Jon Watts to Direct New Star Wars Trilogy, Simon Kinberg Writing

Dave Filoni has tapped director Jon Watts to helm a new Star Wars trilogy beginning with Episode X, with Simon Kinberg set to write the films. The move signals a new chapter for Lucasfilm's flagship franchise.

In August, at a Disney D23 panel, Filoni said his mission for Star Wars was to serve and unify all generations of fans. That statement now frames the creative direction for the upcoming trilogy.

The franchise has weathered a divided fanbase in recent years. Rian Johnson's 2019 sequel trilogy entry The Last Jedi was praised by critics but sits at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter versus a 91% critic score. Some speculate the backlash to The Last Jedi affected the reception of 2018's Solo.

Watts and Kinberg's involvement was first reported by polygon.com. The new trilogy will begin with Episode X, though no release date has been announced.