Jon Watts Tapped to Direct New Star Wars Trilogy

The studio has yet to confirm the appointment, leaving official details regarding the film's title or release date under wraps. Simon Kinberg, a long-time architect of the franchise who co-created Star Wars Rebels and consulted on the sequel trilogy, has been tapped to write and produce the upcoming three-film arc. For Watts, the transition to a galaxy far, far away follows his work on Lucasfilm’s Skeleton Crew, where he directed the first and eighth episodes.

Public reaction to the news has been polarized. While some industry observers point to his successful run with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy as proof of his ability to manage large-scale studio productions, vocal segments of the fan base have expressed frustration over the decision to revisit the Skywalker narrative. Critics on social media argued that the studio should pursue original stories rather than returning to established legacies, particularly following the lukewarm reception of The Mandalorian and Grogu earlier this year.