A minor issue has arisen in a galaxy far, far away.
As reported by Matt Belloni of Puck, Steven Knight has exited the upcoming Jedi Order film. Knight, known for creating Peaky Blinders, had been working on the screenplay. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy remains onboard as director, with Daisy Ridley set to return as Rey Skywalker.
This isn’t the first time the project has lost a writer; Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were involved earlier but have since departed. Obaid-Chinoy’s Star Wars film was officially unveiled during the London Star Wars Celebration in April 2023. It is intended to take place 15 years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, following Rey’s efforts to establish a new Jedi Order.
Daisy Ridley gives an encouraging STAR WARS update…hmm…
Our full chat: https://t.co/1PQZIxVTZA pic.twitter.com/6QAqOCYwcJ
— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) October 25, 2024
In a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ridley mentioned that she’s anticipating “imminent news” when asked if she had any updates regarding Star Wars. When host Josh Horowitz expressed his willingness to wait for the right Star Wars film, Ridley concurred, noting, “We’re all good.”
Disney currently has an untitled Star Wars film scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026. With The Mandalorian & Grogu premiering on May 22, 2026, Ridley’s film had been a strong candidate for the December slot.
Given that Lucasfilm may be searching for a new writer, there is a significant possibility that the Rey-centric film could be moved from this release date. Disney might choose to shift The Mandalorian & Grogu to December or replace it with another title. Although Spider-Man 4 was initially a strong contender, Marvel has now slated it for July 24, 2026. It’s uncertain whether Blade, which was removed from the 2025 schedule, could land in the December slot. Nonetheless, Ridley’s Star Wars film remains a top priority, and Lucasfilm will need to act quickly in securing a new writer.