Lucasfilm may have gained another famous director in Deadpool 3's Shawn Levy, but unfortunate news emerged that another filmmaker has backed out from directing his Star Wars movie.
Although Star Wars' small screen universe is thriving with stellar entries like The Mandalorian and Andor, the franchise's movie side has been in limbo ever since Rey Skywalker defeated Emperor Palpatine and the Sith in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the studio has an internal "road map" for its theatrical releases, but no concrete plan has been made public in the past years.
Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron has been removed from Disney's release calendar while Taika Waititi shared a disappointing update about his Star Wars movie since he confirmed that he's still figuring out its story.
Now, another Star Wars movie bites the dust.
Another Director No Longer Directing Star Wars Movie
In an interview with The Wrap, Devotion director J.D. Dillard confirmed that he's no longer attached to direct a Star Wars movie, noting that it's "unfortunately no longer a thing." The director then explained that "it was not for lack of trying.”
Still, the director pointed out that he's not totally done with the idea of making a space movie, it's just that "it will be an original idea" next time.
When asked what his Star Wars movie would be like, Dillard was first hesitant to divulge too much before saying how playing an early Star Wars computer game changed his life:
“My dad being an aviator, we had a bunch of flight simulators. I’m playing this game for months. And my dad’s flying it with me. And I’m like, ‘Man, this game is just so cool.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you know, this game comes from a series of movies.’ And I was like, ‘You’re kidding me.’ That is where I watched ‘Star Wars’ for the first time and realized the full scope of what it meant to world build because I’d been playing this pseudo-16-bit game.”
In a previous report from The Hollywood Reporter, the trade mentioned that Dillard's Star Wars project was unrelated to Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige's movie from Lucasfilm and Rian Johnson's planned film.
What's Happening with Lucasfilm's Star Wars Movie Plans?
J.D. Dillard's confirmation that he's not attached anymore to his Star Wars movie is disappointing for all parties involved. Based on the director's comments, it seems that he was poised to craft an interesting movie, but fans won't be able to see it.
Although plot details didn't leak, Dillard's remark about flight simulators appears to hint that it could have a similar vein to Rogue Squadron.
Ultimately, this would lead to speculation among fans on what's been really going on with Lucasfilm's theatrical plans.
Dillard's Star Wars film is the latest domino to fall after Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron and the uncertainty surrounding Taika Waititi's and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige's movies under the Lucasfilm banner.
It remains to be seen if the studio will announce its official theatrical slate anytime soon, especially after Lucasfilm Senior Vice President of Live Action Development and Production Michelle Rejwan stepped down from her position.
Still, there's reason to believe that Lucasfilm will eventually regroup and deliver exciting movies in the future, with it needing more time to create more interesting stories in the galaxy far, far, away.
