Galaxy on Hold – Why Star Wars Can’t Seem to Move Forward

"Always in motion is the future," Yoda once said. And rarely has that felt more true than in today’s Star Wars—especially on the big screen. It’s been six years since the last Star Wars movie hit theaters—not an eternity by franchise standards. But in that time, Lucasfilm has announced, teased, or hyped up more than 20 Star Wars movies—most of which have since vanished into the void. So what the hell is going on? And why does the series landscape look just as shaky?

Announce First, Ask Questions Later: The Star Wars Development Chaos

As of now, only two Star Wars movies have confirmed release dates: The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter. Everything else? Stuck in limbo. It feels like Lucasfilm raided a drawer full of movie pitches and started announcing anything that sounded vaguely Star Wars-y. Let’s take a look.

Simon Kinberg (X-Men, The Martian) is reportedly working on a new trilogy—rumored to be Episodes X–XII—that could continue the Skywalker saga and possibly include Rey. Rey’s also set to appear in her own standalone film, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel). That movie has already burned through writers Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen), Justin Britt-Gibson (Counterpart), and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders). Currently, George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) is trying to crack the script.

James Mangold (Logan) is developing a film set thousands of years in the past, focused on the first Jedi. Dave Filoni (Ahsoka)—Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer—is crafting a "cinematic event" meant to unify the Disney+ series and take place between Episodes VI and VII. And let’s not forget Taika Waititi’s (Thor: Ragnarok) mysterious project, about which we still know absolutely nothing.

And those are just the ones still technically in play. But what happened to the Lando film starring Donald Glover (Atlanta)? Or Rian Johnson’s (Knives Out) trilogy, announced before The Last Jedi even hit theaters? Or Patty Jenkins’ (Wonder Woman) Rogue Squadron, which seems to have quietly been swapped for Starfighter? None of these were officially canceled—unlike the scrapped trilogy from Game of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss or a movie by Marvel boss Kevin Feige. There were even rumors of a horror-style Star Wars film by Tony Gilroy (Andor) and a Jabba the Hutt project from Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water).

Total number of films still theoretically in development: at least 20. And that’s probably not the full list.

Why Is Making a Star Wars Movie So Damn Hard?

This isn’t exactly a new problem. Even the Star Wars films that were actually released were chaotic behind the scenes. The Rise of Skywalker was originally called Duel of the Fates, to be directed by Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World). That leaked script? Genuinely cool. But Disney wasn’t happy, brought in Jack Thorne (Adolescence) to rewrite it, and eventually swapped Trevorrow for J.J. Abrams, who had helmed The Force Awakens.

Then there’s Solo: A Star Wars Story—a film that crash-landed at the box office. Halfway through production, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie) were fired and replaced by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind). Even the beloved Rogue One wasn’t smooth sailing: reports say only a third of the finished film was actually directed by Gareth Edwards (The Creator), with the rest largely handled by Tony Gilroy.

It’s been messy. And that mess is especially frustrating when you remember the biggest flaw of the sequel trilogy: the lack of a cohesive plan. The movies felt improvised, reactive. As a hopeful fan, I’d love to think the people in charge have learned from that. They’ve even said so publicly.

But then I look at the flood of new announcements and feel my optimism drain away. Especially with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy—an industry legend who produced classics like E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future—reportedly stepping down. Her departure could send many of the already-wobbly Star Wars projects straight into the Sarlacc pit.

Okay, But There Are Two Movies Coming!

Despite the chaos, two movies are actively in production and have set release dates.

First up: The Mandalorian and Grogu, slated for May 2026. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Lion King), this movie appears to be a direct continuation of the Disney+ series. Favreau and Dave Filoni were originally working on Season 4 when the 2023 Hollywood strike hit. That led Lucasfilm to shift gears and greenlight a movie instead. Whether we’ll see another season afterward is anyone’s guess. At D23 2024, the film was teased as the beginning of a new Star Wars movie era—whatever that means.

Then there’s Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) and starring Ryan Gosling. Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025, it’s aiming for a 2027 release. Plot details are scarce. Kennedy has said the film takes place five or six years after The Rise of Skywalker. It’s intended as a standalone focused on new characters—though appearances from sequel-era favorites aren’t off the table.

The Series Are a Different Story… Or Are They?

A few years without Star Wars films? No big deal. We waited 16 years between Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace, and 10 between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens. Besides, we’ve had all these shows to enjoy—right? But are the shows still working? And will they continue in their current form?

Sure, The Mandalorian was a massive hit. With Grogu leading the charge, it dominated pop culture for a good stretch. By the end of Season 1, the future looked brighter than ever. And creatively, it felt fresh. Its retro “monster of the week” vibe offered something different, while Andor proved Star Wars could function as a slow-burn political thriller—without Jedi, fan service, or cuddly merch mascots.

Then came the backslide. Suddenly, it was all about familiar faces: Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan Kryze, Boba Fett, even Luke Skywalker—all crammed into Season 2 of The Mandalorian. The universe started shrinking again, collapsing back toward the Skywalker saga. The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka may be fun, but they don’t expand the universe. They just retread it. It’s a shame that The Acolyte—a show with a genuinely different approach—got torn apart by fans.

Streaming Is No Longer the Savior

If you’re thinking, "But wait, Andor is amazing"—you’re right. Sadly, though, it’s a dead end. In June 2025, showrunner Tony Gilroy revealed that Disney leadership now considers streaming a lost cause. The reason? Cost. The 24 episodes of Andor reportedly cost $650 million. Projects at that scale just won’t happen anymore. Disney’s in cutback mode—hundreds of layoffs in under a year, the fourth major round in that time.

Not a shock, considering that in May 2024, Bob Iger disclosed a $4 billion loss in Disney’s streaming division. Big-budget flops like The Acolyte and Marvel’s Secret Invasion took the blame. The new plan? Fewer shows. Smaller budgets.

From a business angle, that might seem fair. But consider this: Andor cost about $20.8 million per episode, ranking 14th among the most expensive shows. The Rings of Power cost $58 million per episode. When you weigh those numbers against Andor’s critical acclaim and cultural impact, it starts to feel like a smart investment. If Disney wants to keep Star Wars relevant, it should bet on bold flagship projects—not a conveyor belt of forgettable content.

So… What Now?

Right now, even the people steering the Star Wars ship don’t seem to know where it’s headed. Someone like Dave Filoni probably only gets to keep dreaming big as long as the returns keep coming. But what if The Mandalorian and Grogu or Starfighter flop? Will Disney panic and fast-track a new Skywalker trilogy? Because make no mistake—they’re not done with the Skywalkers. Just look at Maul: Shadow Lord, A Droid Story, or another season of Ahsoka.

If Star Wars wants to survive—and thrive—it has to get bold again. Less Skywalker. More risk. Less retro. More vision. The galaxy is big enough. For me, The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t bold—it’s just The Mandalorian with a bigger budget. Starfighter might have potential… but it’s a black box. And right now, I really don’t need more Skywalker lore.

The most exciting projects are the ones set far in the past (Mangold’s "Knights of the Old Republic") or the ones that might try something truly new (Taika Waititi, fingers crossed). Naturally, those are the ones stuck in development hell. Wherever Star Wars goes from here, please—for the love of the Force—stay off the beaten Skywalker path. I can’t take another "Somehow, Palpatine returned."