Star Wars fans are no strangers to delays, so it should come as no surprise to them that another film project has hit a major snag. The planned spin-off featuring Daisy Ridley as Rey, which is set to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and was expected to be released on December 18, 2026, has lost another writer. This is now the second time the project has lost a scribe willing to tackle the project, making some fans question if the film will come to fruition.
Per Variety, screenwriter Steven Knight has dropped out of writing the Rey Star Wars spin-off. This comes after the film’s original writers, Damon Lindeloff and Justin Britt-Gibson, were replaced by Knight when their run at the script wasn’t working for Lucasfilm. The company is now looking for new writers to pen the script, but with another major delay, it looks like the project won’t be in front of the camera until well into 2025, calling into question its 2026 release date in December. The latest delay puts the Rey spinoff on a list of projects currently in development hell at Disney and Lucasfilm.
Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct the project, which is said to chronicle Rey and her attempts to begin a new Jedi Academy 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. No word on why Knight has dropped out, but Star Wars projects have been known for losing creatives behind the scenes because they don’t see eye-to-eye with what the higher-ups at Lucasfilm want for the greater franchise. That’s not to say that’s what officially happened here, but when you have someone like Knight, acclaimed for his work on Peaky Blinders, it has to be more about creative differences rather than his quality of work.
The Star Wars Rey Spin-off Was Announced 18 Months Ago
The Rey spin-off was first announced 18 months ago at Star Wars Celebration 2023 and from there, it has been a series of behind-the-scenes shifts. Ridley has spoken about the project in a few interviews and remains positive about its prospects. Just recently the actress said, “Things are evolving. I continue to be very excited. There will be an update soon.” This isn’t the update she was likely hoping for, but maybe it’s a positive thing they’re finding the right voice for the project to get it off the ground.
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Obaid-Chinoy also remains positive about its prospects, especially when it comes to forging a new Star Wars story for a new generation of women. The director said, “I’m very thrilled about the project because I think what we’re about to create is very special. We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”
As of now, it looks like The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the next Star Wars film on deck, as it has reportedly wrapped filming. There is also a James Mangold-directed project still in the works, as well as a Star Wars tale directed by Dave Filoni.
The Rey Star Wars spinoff is currently set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.