Jon Watts Is Reported to Direct a New Star Wars Movie — What Is Confirmed?

Variety reports that Jon Watts is attached to direct a new Star Wars film and Simon Kinberg will write its script. That is a meaningful development report, but Lucasfilm has not announced an official title, cast, production start or release date for the project.

Is Jon Watts Directing the Next Star Wars Movie?

Variety identifies Watts as the director of a film in development. The trade also connects Kinberg directly to this film as its writer. That is more specific than general reporting about Kinberg’s involvement with future Star Wars films, but it is still a report about a developing project. No current Lucasfilm project page establishes its final title or theatrical slot.

Watts already has a connection to the franchise. He co-created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford and directed its first and final episodes, according to StarWars.com’s filmmaker interview. He also served as an executive producer. His work on the Tom Holland Spider-Man films provides the feature-film context for Variety’s report; neither credit tells us what story his new Star Wars film will tell.

Is It Star Wars Episode X or a Rey Sequel?

Neither label has been confirmed for this project. Variety’s report names Watts and Kinberg but does not establish “Episode X” as the title, confirm a Rey appearance, or state that the film replaces another announced project. It would be premature to merge those separate development threads or describe this as a sequel to The Rise of Skywalker.

The same limit applies to talk of a new trilogy. Variety identifies this film’s director and writer; that does not confirm how many films Watts may direct or how Lucasfilm will brand the story. A later studio announcement could clarify its place in the franchise.

When Will It Release?

No release date or release year has been announced for the Watts film. Disney’s other theatrical slots are not evidence that this particular project occupies one of them. The next concrete milestones would be Lucasfilm confirming the project details, followed by a dated production or theatrical announcement.

For confirmed franchise coverage, see our Movies hub and Star Wars stories.