Promising

Why it ranks well: Ahsoka is Filoni’s narrative baby. Her series proved the appetite for mature, lore‑heavy Star Wars storytelling. A theatrical or prestige streaming continuation helmed by writers from the series could deepen live‑action canon and reward long‑term fans.

• Creative promise: High — complex protagonist, strong supporting cast, potential for political and Jedi lore exploration.
• Canon fit: Stellar — extends existing arcs and fills in gaps from the Clone Wars/Thrawn storyline Filoni cares about.
• Box office potential: Moderate — big among engaged fans, less likely to pull in indifferent mainstream audiences unless marketed as a must‑see event.

Advice: lean into mystery and character stakes rather than spectacle; pair theatrical release with a cross‑platform content plan to bring casual viewers up to speed.

3. Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film — High Creative Upside, Mixed Risk

Why it’s intriguing: Taika Waititi’s voice is singular — irreverent, cinematic, and unpredictable. If aligned with Filoni’s respect for canon and a coherent story bible, Waititi’s film could inject fresh tonal variety into the franchise.

• Creative promise: Very high — Waititi’s past work suggests he can revitalize tired IP.
• Canon fit: Uncertain — depends on setting and script choices; comedic or absurd tones can clash with established lore if mishandled.
• Box office potential: High but volatile — Waititi attracts audiences, yet the film’s tone will determine whether it becomes mainstream or niche.

Red flag: auteur projects need guardrails. Filoni should offer a framework for canon and stakes while allowing the director creative latitude. Use streaming as a soft launch option if tonal integration is uncertain.

4. An Old Republic / Knights of the Old Republic Era Film — Big Ambition, Big Payoff Potential

Why it matters: Filoni has repeatedly shown he thrives when exploring older or fringe parts of Star Wars lore. A film set in the Old Republic era unlocks high creative potential and world‑building freedom without jeopardizing core Skywalker continuity.

• Creative promise: High — huge canvas for new heroes, myths, and political dynamics.
• Canon fit: Strong — distant past stories can coexist cleanly with existing continuity.
• Box office potential: Moderate to high — depends on marketing, but also a long‑term IP play that could spawn games, TV spinoffs, and merchandise.

Strategic note: launch this era as a trilogy or limited cinematic arc with direct streaming tie‑ins (animated prequels or series) to educate audiences and reduce box office reliance on immediate mass recognition — and treat festival lanes and focused press runs as discovery windows, similar to how smaller films find cult momentum (festival spotlights).

5. Young Jedi / Next‑Gen Trilogy (Speculative or Reported)

Why it’s middle of the pack: A focus on a new generation of Jedi fits Filoni’s interest in mentorship and legacy. But younger leads mean longer audience investment and risk of failure if early entries underperform.

• Creative promise: Moderate — possible strong character work if grounded.
• Canon fit: Good — can be positioned decades after the Skywalker saga to avoid retconning.
• Box office potential: Moderate — merchandising friendly, but reliant on charismatic casting and strong first film.

Recommendation: build this as a multi‑platform saga — debut character arcs on streaming to cultivate fandom before big theatrical stakes, and use low-cost field tests (creatives' pilots and microcampaigns) to measure early traction (media playbooks and micro‑campaign testing).

6. Auteur & Experimental Small‑Scale Films — Critically Promising, Commercially Limited

Lucasfilm under Filoni should keep room for lower‑budget auteur projects that experiment with genre (space western, political thriller, horror). These won't be box office giants, but they can restore brand goodwill and critical cachet.

• Creative promise: High — potential awards and niche fan devotion.
• Canon fit: Flexible — can explore corners of the galaxy without heavy continuity demands.
• Box office potential: Low to moderate — best measured in long tail streaming value and prestige.

Operational tip: fund several micro‑budget features and distribute them selectively in theaters and festivals — this diversifies risk and signals creative seriousness. Smaller, director‑led films can also feed into a bigger tentpole strategy by testing tone and visual language that larger projects can scale (portable streaming and micro‑rig playbooks make these rollouts more economical).

7. TV‑to‑Film Conversions (Spinning Series into Movies) — Concerning

What this trend means: The report that multiple TV stories could be elevated to theatrical films is a double‑edged sword. TV formats let Filoni and his collaborators tell layered arcs; compressing those arcs into single films risks losing nuance or forcing unnecessary spectacle.

• Creative promise: Variable — depends on story adaptation choices.
• Canon fit: Complicated — risks continuity confusion across windowed releases.
• Box office potential: Unreliable — fans might skip films if they can stream the original seasons instead.

Best practice: if a TV story is worthy of cinematic scope, treat the film as a definitive continuation with new stakes and not merely a condensed recap. Use distinct marketing — a launch playbook and clear chronological markers — to explain the added scale (launch and marketing playbooks are useful guides here).

8. Skywalker‑Era Retcons / Soft Reboots — High Concern

There’s a strong commercial temptation to revisit Skywalker‑era beats for guaranteed audience recall. But late 2025 and early 2026 fan sentiment shows growing fatigue with retcons. Filoni’s credibility rides on respecting continuity where it matters and only reinterpreting elements to serve clear, character‑driven needs.

• Creative promise: Low unless handled by bold, coherent visionaries.
• Canon fit: Risky — retcons invite backlash and fragmentation.
• Box office potential: Short term high, long term toxic if fans feel betrayed.

Rule of thumb: avoid big retcons unless they solve narrative problems rather than create clickbait controversies. A disciplined canon‑management posture (a living bible and editorial guardrails) reduces rumor and trade noise that can derail longer arcs — something both creators and the press should watch for (newsroom and sourcing best practices).

