Are you ready for yet another set of Obi-wan standalone rumors? Today we have The Playlist, with some stuff they heard a while back (six months, so way pre-Solo). Continue reading “Star Wars spinoff rumors continue to spool, read at your own risk”
Rumor: Multiple films still in development, Lucasfilm “licking their wounds”
And in day 3 of the ongoing rumor rounds regarding Lucasfilm’s plans for the unannouced Star Wars spinoff films, we finally have a trade weighing in. The Hollywood Reporter’s source says that development hasn’t slowed down, but the company is “licking their wounds”.
They say the Boba Fett project is “still being developed” with Simon Kinberg and James Mangold, though it may be “reconfigured” and “scaled down” – smaller budget, less risk. The Obi-wan situation (which reportedly involves director Stephen Daldry, plus a returning Ewan MacGregor) is less clear.
So basically: Lucasfilm is reevaluating, things are fluid, and they’re being generally more cautious. Or: Don’t expect any announcements to be forthcoming.
Rumor: A Star Wars spinoff has been shelved, but it’s not one we’d heard of
In another wrinkle to yesterday’s big report that standalone films are being put on hold, Jason over at Making Star Wars says it was only one film – and it wasn’t something fans have heard about yet.
The genesis of the earlier report was prompted by studio space being canceled for a film based around the denizens of Mos Eisley, Jason says. I could also note that a Mos Eisley story could involve Boba Fett, but that’s probably my bias speaking, as Jason says both the Obi-wan and Fett films are likely safe.
Meanwhile, Lucasfilm sources tell ABC that “multiple” films are still in development and that yesterday’s report is “inaccurate”, though they naturally decline to share any details about the (unannounced) projects in question.
A more interesting nugget is that up sometime after Episode IX will be a film from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, which “be a little more grown up”, while Rian Johnson’s trilogy will be later, and more “all ages”. The timing is certainly something I find far more interesting here, but the tone concepts are more than we had before.
My own thoughts on this is that I wouldn’t expect a hard-R Star Wars film (though who can say), but perhaps PG-13 more along the lines of Revenge of the Sith, with Rian Johnson aiming for a more traditional PG or a softer PG-13 along the lines of what we’ve seen in the new trilogy so far.
Rumor: Star Wars spinoffs “on hold”?
Collider reports today that future “A Star Wars Story” spinoff films that were in the works at Lucasfilm have been put “on hold.” Films focusing on Obi-Wan and Boba Fett have been rumored, but not yet officially annouced or confirmed in any way by Lucasfilm. (Meaning that, short of actually announcing one of the films, we’re unlikely to get any confirmation or denial of this report any time soon.)
This seems a rather dramatic move after Solo’s underperformance at the box office, but none of the former “Anthology” films have gone smoothly behind the scenes – Rogue One’s production issues, Josh Trank’s departure from what was reportedly the first version of a Fett film, and Solo‘s surprising director swap.
Lucasfilm is instead choosing to focus on Episode IX and other projects, like the trilogy from The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson and a “series” from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, which are unaffected by this decision. No timeline has been given for either set of films.
Rumor: The Boba Fett standalone, again?
Well. Okay.
This week’s standalone rumor has Logan’s James Mangold writing and directing a Star Wars standalone featuring Boba Fett. This is from The Hollywood Reporter and quickly doubled down by Variety – both industry trades, aka pros – so their sources are likely fairly solid.
LFL may be considering a Jabba standalone
Variety is backing up The Hollywood Reporter on yesterday’s news about an Obi-wan Kenobi movie with director Stephen Daldry, but what’s really making waves today is the one-liner about how a Jabba the Hutt movie also being in the pipeline. Alrighty then.
Pictured, above: My approximate feelings on a Jabba the Hutt movie. Between this and Boba Fett, it’s like the rumors are endeavoring to make movies on saga major leaguers like Han and Obi-wan more palatable. But man, if this is what they’re really knocking around for future spin-offs, no wonder Rogue One got to be first at bat.
Rumor: That Obi-wan movie may finally be happening
I guess all that fan foot-stomping may finally be paying off. The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours) is in “early talks” to direct a standalone starring Obi-wan Kenobi. It’s in “the earliest of stages” and there’s no script yet, so I don’t expect we’ll hear anything official from Lucasfilm anytime soon. (EW’s Anthony Breznican also seems positive on it – though again, “very early.”)
It’s not known if Ewan McGregor will return, but he’s been open to the idea ever since the standalones actually became a thing.
Better than Boba Fett, I guess.
Rumor: Mr. Robot creator in running to script a Star Wars standalone?
A site I’ve never heard of before, Omega Underground, is claiming that Lucasfilm has take meetings with Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail about a potential standalone film. They go on to say said film is (of course) an Obi-wan one, and note that Esmail’s connections include Bryan Lourd, Carrie Fisher’s ex-husband and father to Billie. His resume isn’t very long, but Mr. Robot was fairly well-received, so it’s not entirely implausible.
I’m inclined to be particularly cynical about this one mainly due to the site coming into the Star Wars rumor game out of nowhere. And let’s face it. “Obi-wan spin-off” is an evergreen rumor that the fandom eats up with a spoon every time. Stay skeptical, friends.
New alien reveal; Third spinoff news to hopefully come in the summer
There was nothing about any of the upcoming spin-off films at Celebration, but we did get this “behind the scenes” look at the Han Solo film with Warwick Davis and directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, who revealed a new alien.
Meanwhile, Kathleen Kennedy clarified the faux-issue about Han’s name for MTV’s Josh Horowitz. “It’s obviously his name,” she said. “It will always be his name.” She also hopes to announce the third spinoff film “this summer.”
And finally, here’s a rumor that a prequel-era character may appear in the Han film. (I am side-eyeing this one a bit, but stranger things have happened.)
Rumor: What’s tap for Star Wars in the future, maybe
Star Wars News Net has a new post up where they allege to know quite a bit of what Lucasfilm is planning for the next few spinoffs and scheduling of the saga films. The films themselves are, with a single exception, things that have already been heavily speculated on and wanted by some corners of fandom (Obi-wan, bounty hunters.) The “exception” seems to be a bit inspired by Lost Stars and “this is what fangirls want, right?”
The saga scheduling issue – which draws on another perpetual rumor – is somewhat plausible but fairly common sense.
In other words, there are a lot of parts here we’ve seen before, but I’m doubtful they all actually add up the way it’s presented. So naturally, I’m more skeptical than usual. It’s an interesting read, but I wouldn’t put too much faith in the overall.