Star Wars Confirms New Skywalker Trilogy: Jon Watts to Direct ‘Episode X’, Simon Kinberg to Write

Lucasfilm has set the course for the next era of its galaxy far, far away, with director Jon Watts tapped to helm a new Star Wars movie trilogy beginning with “Episode X,” and screenwriter Simon Kinberg attached to pen the films. The announcement, which surfaced in a flurry of reports over the weekend, follows he said mission laid out by Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni at Disney’s D23 panel in August, when he took the reins of the studio from Kathleen Kennedy. The plan marks a decisive pivot back to the Skywalker saga, a move that has already reignited debate among a fanbase split across generations.

Watts arrives at Star Wars with a proven track record steering massive franchises, having directed the first three Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland. Kinberg brings his own pedigree to the project, with credits spanning X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dark Phoenix, and the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Together, the pairing signals that Lucasfilm intends to lean on established, reliable talent as it rebuilds its cinematic roadmap under Filoni’s stewardship.

A Mission to Unify a Fractured Fanbase

The new trilogy’s existence traces directly to Filoni’s stated vision for the franchise. Speaking at the D23 panel, the longtime Star Wars showrunner described his approach to guiding the studio’s creative direction.

“We have several different generations of Star Wars fans. There’s original trilogy fans, prequel fans, sequel trilogy fans, Clone Wars fans, expanded universe fans. They all have different interests. And I always look at how we’re going to serve all these different interests. And most importantly, how do we bring them all together because they have this common love of Star Wars.”

Image: Lucasfilm

Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm president

That goal of unifying a diverse fanbase has drawn mixed reactions since the panel. While appealing to every corner of the Star Wars audience reads as a noble ambition, critics argue it also invites a cautious creative philosophy. The newly announced new Star Wars movie trilogy appears to confirm those concerns, with Lucasfilm retreating to the familiar embrace of the Skywalker family rather than expanding into uncharted corners of the franchise’s sprawling timeline.

The Filmmakers Behind Episode X

Watts is no stranger to the Star Wars universe, having co-created Disney’s Skeleton Crew, a series often compared to a sci-fi take on classic adventure films. That show earned praise for balancing a rewarding story with the sense of wonder and hope that defines the best of the franchise, while also delivering New Republic and Jedi lore to viewers. Watts has demonstrated he can handle big-budget intellectual property without stumbles, though much of the online chatter following the announcement has fixated on his involvement.

Some of that scrutiny stems from Watts’ recent work on the Spider-Man franchise, where the reception to his earlier installments led studios to pursue a fresh direction. Kinberg, meanwhile, raises different questions for observers. His X-Men work has been characterized by some as conservative in tone, and while Star Wars Rebels remains beloved, it was a children’s series rather than an epic-scale production. Neither choice is without merit, but the pairing suggests Lucasfilm prioritizes dependable execution over bold new voices.

The Shadow of the Sequel Era

The decision to anchor the next trilogy with “Episode X” inevitably ties it to the legacy of the previous sequel films. The reception to Rian Johnson’s 2019 entry, The Last Jedi, remains one of the most contentious chapters in modern Star Wars history. The film currently sits at 41% on the Rotten Tomatoes “Popcornmeter,” compared with a critic’s score of 91%, a divide that reflected deep fractures within the fanbase.

The discourse surrounding the film became so heated that some speculate it even influenced the reception of 2018’s Solo, the Han Solo origin story. While serious bad-faith takes circulated online, genuine criticism also targeted Johnson’s creative choices, including his handling of Luke Skywalker and the abrupt elimination of Supreme Leader Snoke. That backlash reportedly spooked Disney into a more conservative approach with The Rise of Skywalker, whose revelations—including the return of Palpatine—continue to ripple through current projects like The Mandalorian and associated books.

Looking Ahead

With Episode X set to pick up the narrative threads left dangling by The Rise of Skywalker, Filoni faces an opportunity to resolve the mess the sequels left behind. Some fans welcome the idea of a trilogy that directly addresses that continuity, while others would prefer Lucasfilm abandon the sequel timeline entirely and explore new territory. The reality of franchise economics, however, favors recognizable characters capable of filling theater seats, making a numbered trilogy of Episode X, XI, and XII all but inevitable regardless of who ultimately drives the project.

Star Wars has already produced daring, genre-bending television with Andor, The Acolyte, and Visions, yet its film strategy under Filoni appears committed to the proven formula of the Skywalker saga. As the studio moves forward, the coming years will reveal whether this safe embrace of familiar ground can satisfy a fanbase that has never been more divided.