A new era for theStar Warsfranchise is upon us, with directorJ.J. Abrams’Star Wars: The Force Awakenshitting theaters in just two weeks. Next year will bring the release of Disney and LucasFilm’s first spinoff,Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(June 26, 2025), withStar Wars: Episode VIII(June 06, 2025),Star Wars Anthology: Han Solo Movie(August 24, 2025),Star Wars: Episode IX(2019) and aThird Star Wars Spin-Off Movie(2020) set to follow. Last month, a new report claimed that Disney and LucasFilm are planning to put out a newStar Warsmovie every year, indefinitely. While we haven’t heard any official plans for what’s next afterStar Wars: Episode IX, a new report fromThe Los Angeles Timesreveals that the studios have met with a number of female filmmakers for upcoming projects.
The report reveals that William Morris Endeavor (WME) talent agentAdriana Alberghettihas secured meetings for four women directors and three female screenwriters to potentially work on unspecifiedStar Warsprojects. While no specific names were mentioned, the agent represents female directors such as Sarah Gavron (Suffragette) andS.J. Clarkson(Marvel’s Jessica Jones), and writersMarti Noxon(Fright Night) andLinda Woolverton(Alice in Wonderland). As of now, the onlyStar Warsproject that doesn’t have any filmmakers attached is theThird Star Wars Spin-Off Movie, whichJosh Trankwas attached to direct before hedropped outin May.
If a female filmmaker does come on board for theThird Star Wars Spin-Off Movie, which is rumored to center onBoba Fett, or any otherStar Warsproject, it would mark the first time a woman has either written or directed a movie in this beloved franchise.Simon Kinbergis working on the script for theThird Star Wars Spin-Off Movie, but the studio still hasn’t announced a replacement forJosh Trankat the helm. We’ll have to wait and see if any of these meetings set up byAdriana Alberghettiwill lead to a female writer or director makingStar Warshistory.
Kathleen Kennedywas brought on to serve as President of LucasFilm whenGeorge Lucasstepped down, and the company also has a number of women in key creative roles, such as Director of Creative Content StrategyCarrie Beck, and Senior Vice President of DevelopmentKiri Hart, who has been compared toMarvel Cinematic UniversearchitectKevin Feige. Gender equality in Hollywood has become a hot-button topic as of late, and in a widely-discussedNew York Timesarticle,Kathleen Kennedyrevealed that she never received a phone call from a female director about taking the helm on aStar Warsmovie.
“I had not had one single phone call from a woman telling me that she really, really wants to direct a ‘Star Wars’ movie. They need to be the ones picking up the phone and saying, ‘Hey, let me tell you what ‘Star Wars’ means to me and how much I could do with it.'”
The gender divide became so much of an issue that it lead to 44 Hollywood leaders, male and female alike, holding a two-day meeting in Los Angeles to study this issue and how it could be solved. While no specifics solutions from the meeting were revealed,The Los Angeles Timesstory reveals that these leaders have decided to develop a seal of approval, given to TV shows and movies that have shown progress in addressing diversity issues. What do you think about futureStar Warsmovies being written and directed by women?
