James Mangold is embracing the phrase, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” by creating a narrative that explores the Star Wars universe thousands of years prior to the Skywalker Saga in his upcoming film, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi.
As the director of Dawn of the Jedi, Mangold is eager to craft a unique tale alongside his co-writer, Beau Willimon.
“For me, the crucial element is having the freedom to create something entirely original,” Mangold shared in a recent chat with MovieWeb. “Beau and I have been working on a script related to Star Wars, and we’re excited to see where it takes us.”
Recent Star Wars films have encountered challenges when it comes to integrating legacy characters and intricate franchise lore. However, Mangold aims to keep his prequel, set in a distant era, relatively detached from established lore.
“The Star Wars movie is set to occur 25,000 years before any recognizable Star Wars installments,” Mangold explained. “This is an area and a realm that has intrigued me since my teenage years. I prefer not to be constrained by excessive lore to the point where it becomes restrictive and pleases no one.”
Lucasfilm first unveiled Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi during the 2023 Star Wars Celebration Europe IV. Alongside this project, two other films were announced: one directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy featuring Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker, and another by Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. At this point, none of the films have set release dates. Although the Rey Skywalker film was initially intended to debut in December 2026, Disney has since replaced it on the calendar with Ice Age 6.
The next cinematic entry in the Star Wars franchise will be Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled to hit theaters on May 22, 2026.
