Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film has a new release date.
The year 2019 was a watershed moment for the Star Wars franchise. The Mandalorian premiered on Disney+ in November of that year, and it was a big hit. However, when The Rise of Skywalker hit cinemas in December, it swiftly soured fans on the trilogy and the studio’s strategy. While Lucasfilm says that Star Wars films from Patty Jenkins, Rian Johnson, and Taika Waititi are on the way, the status of the studio’s film slate has been as elusive as the Death Star blueprints.
Meanwhile, the future of a galaxy far, far away seems to have been on Disney+. Along with two seasons of The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni published The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, with Andor due out on August 31, followed by The Mandalorian’s third season, Ahsoka, and now, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew starring Jude Law.
Fans have been seeking clarity on the franchise’s theatrical goals at Star Wars Celebration, and although the responses aren’t as clear as some would want, Lucasfilm has finally delivered some answers.
Waititi’s Star Wars Film Has Been Scheduled for Late 2023
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy revealed to Total Feature that Taika Waititi’s Star Wars picture is the studio’s next film from that galaxy far, far away, with a revised release date of 2023.
However, fans should anticipate the picture closer to 2024 since, when questioned explicitly about its release date, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy confirmed, stating, “True. Not in 2023, but in late 2023.”
When asked whether the Marvel director’s feature will take over the December 2023 window formerly reserved for Patty Jenkin’s Rogue Squadron, Kennedy simply said, “We haven’t locked anything in.”
As of currently, Lucasfilm has not announced when the film will begin production or provided any other information about its cast.
While Waititi is most known in the franchise world for directing Thor: Ragnarok and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, he is no stranger to Star Wars. In addition to directing one episode of The Mandalorian, he voiced IG-11 in Season 1 of the Pedro Pascal-led series.
So, when will Waititi’s film be released?
Fans have learned to know that just because a Star Wars film or project is announced doesn’t imply it will materialize in the years after Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm.
The Star Wars trilogy, which was supposed to be published this year by Game of Thrones authors David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, was canceled shortly after it was announced, and spectators are still waiting for Rian Johnson’s delayed trilogy.
While Taika Waititi’s project is most likely on schedule, Kathleen Kennedy’s comment raises questions about when the picture will be released in cinemas. She stressed “late 2023” before adding that Lucasfilm hasn’t “locked anything down,” implying that nothing has been completed or nailed down.
Furthermore, there is little to no presence of theatrical Star Wars at Star Wars Celebration, implying that the studio has nothing new to reveal or confirm.
While a Taika Waititi Star Wars picture looks to be in the works, the issue of when it will hit cinemas remains unanswered, according to Lucasfilm.
