Jon Watts to Direct Next ‘Star Wars’ Movie

A new “Star Wars” movie is currently in development with director Jon Watts attached.

Watts is best known for directing the popular “Spider-Man” trilogy starring Tom Holland, which includes 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming,” 2019’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” (2026’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.) Before being selected to direct “Spider-Man,” Watts also helmed films including “Cop Car” and “Clown.” Following his involvement with the trilogy, In 2024, it was reported that Watts, his production company Freshman Year and producer Dianne McGunigle had signed a first-look feature deal with Walt Disney Studios.

In 2024, Watts co-created “Skeleton Crew” alongside Christopher Ford, a coming-of-age series set in the era of the New Republic that followed four young characters on a new adventure, per the show’s official logline. Jude Law starred as Jod Na Nawood, with Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim, Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern, Kyriana Kratter as KB and Robert Timothy Smith as Neel.

With the role, Watts joins a list of previous “Star Wars” directors that includes Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand, J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson and “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. Released in 2019, Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is the most recent film in the franchise to debut theatrically.

As previously reported by Variety, Simon Kinberg will pen the script for the film. Kinberg is best known for being a writer, producer and director for the “X-Men” franchise, and was considered a surprising choice at the time of the announcement.