The latest disappointing update on Daisy Ridley’s return in Star Wars: New Jedi Order may work to Lucasfilm’s favor, avoiding a major mistake and even boosting A New Hope‘s 50th anniversary celebrations. Just a few days ago, Daisy Ridley promised an exciting update on Lucasfilm’s “evolving” plans for her return. I admit, the last thing I expected after that comment was news that Peaky Blinders screenwriter Steven Knight had left the New Jedi Order film. And yet, despite this shocking news, Ridley herself seems positive – even hinting again at “imminent news” on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
Lucasfilm has currently booked three release dates for upcoming Star Wars movies: May 22, 2026; December 18, 2026; and December 17, 2026. The studio has been wary of locking in specific films for these dates – The Mandalorian & Grogu is confirmed for the May 2026 date, but that’s about it. It’s generally been assumed the New Jedi Order project was penciled in for December 2026, and Ridley’s hints that a script is finished may mean it can still hit that release date. But could a delay actually work in Star Wars‘ favor?
The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Release Date Is Already A Big Gamble
Lucasfilm risks repeating Solo’s biggest mistake
Solo: A Star Wars Story was Star Wars‘ first box office bomb, grossing just 393.2 million in global box office against an estimated production budget of $275 million – meaning the film didn’t even break even. Lucasfilm has generally seemed to put the failure down to fans’ reluctance to accept a recast Han Solo, but in truth there are a lot more reasons; the film didn’t really have a strong hook, and the marketing campaign was shockingly lackluster. Disney seemed to assume Star Wars was too big to fail, and the first trailer released just three months before the film came out.
The House of Mouse set up
Solo
to fail.
Even stranger, though, were reports Disney had refused to push Solo back to December 2018 so it didn’t clash with Avengers: Infinity War. One of the biggest and most hotly-anticipated movies of the year, Infinity War dominated the box office for weeks after release, and Solo dropped at a time when all eyes were on Thanos. I remember writing about the two movies at the time, watching in utter confusion because Disney’s decision made absolutely no sense; the House of Mouse set up Solo to fail. Now, frustratingly, the same is true with The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Related
All 12 Star Wars Movies Ranked By Box Office (Adjusted For Inflation)
The Star Wars franchise is the second highest-grossing in film history, but how do all 12 films rank among themselves when adjusted for inflation?
May 2026 promises to be a big one for Disney. Avengers: Doomsday comes out on May 1, featuring Robert Downey, Jr.’s MCU return – now playing the villainous Doctor Doom. This will be the first Avengers movie to release since 2019’s record-busting Avengers: Endgame; and it’s safe to assume this particular project will be a hit. Yet again, a Star Wars movie is coming out just a couple of weeks later, meaning The Mandalorian & Grogu will stand in the Avengers‘ shadow. That is not a safe place to be, and Lucasfilm would be wise to move it to December 2026.
Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie Is Better As Part Of ANH’s 50th Anniversary
The New Jedi Order should release in 2027
Ridley recently said plans for the “New Jedi Order” project were evolving, which means Knight’s departure may not just be because Lucasfilm passed on his script; it’s possible plans have changed, with Lucasfilm perhaps retooling director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s pitch to launch a new era. This would fit with her later comments that she “might have seen something,” suggesting a script has been finished – perhaps even meaning this movie can still make the December 2026 slot. Still, that would be better for The Mandalorian & Grogu… and a delay can work in Lucasfilm’s favor.
Related
Daisy Ridley Promises “Imminent News” On Her Upcoming Star Wars Movie: “I Might Have Already Seen Something”
Daisy Ridley offers exciting new update on her upcoming Star Wars movie rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order, suggesting more to come soon.
2027 is already set to be an exciting year for Star Wars; after all, it’s the 50th anniversary of A New Hope, meaning there’s surely no better time to introduce viewers to the New Jedi Order. Recent reports have suggested James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi will begin filming next year, meaning it can still release in 2027 as well. Imagine it; an anniversary year for Star Wars, one which reveals the origin of the Jedi Order and its future. That would be a historic way to celebrate the franchise’s legacy.
Lucasfilm Would Still Be Meeting Its Promise Of Three Movies In 2026 & 2027
Only one release date has ever been confirmed
It’s time for a confession: I’ve never been entirely convinced Lucasfilm could deliver on the promise of three upcoming Star Wars films. It’s not just that Lucasfilm has developed something of a bad reputation for canceling Star Wars movies; it’s also that I feared a lack of bandwidth. We’ve all seen what happened to Marvel Studios when the MCU began churning out a massive number of movies and TV shows at the same time; quality dropped, and the franchise faltered. But, to Lucasfilm’s credit, the studio is shifting resources and now planning to release fewer TV shows.
Disney recently recommitted to releasing three Star Wars movies in 2026-2027, which surprised me given we hadn’t heard any real news about Ridley’s movie or Mangold’s project since Star Wars Celebration. The reports that Mangold’s film may actually be set to begin filming next year suggest there’s been a lot of movement we don’t know about it, explaining why the House of Mouse made this announcement. Even then, though, Disney avoided giving any new release dates. That gives Lucasfilm a bit of wriggle-room.
Personally, if I were Lucasfilm, I’d take Steven Knight’s departure as an opportunity to do some shuffling. I’d move The Mandalorian & Grogu to December 2026, thus avoiding the Solo mistake of going up against the Avengers. I’d then release two Star Wars movies in 2027, making A New Hope‘s celebrations bigger than ever. Knight’s departure may have caused problems, but some smart scheduling changes can make Rey’s New Jedi Order movie even more of a success.
