Star Wars fans push back against Jon Watts’ reported trilogy lead

The project, widely referred to as Episode X, is expected to pick up the narrative thread left behind by 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. While Lucasfilm has declined to comment on the development, reports indicate that Watts will direct a trilogy penned by Simon Kinberg. Kinberg, a veteran of the franchise, previously co-created the animated series Star Wars Rebels and served as a consultant for the sequel trilogy.

Watts brings a significant studio pedigree to the table, having directed the successful Spider-Man trilogy for Sony and Marvel. His relationship with Lucasfilm is already established, as he directed episodes for the Disney+ series Skeleton Crew. Despite this experience, the announcement has sparked a wave of negativity among fans who argue the studio should prioritize original stories over established characters. Critics pointed to the underwhelming performance of recent franchise entries, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, as evidence that the current creative direction is failing to resonate with audiences.