9. Projects with No Clear Showrunner or Aesthetic — Worst Risk

Announcements without attached writers, directors, or a showrunner are red flags. In the streaming era, many titles have been floated prematurely; the early 2026 Lucasfilm restructuring should prioritize attaching committed creatives before greenlighting public expectations.

• Creative promise: Low until a vision is locked.
• Canon fit: Unknown — often becomes a patchwork of committee decisions.
• Box office potential: Highly uncertain.

Actionable take: fans and trade press should treat these announcements as soft rumors and watch for showrunner attachment as the true signal of commitment. Our newsletter will track those markers (showrunner attachments, production starts, release windows) and separate pitches from greenlights — a media workflow that values signal over noise (press to production workflows).

10. Character‑Vehicle One‑Offs (Overexposed IP) — Worryingly Commercial

There’s a temptation to greenlight films built around single characters perceived as “safe” — Grogu toys already sell themselves, for instance. But turning every popular character into a vehicle risks diluting brand value and turning beloved figures into hollow cash‑generators.

• Creative promise: Low unless the story justifies the spotlight.
• Canon fit: Possible, but often forced.
• Box office potential: Short‑term gains, long‑term brand erosion risk.

Strategic note: prioritize story integrity over forced monetization. Integrate merchandising plans into storytelling in ways that add worldbuilding rather than substituting for it — and study retail dynamics and trend reports to avoid short‑term merchandising traps (retail & merchandising trend reports).

Cross‑cutting industry trends in 2025–2026 to apply to Filoni’s slate

Three platform and market trends should guide how Filoni and Lucasfilm prioritize the slate:

• The theatrical rebound is selective: Big‑event tentpoles still perform, but audiences reward coherence and novelty. Generic CGI spectacles are less reliable than character‑driven blockbusters with smart marketing.
• Streaming remains the laboratory: 2025 saw studios use streaming to incubate IP and test characters. Filoni can leverage Disney+ to pilot concepts before committing to costly theatrical windows — and the technical side of small‑scale streaming distribution is getting cheaper and more reliable as portable setups and hybrid ops mature (hybrid studio ops).
• Cost discipline and VFX AI: Studios are deploying AI to lower VFX costs and accelerate pipelines — that can help mid‑budget Star Wars projects remain cinematic while managing budgets. Treat AI/VFX changes as production levers, not excuses for lazy storytelling; thoughtful pipeline choices and festival strategies can protect creative intent (festival positioning matters).

Practical advice: What to watch for and what fans should do

If you care about the future of Star Wars, here are immediate, actionable signals to watch when new Filoni‑era projects are announced — and how to interpret them:

1. Check for a showrunner or writer attachment. If a project lacks a committed creative lead, treat it as speculative. Follow trades and creator workflows that flag meaningful attachments (press-to-production guidance).
2. Look for era and stakes, not just character names. A clearly defined timeframe (Old Republic, post‑Skywalker, etc.) shows strategic planning; vague descriptions hide creative indecision.
3. Observe budget signals. Public clues about scale (IMAX marketing, international pushes) indicate whether Lucasfilm intends theatrical risk or a streaming first approach.
4. Read how Lucasfilm frames the project. Is it a continuation, reimagining, or anthology? Framing affects canon and fan expectations.
5. Follow Filoni’s role. His hands‑on involvement usually correlates with better canon cohesion and higher creative fidelity.

Advice for Filoni and Lucasfilm — practical editorial strategy

From an editorial and audience‑development standpoint, Filoni should consider these operational rules:

• Prioritize attached creatives over speed: Quality storytelling requires committed writers and directors; public teasers should follow showrunner attachment.
• Use a tiered release plan: Reserve big theatrical windows for projects with wide appeal and festival/limited theatrical runs for auteur pieces.
• Lean into multi‑platform arcs: Bind theatrical films and streaming seasons with clear chronological markers and reading guides to avoid confusion.
• Protect canon with a living bible: Filoni’s era benefits from a transparent canon‑management team (published timelines, official Q&As) to reduce fan‑driven misinformation.
• Measure cultural ROI, not just box office: Track streaming engagement, merchandise velocity, and social sentiment to properly evaluate mid‑budget projects’ success. For teams building those dashboards, look to newsroom and PR workflows for measuring earned attention (ethical data pipelines).

Contextual note: Reporting and responsible skepticism

As noted in a January 16, 2026 piece in Forbes, many items on the public Filoni‑era list prompted both excitement and alarm. Filoni’s promotion is real and signals a shift toward creator‑driven stewardship, but media reports sometimes conflate conversations, pitches, and greenlit projects. Treat trade headlines as entry points — showrunner attachments, production starts, and release windows are true commitment markers. See practical creative and press workflows for how to distinguish signal from noise (press-to-production playbook).

“Announcements without attached creatives are red flags.” — Practical rule for interpreting studio slate news in 2026

Final evaluation — a balanced scorecard

On balance, Dave Filoni’s elevation is an encouraging development for Star Wars storytelling. He brings deep institutional knowledge, a track record of honoring continuity, and an instinct for serialized mythmaking. But ambition and caution must be married: the most promising projects on his list are those that respect scope and attach visionary creatives early. The most concerning are headline‑driven, character‑vehicle cash grabs and vague megaplots without showrunners.

Call to action

If you’re following Filoni’s slate closely, don’t just consume headlines — join the conversation. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly breakdowns of confirmed showrunners, production starts, and hard release windows. Share which project you’re most excited (or worried) about in our comments — we’ll feature the most insightful takes in our next analysis.

Stay sharp: track showrunner attachments, era designations, and the first 90‑day marketing push — those three signals will tell you whether a Filoni‑era project is set to become a cultural win or another rushed franchise gamble.

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