The Unsaid Slate: A Complete Timeline of the Star Wars Movies Kennedy Mentioned — and Those She Didn’t

Blocked by noise? Here’s a clear Star Wars movie timeline—what Kathleen Kennedy named, what she skipped, and what’s actually likely to reach theaters

Fans are tired of half-announced projects, rumor-driven scoops, and production limbo. You want a verified, up-to-date map of the Star Wars movie landscape after the Kathleen Kennedy exit and to know which films are real, which are dormant, and which might never leave the editing room. This explainer cuts through the chatter with a project-by-project timeline, production status, director attachments, and an evidence-based likelihood rating for release.

Executive snapshot — the top-line takeaways (read first)

• Projects Kathleen Kennedy publicly mentioned as she stepped down: a slate she described as "pretty far along" that included films by James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Donald Glover, and others. Kennedy also confirmed finished scripts on some projects and called others "on the back burner." (Deadline / Polygon reporting, Jan 2026.)
• Notably absent from her exit comments: the standalone Rey Skywalker movie announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023 (director Sharmeen Obaid‑Chinoy, star Daisy Ridley), which went unmentioned and currently shows low public momentum.
• Big pattern in early 2026: theatrical features are increasingly uncertain while Lucasfilm leans into serialized streaming under new leadership (Dave Filoni named a central creative overseer late 2025 / early 2026). That shift reduces the immediate likelihood of ambitious, high-budget theatrical experiments.

Quick status snapshot: who’s likely and who’s not (at a glance)

• James Mangold — "Dawn of the Jedi" (Origins of the Jedi): Script praised, on hold. Likelihood of release in near term: 20%.
• Taika Waititi film: Script reports vary; development continuing but not fast-tracked. Likelihood: 45%.
• Donald Glover — Lando: Reported finished script; active development but no production window. Likelihood: 50%.
• Steven Soderbergh / Ben Solo: Script described as "just great" but project now "on the back burner." Likelihood: 15%.
• Sharmeen Obaid‑Chinoy / Daisy Ridley — Rey standalone: Publicly announced 2023 but omitted from Kennedy’s exit list; development visibility low. Likelihood: 25%.

Why this matters now — 2026 trends shaping these outcomes

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought a few decisive industry signals that change the math on Star Wars movies:

• Leadership reset: Kathleen Kennedy’s exit signals a new Lucasfilm era that prioritizes connected storytelling and franchise stability. That often favors TV-first strategies.
• Streaming dominance: After the success of serialized shows (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka), Disney is prioritizing long-form streaming investment that drives subscriber retention, making standalone theatrical riskier.
• Budget scrutiny: Studios are more cautious post-2023–25 cost reviews; original, expensive stories set far from established characters face higher gatekeeping.
• Creator dynamics: Filmmakers like James Mangold and Steven Soderbergh produce high-quality, boundary-pushing scripts that may not align with a conservative franchise relaunch plan—so even finished scripts can stall.

Detailed timeline and explainer: projects Kennedy mentioned vs. those she didn’t

Below we break each key project into a timeline card: announcement, development notes, current 2026 status, director/star attachments, and an evidence-based likelihood score.

1) James Mangold — "Dawn of the Jedi" (Origins trilogy idea)

• Announced: 2023 (part of multiple-director slate first teased at Celebration).
• Director(s) attached: James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). Writer credit with Beau Willimon reported.
• Development notes: Mangold and Beau Willimon are said to have written an "incredible" script focused on the emergence of the Jedi, set roughly 25,000 years before the Skywalker saga. Reports in early 2026 called the script boundary-pushing and praised it creatively.
• 2026 status: Kennedy told Deadline the project is "on hold." Lucasfilm leadership changes and a strategic pivot to TV have deprioritized large, original theatrical epics.
• Likelihood of release (near term): 20%. Rationale: high creative quality but low strategic alignment with a risk-averse theatrical slate; would likely be revived only under a production commitment from new leadership or as a streaming limited-event series.

2) Taika Waititi — Untitled Star Wars film

• Announced: 2020–2023 period; Waititi confirmed to be working on a film.
• Director / Creative voice: Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder, Jojo Rabbit) — brings irreverent tone and comedic sensibility.
• Development notes: Reports suggest scripts have been through multiple revisions. Waititi’s busy schedule (TV and film projects) and company priorities slowed pace. Kennedy indicated finished scripts existed for several projects; Waititi’s is among those that have seen work but not greenlighted.
• 2026 status: Active development, but not production-ready. Waiting on franchise priorities and a production window.
• Likelihood of release (near term): 45%. Rationale: Waititi’s mainstream appeal and ability to inject unique tone give this project a reasonable chance, especially if reframed as a streaming tentpole or hybrid release.

3) Donald Glover — Lando Calrissian

• Announced: 2018–2020 rumors solidified into an announced project later; Glover confirmed interest and creative development continued through 2023.
• Director / Star: Donald Glover attached as star and driving creative force; scripts have reportedly reached strong drafts.
• Development notes: Kennedy said there were finished scripts for Glover’s Lando. A completed script is a big positive, but a completed script doesn’t guarantee a production window or studio appetite for a large-scale theatrical.
• 2026 status: Script-positive; no start date. Glover’s expanding career (music, TV, producing) factors into scheduling but creative interest remains high.
• Likelihood of release (near term): 50%. Rationale: Lando’s legacy character status and Glover’s star power make it among the more probable films to advance—especially as a prestige streaming film or limited theatrical release tied to franchise events.

