Jon Watts is stepping into a galaxy far, far away. The director behind Marvel's Tom Holland Spider-Man trilogy has signed on to helm a new "Star Wars" film in development at Lucasfilm, marking a significant shift in the franchise's creative direction under Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
Watts brought the web-slinger back to the MCU with "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in 2017, followed by "Spider-Man: Far From Home" in 2019 and the blockbuster "Spider-Man: No Way Home" in 2021, which grossed over $1.9 billion worldwide and became a cultural phenomenon. The trilogy established Watts as a director capable of balancing intimate character work with massive studio machinery and spectacle. His departure from the Spider-Man franchise after the third installment left him available for marquee projects, and "Star Wars" represents one of the most sought-after properties in Hollywood.
This marks another chapter in Lucasfilm's ongoing effort to revitalize the "Star Wars" cinematic universe. The franchise has experienced turbulent waters since the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" in 2019. Disney+ has dominated the brand's output with series like "The Mandalorian," "Andor," and "The Book of Boba Fett," which have generated critical acclaim and dedicated audiences. Meanwhile, theatrical films have stalled. The last mainline "Star Wars" picture hit theaters nearly five years ago.
Kennedy has been assembling diverse creative talent to helm future Star Wars projects as part of a broader strategy to expand the franchise across multiple filmmakers' visions. The Watts project joins other announced Star Wars features in various stages of development, including projects from creatives like Dave Filoni and others rumored to be in early discussions.
Watts' selection signals Lucasfilm's confidence in his ability to navigate a sprawling universe with established lore while delivering the character-driven storytelling that resonated with audiences across his Spider-Man films. His work with Holland demonstrated skill at grounding superhero narratives in relatable emotional stakes, a quality that could prove valuable for "Star Wars" material.
The untitled project has no release date yet, though Hollywood's typical development-to-production timeline suggests a 2026 or 2027 arrival at the earliest. The script, creative direction, and scale of the film remain undisclosed. Whether Watts' project will introduce new characters, explore existing lore, or navigate the broader Expanded Universe remains speculation at this stage.
For Watts, this represents his most prestigious tentpole assignment since "No Way Home." His previous work before Spider-Man included directing episodes of "Arrested Development" and the indie film "Cop Car," establishing him as a rising talent before his MCU elevation. The "Star Wars" opportunity places him among a pantheon of filmmakers trusted with the franchise's theatrical future, including Rian Johnson, whose "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" remains divisive among fans despite critical respect.
Disney and Lucasfilm hope Watts' proven track record with global box office appeal and fan-beloved properties will help restore theatrical momentum to "Star Wars" after years of fanbase frustration and the franchise's mixed recent performance.