The conference room went quiet when the name hit the table. I felt the same ping of disbelief you do when a rumor becomes a headline. For a moment, the franchise’s next move seemed to rearrange itself in real time.
I’m going to walk you through what matters — who’s involved, what’s reported, and why this might change the way Disney approaches Star Wars for years. Read this like a briefing from someone who’s tracked dozens of studio shake-ups: clear, blunt, and focused on what you should watch next.
At a trade desk where scoops are currency, the Hollywood Reporter dropped the lead
Per The Hollywood Reporter—building on initial checks from Knight Edge Media—Jon Watts is set to direct the first entry in a new trilogy scripted by Simon Kinberg.
That line alone is a signal: Lucasfilm is circling familiar collaborators rather than starting from scratch. Watts is best known to general audiences for the Spider-Man: Home films; the trilogy grossed roughly 3 billion USD (€2.8 billion) worldwide. Kinberg carries franchise cred from the X-Men films and as a co-creator of Star Wars Rebels. Together they reintroduce a combo of blockbuster craft and franchise literacy.
Who is directing Star Wars: Episode X?
You’re reading the part you already guessed: Jon Watts. The move brings a director who shepherded MCU hits back into a galaxy far, far away. He also co-created and directed the short-lived Skeleton Crew, which keeps him inside Lucasfilm’s creative circle.
On the lot, executives trade names like chess pieces before a press release
Reports say this project is the “furthest along” of the many films Lucasfilm has floated, but Disney hasn’t formally greenlit the first movie yet.
That ambiguity matters. Studios often announce attachment to build momentum or test reactions; they don’t always follow through. Still, the presence of Watts and Kinberg together reads like a careful hand at the wheel rather than a scattershot experiment. Think of it like a compass that suddenly points east: you notice the direction and start recalculating where you’ll place your bets.
Has Disney greenlit Episode X?
Not yet. At time of writing the project hasn’t received formal approval from Disney. But insiders describe the script and personnel lineup as advanced compared with other rumored projects. If Disney signs off, this will be the first major post-Rise of Skywalker attempt to continue the Skywalker Saga on film.
At a table where casting whispers begin, Rey’s name resurfaced
The Hollywood Reporter also said Daisy Ridley’s Rey will appear in some capacity, though how remains unclear.
Her involvement is the single detail that turns curiosity into a political flashpoint among fans. Rey’s return would tether the trilogy to the Skywalker thread and instantly raise questions about narrative purpose versus nostalgia. I’ll be frank: bringing Rey back without a convincing reason would feel like slapping a familiar poster on a new house. If done well, it could connect emotional stakes across eras — as if a missing puzzle piece clicked into place.
Will Rey return in Star Wars: Episode X?
Reportedly yes, but specifics are scarce. Ridley’s name appears in sourcing, not in a studio announcement. Expect negotiations and creative decisions before anything becomes definitive.
Walking past posters of other franchises, you notice talent migration is normal now
Both Watts and Kinberg have strong MCU and Fox pedigrees; that’s part of why industry watchers pay attention.
This is not just about one director or one writer. It’s about a pattern: talent that proved it can steer massive IP is rotated into another. Lucasfilm is adapting tactics that work across mega-franchises. The promise is familiarity plus fresh tone; the risk is formula fatigue. I’ll watch story beats and agency for legacy characters first.
In the lobby, release calendars are sticky notes of hope and risk
For now, the franchise’s immediate calendar still has Star Wars: Starfighter arriving on May 28, 2027.
Watts and Kinberg’s trilogy, if greenlit, would slot into a longer-term plan to keep theatrical audiences tied to the Skywalker Saga thread. Studios love a trilogy promise because it signals scale to investors and fans alike — and because it forces commitment. That can be both an advantage and a trap.
I’ll be watching three things closely: whether Disney signs the deal, how prominently Rey features, and whether Lucasfilm uses this as a model for future mainline films. You care because these choices will shape the tone of blockbusters for the next decade and the creative latitude granted to filmmakers inside the franchise machine.
Want more coverage? Keep an eye on reporting from The Hollywood Reporter and Knight Edge Media, and follow Lucasfilm, Daisy Ridley, Jon Watts, and Simon Kinberg on social platforms for official updates. How do you feel about Watts at the helm — steady hand or safe bet gone stale?