Lucasfilm has reached an agreement with Simon Kinberg to create a new trilogy of Star Wars films. Kinberg will both write and produce this trio alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
It’s rumored this could comprise Episodes 10-12 of the Skywalker Saga that began with George Lucas’s 1977 original film, which, along with Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, changed the landscape of global blockbusters.
However, insiders have contested this information, indicating that Kinberg’s trilogy will begin an entirely new saga, separate from the Skywalker storyline.
This project would join other Star Wars developments in the works with creators like James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover. As expected, Lucasfilm and Disney have yet to comment.
Kinberg is no stranger to Star Wars, having previously collaborated with Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck on Star Wars Rebels, the Emmy-nominated animated series that aired for four seasons from 2014 to 2018.
Additionally, he served as a consultant on Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams’s film that rebooted the franchise in 2015.
Kinberg has been deeply embedded in the franchise realm as a writer and producer. His work spans a decade with the X-Men films, including the Logan spinoff starring Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold.
He also produced the first two Deadpool movies and served as executive producer on the upcoming 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.
Among his other credits, he produced Ridley Scott’s The Martian and co-wrote Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the film that launched the Sherlock Holmes series with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
He also produced the Kenneth Branagh-directed Agatha Christie trilogy that began with Murder on the Orient Express. Clearly, Kinberg is well-versed in the franchise genre.
In other Star Wars news, an artist recently revealed a twist from The Phantom Menace that George Lucas ultimately cut from the film.
Looking ahead, Kinberg is producing Paramount’s remake of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which recently entered production under the direction of Edgar Wright and stars Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Emilia Jones, William H. Macy, and Lee Pace.
He is also set to produce Paramount’s upcoming Star Trek film, directed by Toby Haynes and written by Seth Grahame-Smith. Kinberg is represented by CAA and Karl Austen at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
