Jon Watts to Direct Next Star Wars Film, Production Starts 2025

Jon Watts, the director of the recent “Spider‑Man” movies, has been hired by Lucasfilm to helm the next “Star Wars” film, the studio announced on Tuesday. The new movie will be the first “Star Wars” theatrical release under Disney’s refreshed slate for the franchise, and Watts is expected to start pre‑production later this year. The announcement came at a press event in Los Angeles, where Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the film will be a standalone story, not tied to any of the current streaming series.

The move follows a period of rapid change for the “Star Wars” brand. Disney has been reshuffling its leadership and creative teams after the mixed reception of recent sequels and the success of Disney+ shows such as “The Mandalorian.” Lucasfilm is looking to bring fresh talent with proven box‑office appeal, and Watts fits that profile after delivering three profitable Marvel movies for the studio. Kennedy said the studio wants a director who can blend action, humor and heart, qualities that defined Watts’s Spider‑Man work. The project will be developed alongside an as‑yet‑unannounced writer’s room, with the goal of delivering a film that feels both familiar and new to longtime fans.

Production is slated to begin in early 2025, with a tentative release window set for the summer of 2027. The studio expects the film to be a key part of Disney’s broader strategy to revitalize its flagship franchises and drive theatrical attendance. Fans will be watching closely to see how Watts’s style translates to a galaxy far, far away, and whether his involvement can recapture the excitement that made the original saga a cultural phenomenon.