Lucasfilm can seemingly not go very long without announcing anotherStar Warsproject is in development, even though 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerwas the last instance in which the galaxy far, far away had a big screen installment. While all appears to be going well forJon Favreau’s 2026 filmThe Mandalorian & Grogu, Lucasfilm announced thatSimon Kinbergispreparing to write and produce a new trilogy of films.Reports are mixed on whether this new set of films will be the next installment of the Skywalker saga or the beginning of an entirely new story, buttheStar Warsfranchise needs someone with a better grasp on storytelling than Kinbergto shepherd the next era of the franchise to theaters.
To say that the last few years have been a mixed bag for theStar Warsfranchise would be an understatement; whileAndorandThe Bad Batchproved to be creative highs that took the franchise in an exciting new direction,Ahsokaand the last season ofThe Mandalorianbecame too complicated for their own good, as they incessantly tied into an expanded universe that those outside of the hardcore fan base may have had a hard time comprehending.Star Warsneeds a bold voice to prove that the franchise isn’t just repeating the past, and Kinberg hasn’t proven thus far that he has what it takes to makeone of the saga’s best installments.
Simon Kinberg Has a Mixed Track Record
The prospect of Kinberg producing aStar Warsproject is less concerning than the fact that he is writing it.As a producer, Kinberg has helped to complete many successful films, as he even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture for his role working on the science fiction filmThe Martian. However, Kinberg’s writing credits are filled with significant misses at trying to revitalize franchises, including 2015’sFantastic Four, XXX: State of the Union, andDark Phoenix(which he also directed). Many of Kinberg’s original projects, such asThe 355andJumper, teased sequels that never came to fruition. In general, Kinberg’s screenplay creditstend to be very underwritten, riddled with plot holes, and lacking in character development. While these sorts of issues aren’t a big deal when Kinberg is writing a silly action comedy likeThis Means WarorMr. & Mrs. Smith, it is more concerning when he is taking on a franchise as dense asStar Wars.
Kinberg hasn’t been able to sustain any of his successes, which is a reason to have hesitation considering that he is attached to mapping out the story for three separate Star Warsfilms. Although he is credited with helping to co-writeX-Men: Days of Future Past, which is largely credited as beingone of the best superhero movies ever made, Kinberg followed it up with bothX-Men: ApocalypseandDark Phoenix. If any lessons should be learned from the Star Warssequel trilogy, it is that the writers should have a clear ending in mind before they start hinting at future installments.
Star Wars Doesn’t Need Another Semi-Completed Story
TheStar Warsfranchisehas too many ongoing storylinesthat are incomplete, which makes barreling ahead with an entirely new trilogy a strange creative decision.The Mandalorianhas signified that it would be explaining aspects of the Imperial cloning facility inThe Rise of Skywalker, andAhsokaended with a teaser about the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). Kinberg has yet to make a project that has definitively “stuck the landing” by offering a definitive conclusion; in fact he has produced potential “franchise starters” likeThe New MutantsandChappiethat were so disastrously received that they killed any interest in potential sequels.
Some would cite Kinberg’s involvement with the animated seriesStar Wars Rebelsas a credit to his history with the franchise, asDave Filoni’s show has undeniably created many beloved characters, such as Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.). Unfortunately,Star Warshas not had a lot of success in transitioning its animated storytellers to live-action, as the reveal of severalRebelscharacters inAhsokawas quite underwhelming. There’s concern that Filoni is so determined to tie back his live-action projects toRebelsandThe Clone Warsthat they have become impenetrable to more casual fans who aren’t entirely caught up. There’s little to suggest that aStar Warstrilogy penned by Kinberg wouldn’t facethe same issues of excessive fan service.
Star Wars Needs More Exciting Voices
The bestStar Warsprojects in recent years have been those that have challenged the status quoby trying to take innovative new takes on the established mythology, and even molded them with other genres.Andorwas hailed as a brilliant political dramathat examined relevant issues regarding forced labor, right-wing radicalism, and the importance of resistance movements, with the fact that it was set in theStar Warsuniverse being a technicality. Similarly,Rian Johnsonwas able to examine the core tenants of the force inStar Wars: The Last Jedi, which explained the necessity of balance within theStar Warsuniverse. It is true that Kinberg has written some broadly entertaining films that could be classified as “crowd pleasers,” but he has yet to make anything that would inspire serious discussion.
TheStar Warsfranchise should not be afraid of change, as the saga only continues to lose relevance when it only offers slight deviations from the past. While a show likeThe Acolytedid not inspire enough enthusiasm to generate a renewal, the series at least deserves credit for making wild stylistic deviations that made it feel unique. Lucasfilm has made it a habitof announcing too many projectsfrom respected storytellers that never saw the light of day, withPatty Jenkins,Taika Waititi,andJames Mangoldall supposedly working on upcoming films. Kinberg might be a “safe” choice who could theoretically bring a project to theaters at a relatively quick pace, but it may be better for Lucasfilm to ensure that the nextStar Warsproject is truly an event worth seeking out on the big screen.
Star Warsis available to watch on Disney+ in the U.S.
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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
A farm boy from a desert planet becomes an unlikely hero in the fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. Guided by a former Jedi Knight and alongside a rebellious princess, a smuggler, and his co-pilot, he embarks on a mission to destroy the Death Star, a massive space station capable of annihilating entire planets. As he learns about the mystical Force, he discovers his destiny and the true strength within himself.
