Star Wars the sequel trilogy is divisive to say the least, but most fans agree it wasn’t the franchise’s best effort. Between the behind-the-scenes politics, reshuffled creative teams and rushed productions, the results (esp The Rise of Skywalker) garnered a lot of criticism that seemed to put the entire future of Star Wars movies in limbo.
However, a leak surrounding the next Star Wars film may prove that Lucasfilm has learned from the lessons of the sequels.
According to Star Wars leaker MakingStarWars, which has a track record of revealing huge secrets like Princess Leia’s appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Pinewood Studios in London is expected to begin construction on the sets of a new Star Wars movie sometime in April or May 2023.
Pinewood has been a key location in the production of every Star Wars film since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, so the site itself is no surprise. However, the timing is intriguing. The next Star Wars movie is slated for December 2025, so why would production begin two years before release?
The answer lies in the past – The Rise of Skywalker had an incredibly rushed production, often requiring director JJ Abrams to set up a mobile cutting room on set to maintain editing while filming. The results speak for themselves, so if production starts this early, it’s clear that Lucasfilm is erring on the side of caution to prevent another disappointment.
While this is a good sign for Star Wars fans, it’s still not clearly accurate which The Star Wars movie is given so much time. It’s supposed to be the long-awaited Taika Waititi project, but Lost Co-creator Damon Lindelof is also reportedly working on a script.
Regardless of which writer gets the slot, this is a big and smart shift in strategy for Star Wars. Unlike when the sequel series came out, Star Wars fans no longer have to rely solely on the movies and a small supplement of animated series to give them their fix. Now there’s another major mainstay on Disney+, with (most) live-action streaming series garnering acclaim.
As a result, there is more need to rush movies out just to satiate fans and make money. Fans have waited two years for season 3 of The Mandalorianand I can wait two years for the next Star Wars movie. Patience is a virtue, and in this case, it’s the key to avoiding another The Rise of Skywalker.