“Jojo Rabbit” director Taika Waititi will direct a new Star Wars film for theatrical release, and “1917” and “Penny Dreadful” writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns will write the screenplay for the new film along with Waititi. Lucasfilm and Disney announced the news Monday, also known as May the Fourth, or Star Wars Day.
Waititi had previously directed the finale episode of the first season of “The Mandalorian” for Disney+, though this film will be intended for theatrical release rather than for the streaming service.
In addition, Disney also confirmed previous reports that Leslye Headland, known for her work on “Russian Doll,” is developing an untitled “Star Wars” series for Disney+ that she will write, executive produce and serve as showrunner.
Release dates for both Waititi’s and Headland’s projects have not yet been announced, though Headland’s is currently in development.
It was reported back in January that Waititi was being eyed to direct a “Star Wars” film, but it was unclear whether the project was for theatrical or Disney+. It’s also unknown at this point if Waititi’s film will be separate from another “Star Wars” project being developed by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. Details about that project are not known at this time, but Feige will develop the film alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
Waititi is an Oscar winner last year for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit,” and he’s next set to direct “Thor: Love and Thunder” for Disney and Marvel. Waititi also provided the voice of one of the robot characters in “The Mandalorian,” IG-11.
Wilson-Cairns is an Oscar nominee for “1917” and is the co-writer on Edgar Wright’s next film, “Last Night in Soho.” She received a BAFTA for her work on “1917.”
“The Mandalorian” is now in post-production on its second season, and Disney has ordered two other “Star Wars” series, including one following the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi in between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope,” and another that leads up to “Rogue One” and follows the character Cassian Andor.
Top 13 Best 'Star Wars' Video Games Ever (Photos)
There have been so many "Star Wars" video games in the 40 years since the franchise began, and most of them were not good. Hell, a couple of the ones I list here aren't good. But they all deliver an experience you can't get anywhere else, and that's worthy of some praise.
Not actually good, but still great. It's a game that defies description because there's nothing from the past two decades to compare it to. For that reason alone it makes the list.
12. "Masters of Teras Kasi"
How we haven't been inundated with "Star Wars" fighting games is anyone's guess -- aside from "Soul Calibur IV" letting you play as Yoda or Darth Vader, "Masters of Teras Kasi" on the original PlayStation console is the only one. And it was the style of fighter that was easy to learn and enjoy, so we remember it fondly.
11. "Yoda Stories"
This weird and cheap little "Zelda"-esque thing had Yoda sending Luke Skywalker on bite-sized randomly generated missions, and somehow it was extremely engaging. We are well overdue for a smartphone version of this thing.
10. "Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast"
If we're being honest, the beloved "Jedi Knight" video game series is pretty mediocre all the way around. "Jedi Outcast," though, is the peak as it features the closest we've ever gotten to realistic video game lightsaber combat.
9. "The Force Unleashed"
The "Star Wars" universe is full of stories about good apprentices going bad and wreaking havoc on the good guys, but we've very rarely gotten the inverse. That made "The Force Unleashed" a really novel experience. You play as Darth Vader's secret apprentice in the years between the original and prequel trilogies. You're a dark side force user and soldier for the Empire who goes rogue in a really epic way.
8. "Rogue Squadron"
We'd been flying in space battles for years with "X-Wing" and "TIE Fighter," but "Rogue Squadron" gave us something new bringing our starfighter into a planet's atmosphere. "Rogue Squadron" was also built to be accessible, which was a pretty new thing for a "Star Wars" game.
7. "X-Wing Alliance"
Develops the minimalistic narrative approach of "X-Wing" and "TIE Fighter" and develops it in a great way -- you're still a grunt, as a fighter pilot for the Rebellion, but now you're a named character who has real-life concerns beyond the next confrontation with the Empire.
6. "Racer"
There aren't a lot of "Star Wars" racing games, weirdly enough, but "The Phantom Menace" provided the perfect in with its big pod racing sequence. It turned out pod racing translated perfectly to video games.
5. "The Old Republic"
Bioware attempted to meld their style of story-focused role-playing game with a "World of Warcraft"-style online game, and that was a mistake. But it's still full of really outstanding "Star Wars" stories that are better than most all of the ones you'd get elsewhere. It's also funnier than most others.
4. "Knights of the Old Republic"
If you're trying to replicate the beats and "feel" of a "Star Wars" movie, you do it like this: with an entirely new cast of characters in a fresh story. "KOTOR" even manages to have a twist as powerful as "I am your father," but without feeling as though it was copying "Empire."
3. "Rebellion"
Not a technically great game in the traditional sense, but the first galaxy-scale "Star Wars" strategy game is still a blast. It's also great fuel for the imagination because you can mold the war between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire in whatever way you want.
2. "TIE Fighter"
It's a great example of minimalistic "Star Wars" storytelling, putting you in the boots of a a mostly anonymous Imperial pilot during the Rebellion period. You're a grunt, but things are happening around you, and it's weirdly enthralling.
1. "Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords"
Obsidian Entertainment created an experience that manages to subvert basically every way "Star Wars" has ever operated, starting with its predecessor. It's a total downer, every character is in a bad mood, and none of the decisions your character makes will ever be greeted with approval from her master. "There are no right choices" is not the normal "Star Wars" way, and it works perfectly.
1 of 14
There are so many ”Star Wars“ games to choose from, but these stand out from the pack
There have been so many "Star Wars" video games in the 40 years since the franchise began, and most of them were not good. Hell, a couple of the ones I list here aren't good. But they all deliver an experience you can't get anywhere else, and that's worthy of some praise.
