Since the Disney era of Star Wars officially launched with The Force Awakens back in 2015, we’ve gotten a Star Wars film every year, alternating between the main saga (The Last Jedi [2017], Episode IX [2019]) and the spinoffs (Rogue One [2016], Solo [2018]). However, it looks like that’s about to change after the release of the currently untitled, final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, Episode IX.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the film franchise will go on hiatus after this December’s big release.
“We have not announced any specific plans for movies thereafter. There are movies in development, but we have not announced them. We will take a pause for some time and reset. because the Skywalker saga comes to an end with this ninth movie. There will be other Stars Wars movies, but there will be a bit of a hiatus.”
The hiatus doesn’t come as a shock as there are currently no Star Wars movies in active production after Episode IX, at least not that we know of. However, there are two film franchises that are currently in development. The creators of the Game of Thrones TV series are working on films that are rumoured to have a Lord of the Rings vibe and possibly set in the Old Republic, while the director of The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson is also working on a trilogy. I believe that the first movie of either one of those franchises will only grace the big screen in 2022.
However, don’t mistake the lack of Star Wars films for a lack of Star Wars content altogether. Iger said as far the immediate future is concerned, Lucasfilm will be focusing more on TV projects. Jon Favreau’s limited series titled The Mandalorian — the first-ever live action Star Wars series — will premiere on Disney Plus at its launch. Apart from that, there’s also a Cassion Andor series in the works with Diego Luna reprising his role.
Star Wars: Episode IX will hit cinemas this December.
