The long-rumored Rian Johnson Star Wars trilogy appears to have been cancelled after years of anticipation and speculation. According to a recent report, the trilogy that was first announced after the 2017 release of Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is now considered dead, leaving fans uncertain about the director’s future involvement with the franchise.
While Rian Johnson himself did not give a direct confirmation, The Hollywood Reporter referred to the project as “effectively dead” during an interview with Johnson. Despite this development, Johnson expressed his ongoing connection to Star Wars:
“A part of my brain will always be in Star Wars. It’s so much a part of me and the way I think.”
— Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi Director
Previous Hints and Updates on the Project’s Fate
As recently as 2022, Johnson maintained cautious optimism about his Star Wars plans. He told Empire magazine that he had continued ongoing discussions with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. At that time, Johnson cited a scheduling conflict as the principal reason for delays, saying,
“It’s just at this point a matter of schedule and when it can happen,”
and emphasizing the personal impact of not returning to Star Wars:
“It would break my heart if I were finished, if I couldn’t get back in that sandbox at some point.”
Kathleen Kennedy offered reassurance in April 2023 that the collaboration was not officially cancelled, although she admitted there was no active development underway. She described Johnson’s crowded calendar as the main obstacle:
“Rian and I talk all the time. He is unbelievably busy. So we’re not actively involved in anything at the moment because he’s doing another one of the ‘Glass Onion’ movies and then God knows what else. But he really wants to step back into the space. It’s a big commitment of time, so that’s really on him.”
— Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm President
Franchise Shifts and the Current Star Wars Lineup
The notion that Johnson’s trilogy would not come to fruition might not surprise many, given several previously announced Star Wars films have failed to materialize. James Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi,” for example, was revealed in 2023 but subsequent progress remains unclear. Another highly anticipated project, “Star Wars: New Jedi Order” starring Daisy Ridley as Rey fifteen years after The Rise of Skywalker, has encountered creative roadblocks, with multiple screenwriters attached. Most recently, George Nolfi replaced Steven Knight in January during a significant phase of the writing process.
The two theatrical Star Wars releases currently scheduled both distance themselves from the storylines established in Disney’s sequel trilogy. Johnson’s The Last Jedi divided opinion within the fanbase, while The Rise of Skywalker received generally negative reviews. Rather than continue the sequel legacy, Star Wars is set to return to cinemas in May with Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a film rooted in characters from the successful Disney+ series. Shortly thereafter, May 2027 will see the debut of “Star Wars: Starfighter,” directed by Shawn Levy and featuring Ryan Gosling.
The Uncertain Future of Star Wars Film Projects
Beyond these two titles—“The Mandalorian and Grogu” and “Starfighter”—the roadmap for Star Wars movies is unclear. Projects like “New Jedi Order” and “Dawn of the Jedi” could see renewed momentum, or new ventures could be fast-tracked based on the reception to the upcoming films. Franchise veterans like Daisy Ridley, along with new creative voices such as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, continue to shape films on the horizon, but fans may find it difficult to keep track of which projects will ultimately reach theaters.
While there is significant uncertainty about which stories will be developed or abandoned, the shelving of the Rian Johnson Star Wars trilogy marks a turning point. Despite earlier optimism and creative yearning from Johnson and support from Kathleen Kennedy, this chapter appears to have closed for now. Yet Johnson has indicated he may be involved in the Star Wars universe again someday, keeping the door open for his potential return to the galaxy far, far away.
As Star Wars prepares for its next cinematic entries, the franchise’s future will depend heavily on the success of upcoming releases and ongoing creative decisions by Lucasfilm. With the franchise’s direction once again in flux, the stories crafted by talents like Jon Favreau and Shawn Levy may set the course for years to come.
