Jon Watts to direct first film in Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy

MUMBAI: From friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man to a galaxy far, far away, Jon Watts is swapping web-slinging for lightsabers as he is reportedly set to direct the first film in Simon Kinberg’s new Star Wars trilogy.

The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Watts is attached to direct the opening film of the trilogy being written by Kinberg, with the project expected to form the next chapter of the Skywalker Saga. Lucasfilm has not yet officially confirmed the appointment.

The new trilogy remains firmly in the early stages, with no title, release date or detailed plot publicly confirmed. Reports indicate that Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker could return in some capacity, although the extent of her involvement remains unclear.

Watts is no stranger to the Star Wars universe. He co-created the Disney+ series Skeleton Crew and directed episodes of the 2024 series, making his reported move to the main film franchise a return rather than a first flight into the galaxy.

His biggest theatrical calling card remains the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man trilogy, which began with Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, followed by Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019 and Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. Watts later handed the reins of Holland’s future Spider-Man films to Destin Daniel Cretton, while his most recent feature was 2024’s Wolfs.

Kinberg has been developing the new Star Wars trilogy since 2024. His credits include Star Wars Rebels, the X-Men films and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, while his earlier Star Wars work gives him an existing connection to the franchise.

The direction of the trilogy has previously been unclear, with reports differing over whether Kinberg’s films would continue the Skywalker Saga or launch an entirely new story. The latest reporting indicates that the project is being developed as a continuation of the main saga.

Even so, the project has not received an official green light from Disney. Work is continuing on its story and foundations, although The Hollywood Reporter reports that it is further along than most other Star Wars projects currently in development.

The Kinberg-Watts trilogy is not expected to be the next Star Wars film to reach cinemas. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled for 28 May 2027 and remains ahead in the theatrical pipeline.

The franchise returned to cinemas in 2026 with The Mandalorian & Grogu after a seven-year gap between new theatrical Star Wars releases. The next phase now includes several projects at different stages, with Lucasfilm continuing to shape its post-Skywalker theatrical strategy.

For Watts, the reported appointment marks a sizeable jump from Marvel’s New York rooftops to one of cinema’s most closely watched galaxies. For Kinberg, it gives the long-developing trilogy a filmmaker already familiar with both blockbuster filmmaking and the Star Wars universe.