Star Wars: Episode X's Latest Update Just Made The New Trilogy Way More Exciting
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Seven years later, it seems development is underway for a new Star Wars trilogy from Lucasfilm, continuing the Skywalker saga for a brand-new era. Following The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, Lucasfilm has kept its focus on various streaming series and, more recently, standalone films. However, the galaxy far, far away may soon have a brand-new trilogy on its hands beginning with Star Wars: Episode X, and the latest update is absolutely worth getting excited about.
The latest developments surrounding the next potential Star Wars trilogy make the idea considerably more exciting than it already was. It's been known for some time that Simon Kinberg has been writing a full new trilogy for Lucasfilm, and that Daisy Ridley's Rey is expected to return for the next continuation of the Skywalker saga. However, recent reports from THR suggest Jon Watts has signed on to direct at least Episode X.
While it's easy to focus on some of Kinberg's more high-profile blockbuster flops, his track record has just as many big wins, particularly when it comes to Star Wars. Likewise, Watts' potential involvement is just as exciting thanks to his own impressive resume and past work in the galaxy far, far away. Keeping that in mind, let's break down why Kinberg and Watts make Episode X feel like such an incredibly promising new chapter for Star Wars' future.
Simon Kinberg Created Some Of The Disney Era's Best Star Wars Moments
Ultimately, Simon Kinberg's Star Wars résumé is quite impressive, well before he started writing this new trilogy in collaboration with Kathleen Kennedy. Not only is he a key co-creator and executive producer of the beloved animated series Star Wars Rebels alongside Dave Filoni, but he also wrote or co-wrote some of the most popular and significant episodes across its four seasons.
Firstly, Simon Kinberg wrote Rebels' two-part series premiere, "Spark of Rebellion," alongside Dave Filoni and Greg Weisman, introducing the entire crew of the Ghost, a key cell in the early Rebellion known as the Spectres. Kinberg also wrote "Call To Action" with Weisman well the first season's finale, "Fire Across the Galaxy." Not only that, but Kinberg then co-wrote "Twilight of the Apprentice" with Steven Melching and Filoni, the epic finale of Rebels season 2 featuring not only the return of Darth Maul but also the epic duel between Ahsoka Tano and Darth Vader atop the ancient Sith temple on Malachor.
Last but not least, Kinberg also helped write Rebels' epic series finale "Family Reunion - and Farewell", featuring the libeation of Lothal as well as Ezra's confronation with Emperor Palpatine before exiling both himself and Grand Admiral Thrawn to another galaxy. Beyond animation, Kinberg also served as a story consultant on The Force Awakens, working alongside J.J Abrams for the first chapter of the sequel trilogy. As such, Kinberg has been involved in two of the most important projects in the early Disney-Star Wars era.
Furthermore, it's also worth noting that Kinberg's broader Hollywood résumé is considerably stronger than his reputation often suggests from critics online. After all, he's been involved with major successes like X-Men: Days of Future Past, Logan, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Martian, Sherlock Holmes, and more.
Yes, there have been major high-profile flops like 2015's Fantastic Four and 2019's Dark Phoenix, but his full track record is much bigger than simply being "the guy who made Fantastic Four and Dark Phoenix", especially when we're talking about Star Wars. When all is said and done, Kinberg has proven he knows how the franchise and its vast timeline and mythology works, and has plenty of experience helping create stories that eventually became crucial touchpoints in the Disney-era canon.
Jon Watts Has Already Proven He Can Capture The Tone And Feel of Star Wars
Beyond Simon Kinberg, Jon Watts is just as much of an exciting choice for Episode X, similarly possessing prior Star Wars experience, having been the co-creator, executive producer, showrunner, and director for the first and last episodes of 2024's Skeleton Crew, starring Jude Law as Jod Na Nawood and a group of young kids who embark on an exciting misadventure involving hidden treasure and galactic pirates.
Inspired by classic Amblin films like The Goonies, Watts' Skeleton Crew perfectly captured the true wonder, excitement, and vastness of the Star Wars galaxy, full of practical effects and a story that couldn't have fit better for the galaxy far, far away. As such, Watts' understanding of that crucial tone and feel is a great sign when it comes to directing Episode X. After all, the next trilogy will have to make the galaxy feel exciting again without simply repeating the original trilogy as the sequels were heavily criticized for.
Then there's Watts' experience with another enormous franchise. The Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland became one of the MCU's most successful trilogies, balancing established Marvel mythology with a youthful coming-of-age story. Likewise, Spider-Man: No Way Home went even further by bringing together decades of Spider-Man's cinematic history without losing the emotional core of Peter Parker's story.
That experience could translate extremely well to Star Wars. Episode X will inevitably be carrying decades of continuity, characters, expectations, and fan investment. Watts has already demonstrated that he can work with that kind of baggage while still making a movie that feels accessible to a massive mainstream audience.
More importantly, Watts understands how to make established characters feel human. That's something the next Star Wars trilogy will desperately need if it is going to successfully continue the Skywalker legacy rather than simply revisit it.
Kinberg and Watts therefore represent an intriguing combination. Kinberg brings extensive knowledge of Star Wars mythology and experience with the franchise's Disney-era storytelling, while Watts brings a proven ability to deliver wonder, humor, adventure, and blockbuster spectacle.
If Episode X really is intended to launch an entirely new Star Wars trilogy, that combination could be exactly what Lucasfilm needs. The Skywalker Saga doesn't necessarily need to be erased or completely reinvented. It needs filmmakers who understand why audiences cared about it in the first place while being willing to take the story somewhere new.
All in all, it certainly looks like Star Wars: Episode X has a creative team that couldn't be better when it comes to experience and past successes in the galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars: Episode X is currently in development at Lucasfilm.
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