The theater lights had just dimmed when a friend leaned over and said, “Everything feels paused.” You could feel the impatience in the room—fans trading rumors by the minute. Behind the scenes, a new pair of presidents at Lucasfilm are quietly reshuffling a deck of plans.
I’ve followed Filoni’s career long enough to see how he thinks: methodical, patient, protective of character arcs. You’ll notice the same instincts in his words—he’s mapping possibilities, not flashing guarantees. That posture matters because you, the fan or the skeptic, want both reassurance and surprise.
At a small press interview, Filoni described his approach in terms of architecture.
He told Collider he’s “looking at the stories and the potential and planning what I’d like to do.” That line reads simple, but it signals a higher-level strategy: an overarching idea that contains smaller, interconnected pieces. He and Jon Favreau have threaded live-action and streaming together before; that partnership is one of Lucasfilm’s stabilizing forces now.
What is Dave Filoni’s plan for Star Wars?
Short answer: measured stewardship. Filoni has said he wants a coherent through-line—“this many of that, and then we can have that”—which translates to a curated mix of character-led arcs and standalone adventures. Expect continued stories for the Mandalorian and Grogu, a focus on Ahsoka’s evolution, and room for other filmmakers to bring their voices.
At a schedule review you’d see two clear markers on the calendar: early 2027 and May 2027.
First up is the second season of Ahsoka on Disney+ in early 2027; then Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, arrives in May 2027. These releases show the dual-path approach: serialized character work on streaming, and standalone tentpoles in theaters. That balancing act is exactly the kind of architecture Filoni described.
Will Filoni focus on TV shows or movies?
He’s already proven he can shepherd stories across both formats. You can expect a priority on narrative continuity—episodes that feed into theatrical beats, and films that don’t feel like orphaned events. If Favreau and Filoni continue their creative tandem, you’ll see more TV threads that grow into cinematic payoffs.
At a rumor mill meeting, names kept coming up—Kinberg, Obaid-Chinoy, Mangold, Waititi.
There’s talk of a Simon Kinberg-conceived trilogy potentially serving as Episodes X–XII, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey work may be woven into that fabric. James Mangold and Taika Waititi still have projects listed as possible, which means Lucasfilm’s slate is plural: internal projects Filoni wants to shepherd, plus auteur films that could slot in. Filoni’s line about continuing things “already in motion” was short but purposeful; he didn’t close doors.
At conventions, fans debate every rumor as if it were official intelligence.
That public hunger is a lever and a risk. Filoni is managing expectations while keeping options open—he’s protecting future surprises without burning goodwill. He’s a conductor arranging instruments; his job is less about spectacle and more about ensuring each voice hits the right note when it matters.
When will Lucasfilm make its big announcements?
Industry eyes point to two moments: August’s D23 Expo and April 2027’s Star Wars Celebration. Those are the events where plans get hardened into dates, trailers, and casting announcements. Until then, hints—quotes, scheduled release windows, and named directors—are the breadcrumbs we use to predict the trail.
At the creative-table level, ongoing projects still carry momentum.
Filoni mentioned collaborating with other creative talents—this is an explicit signal that he prefers a curated slate rather than a single-author takeover. The Kinberg trilogy, the Rey material, and talent-driven films by Mangold or Waititi could all be folded into a broader strategy, or trimmed if they no longer fit. The slate reads as a map with missing roads: useful, but not finished.
If you want comfort, note the concrete: Filoni co-wrote and produced The Mandalorian and Grogu, he’s now a Lucasfilm president alongside Lynwen Brennan, and he’s openly partnered with Favreau. If you want friction, remember how many announced Star Wars films never reached theaters over the last decade. The tension between promise and execution is exactly where decisions will be made.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
So here’s the real question you should be asking: are you ready to bet the next saga of Star Wars on Filoni’s hand?