Star Wars’ Biggest Project Reportedly Hits Another Delay as Levy and Mangold Movies Move Ahead

The Star Wars franchise is bustling with new films, though not all are progressing smoothly. Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu is locked in for a May 22, 2026, theatrical release, leading the charge.

Meanwhile, projects from directors like Shawn Levy, James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Taika Waititi are in various stages of development, keeping fans eager for updates.

Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film, currently titled Starfighter, is gaining traction. Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine, began talks to direct in 2022, per Deadline. Development paused during the 2023 writers’ strike but picked up again afterward.

In July 2024, Jonathan Tropper, who worked with Levy on The Adam Project, was confirmed as the screenwriter. Early 2025 brought news that Ryan Gosling is in discussions to star, boosting the project’s priority. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said the film takes place “five to six years after The Rise of Skywalker,” positioning it as a key follow-up in the timeline.

James Mangold’s film, tentatively called Jedi Prime, is also moving forward. It will launch a new era, Dawn of the Jedi, with a grand, epic story inspired by classic biblical films. Mangold got the offer while working on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and is now collaborating with Beau Willimon, a writer from Andor, as of April 2024. Producer Simon Emanuel hinted at the title in May. Mangold balanced the script with other projects, like a Bob Dylan biopic and a Swamp Thing script for DC.

However, the Rey-focused movie is facing setbacks. Insider Daniel Richtman reported on Patreon that the project is on hold again, though not canceled. After losing its original writer, the film has cycled through multiple writers with no clear updates. Its role in a new trilogy tied to Simon Kinberg is uncertain, leaving Rey’s future in the franchise unclear for now.

While The Mandalorian & Grogu and films from Levy and Mangold are advancing, other projects, including those from Filoni and Waititi, remain in early stages. The Star Wars galaxy is expanding, but some stories are taking longer to come together.

It’s exciting to see Star Wars branching out with fresh stories like Starfighter and Jedi Prime, especially with talents like Levy and Mangold involved. The delay on Rey’s movie is disappointing, though her character deserves a strong follow-up after The Rise of Skywalker.

I hope Lucasfilm finds the right path for her story while keeping the momentum on these other films. What do you think about the new Star Wars projects? Are you more excited for The Mandalorian & Grogu, Levy’s film, or Mangold’s epic? Let us know in the comments below!