Lucasfilm Reportedly Planning a Mandoverse-Style Slate of STAR WARS Movies Set After The Rise of Skywalker
Lucasfilm hasn’t even started rolling cameras on the new Star Wars movie starring Daisy Ridley as Rey, but fresh rumors hint at a much bigger plan for the galaxy far, far away. If the reports are true, we could be looking at a “Mandoverse” approach for the post-Rise of Skywalker era, an interconnected slate of films all set in the same period of the timeline.
The first of these projects will reportedly be Rey’s New Jedi Order, which was announced during Star Wars Celebration 2023. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still on board to direct, with The Adjustment Bureau and The Bourne Ultimatum writer George Nolfi now working on the latest draft of the script.
The project has already passed through multiple writers since its reveal, but it seems Lucasfilm is mapping out more than just one story in this era.
According to scooper Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm’s vision mirrors the storytelling model of The Mandalorian and its spin-offs. Multiple narratives would unfold within the same timeframe, gradually leading to a big, unifying event. Rey’s story is said to be the launchpad for this initiative.
The timeline gets interesting here. Star Wars: Starfighter has been said to take place five years after Episode IX, while New Jedi Order is set 15 years later. While there might be some connective tissue between them, Richtman suggests not to expect Rey to share the screen with Ryan Gosling and Matt Smith characters.
Obaid-Chinoy’s film is reportedly building toward an event that will bring back plenty of familiar faces. If they don’t find a way to give us an older Grogu in all of this, it’s going to feel like a massive missed opportunity.
Ridley has been candid about her decision to return to the role of Rey after the mixed reactions to The Rise of Skywalker.
"I suppose I feel more like I’m owning it. I suppose I owned it the first time. Basically, I’m an adult now. I certainly did not feel like an adult at the time. Obviously, personally, things have changed, and professionally, I’ve had lots of other experiences, and so I definitely feel like it’s a different thing this time.
“There’s just a lot of joy with me and these films. Honestly, if I wasn’t excited, I wouldn’t have done it. It feels like a great thing to be a part of."
When asked if it might feel strange making a Star Wars film without Adam Driver, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, she admitted:
"No, because I don’t know what is what or who is who [in the new movie]. So much has happened for me [since the Skywalker saga]. I feel like a grown-up now. When I first started, I was, like, 20. I was the youngest on set.
"It took me the first two 'Star Wars' films to feel worthy of being there. Now I’m in my 30s. The whole thing feels quite different. I’ve been able to work with other filmmakers, and hopefully, I’ve got better as a performer."
If this rumor proves true, fans could be in for an expansive, interconnected post-Skywalker saga that pushes the Star Wars timeline into new territory. Whether it’s Jedi rebuilding, old heroes returning, or a wise, battle-hardened Grogu, it sounds like the Force could be very strong with this new slate.