4) Steven Soderbergh & Adam Driver — Ben Solo project

• Announced: 2023 era announcements; Adam Driver was reportedly attached to a Ben Solo story with Soderbergh attached to direct.
• Director / Star: Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's, Traffic), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren / Ben Solo).
• Development notes: Reporting indicated a completed script by Scott Burns and that Kennedy described it as "just great." Yet Disney chose not to move forward in the theatrical pipeline.
• 2026 status: Effectively shelved. Kennedy categorized it as "on the back burner." Without a strategic reason to pivot this into streaming, it’s low priority.
• Likelihood of release (near term): 15%. Rationale: Although talent and script quality are high, the top brass appears uninterested in high-risk theatrical projects that center on divisive or controversial saga figures without a clear franchise tie-in.

5) Sharmeen Obaid‑Chinoy & Daisy Ridley — Rey Skywalker standalone (announced at Celebration 2023)

• Announced: Star Wars Celebration 2023 with Daisy Ridley and director Sharmeen Obaid‑Chinoy onstage to announce a Rey-focused film about founding a new Jedi era.
• Director / Star: Sharmeen Obaid‑Chinoy attached to direct; Daisy Ridley to reprise Rey Skywalker.
• Development notes: This project received fan enthusiasm at announcement, but has had low public updates since. It was conspicuously absent from Kennedy’s exit remarks in Jan 2026.
• 2026 status: Low public momentum. No widely reported script updates or production windows in early 2026, and the omission from Kennedy’s recap is a caution sign.
• Likelihood of release (near term): 25%. Rationale: The Rey character’s draw is significant, but Ridley’s participation and a director attachment do not overcome strategic shifts that deprioritize standalone theatrical returns to saga protagonists.

Other notable projects and cold signals

There are other names and concepts that have cycled through headlines—Rian Johnson’s earlier trilogy (effectively dormant after initial announcement), and projects that were announced but later quietly deprioritized. Through 2025 and into 2026, the pattern has been consistent: even finished scripts aren’t a guarantee without executive buy-in and a distribution strategy that favors theatrical risk.

Why Kennedy’s public list matters — and why omissions are meaningful

Kathleen Kennedy’s exit interview was more than a farewell—her recap acted as a de-facto inventory from the outgoing steward. When she highlighted specific projects as “pretty far along” or with “finished scripts,” she flagged institutional resources that had gone into development. Conversely, the omission of the Rey standalone is more than a communication lapse; it’s a directional cue:

“We’re pretty far along,” Kennedy said — but what she left unmentioned speaks louder in a company shifting priorities.

In studio terms, public mention often correlates with ongoing internal advocacy. Absence suggests either active dormancy or a strategic decision to not commit public expectations.

Actionable ways fans and trackers can stay ahead

Here’s how to track changes and separate signal from noise without chasing every rumor:

1. Set curated alerts: Use Google News alerts for exact phrasing (e.g., “James Mangold Star Wars,” “Rey Skywalker movie”) and follow trades like Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter for verified updates.
2. Follow production filings: Check Production Weekly, IMDbPro, and local film commission permit postings for first signs of a shoot date—physical production is the clearest signal projects are moving.
3. Watch leadership announcements: Changes at the top (creative overseers or studio presidents) often reshape priorities—Filoni’s expanded role in 2025–26 signals a TV-forward era.
4. Track writer/director interviews: Creators frequently reveal active commitment (or lack thereof). If a director publicly says they’re moving on, the project has lowered probability.
5. Use community filters: Follow trusted fan journalists and dedicated podcast episodes that date-check claims rather than reposting scoops without sourcing.

Predictions & recommendations for the next 24 months (2026–2027)

• Priority shift to streaming: Expect more Star Wars narrative energy to go to Disney+ serialized projects rather than risky theatrical experiments. Projects that can be reframed as limited series or streaming specials will have higher survival rates.
• Selective theatrical tentpoles: Only projects with clear brand alignment, measurable fan demand, and manageable budgets will be greenlit for cinemas—think character-driven events (Lando) or ensemble returns.
• Filmmaker exit points: High-profile auteur projects (Mangold, Soderbergh) may be retooled or licensed out as non-canonical specials if studio fit remains poor.
• Fan engagement strategy: Lucasfilm will likely use phased reveals—first TV, then theatrical—to stabilize the fanbase and avoid repeated film slates that underperform.

Practical takeaways for fans

• If you want Mangold’s vision: Don’t hold your breath for a 2026–27 theatrical release; lobby via social support and trade interest, but prepare for a longer timeline or a format pivot.
• If you want Rey’s return: Keep expectations moderated until Lucasfilm confirms production—an absence from Kennedy’s recap is a real data point, not just anxiety fodder.
• If you want Lando or Waititi: These are the swing projects—strong chance of surviving in some form. Follow casting and permit filings for the earliest green lights.

Final analysis — what the coming year will prove

Early 2026 is a pivot point. The Kathleen Kennedy exit and the public inventory she left behind provide transparency on both the promise and fragility of Lucasfilm’s theatrical ambitions. Projects with finished scripts—but without strategic buy-in—are unlikely to advance quickly. Meanwhile, projects with star power and flexibility (to move to streaming or hybrid release) have the best shot.

In short: the film slate is not dead, but it will look different. Expect fewer speculative, high-cost theatrical experiments and more curated event films or streaming-first storytelling. Keep tracking production signals and leadership announcements—the projects Kennedy publicly mentioned have momentum, but omission equals risk in 2026.

Get involved — how you can follow, comment and get updates

Want us to keep this timeline updated? Join our tracking list to get fortnightly production updates, verified scoops, and a monthly deep dive that visualizes the movement of each Star Wars movie project across development stages. Leave a comment below naming which project you want tracked next—Mangold’s origins story, Rey’s return, or Lando’s heist—and we’ll cover it in the next update.

Call to action: Subscribe to our Lucasfilm Watchlist for prioritized alerts, or follow our weekly podcast for interviews with industry trackers and creators who are shaping the next era of Star Wars.

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