An Update On Upcoming Lucasfilm Projects

Back on Star Wars Day aka May The Fourth, we ran an extensive look at the upcoming live-action Star Wars projects. There were a couple of tidbits we’ve learned since then and figured we’d do a follow-up.

It’s well known that active Lucasfilm productions include The Book of Boba Fett (California), Andor (United Kingdom), Willow (Wales), and Obi-Wan Kenobi (California). There is an assumption that things such as Rangers of The New Republic (Jon Favreau set as series showrunner)Ahsoka, and the third season of The Mandalorian will shoot in California given the production hub there seems to be the home base for Disney+ productions from Favreau/Filoni. 

Indiana Jones 5 will be shot in the United Kingdom with James Mangold (Cop Land, Logan) doing double duty as both screenwriter and director after Steven Spielberg exited. Its confirmed production team includes production designer Adam Stockhausen (The French Dispatch, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Widows, Ready Player One), and reuniting with James is cinematographer Phedon Papamichael (Ford v Ferrari, Walk The Line, 3: 10 To Yuma). The untitled sequel’s cast so far includes franchise star Harrison Ford (said to be his final outing as Indy), British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Fleabag), Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Fantastic Beasts 3, Casino Royale, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Another Round), and German actor Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Valkyrie, Blade II). The most recent additions are Boyd Holbrook (Narcos, Logan, The Predator) and Shaunette Renée Wilson (The Resident), as reported by Deadline. 

James Mangold may have teased the 1960s as the setting on social media as concrete plot details have been kept under wraps. The fifth installment is officially set for a release in theaters on July 29, 2022. 

The Andor series is seeming going to get a Season 2. 

Back in March 2019, I was the first to break the news that Lucasfilm was looking to move forward with a second season of The Mandalorian ahead of Star Wars Celebration 2019. Well, I’m also hearing Andor is indeed aiming for multiple seasons as Season 2 is on the table, if not already in development by the creative team. We’re treating as a rumor until there is announcement from Disney/Lucasfilm.

A second season was sort of teased by K-2SO actor Alan Tudyk when he told Collider that his smart-mouthed droid was removed from Season 1 after showrunner Tony Gilroy was brought-on to help with writing.

It remains to be seen if Lucasfilm will attempt to launch splinter/spinoff shows based on the era that Andor takes place as they did with The Mandalorian spinoffs The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Rangers of The New Republic.

Andor’s Season 1 creative team includes directors Toby Haynes (Doctor Who, Utopia), Susanna White (Our Kind of Traitor), and Benjamin Caron (The Crown) alongside a stellar writing team with Tony Gilroy, Dan Gilroy, Beau Willimon, and Stephen Schiff.

The first season will debut in 2022 on Disney+ exclusively.

Three more Lucasfilm productions are heading to the United Kingdom with the following limited liability corporations The Ronin has uncovered being recently established by the studio. You can see those companies listed below.  

  • GHOST TRUCK 6 UK LIMITED
  • BLUE STOCKINGS UK LIMITED
  • ACE OF HEARTS UK LIMITED

The fact they were just created would mean this would rule out projects in pre-production or currently filming such as the Willow series, James Mangold’s Indiana Jones 5, and Andor series. 

At least one of the three companies is likely linked to Patty Jenkins‘ upcoming Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, the next big Star Wars film should begin shooting by 2022 to hit the December 22, 2023 release date. All of the Disney-era Star Wars films have been shot in the London era making it extremely likely that the next film will continue that established tradition. Patty isn’t new to massive productions shot across the pond, as the filmmaker shot the first two Wonder Woman films on the stages of Warner Bros. Studios in Watford, England. 

Patty is attached to direct Wonder Woman 3 for Warner Bros. but likely won’t be next for her.

The listing of Ghost Truck 6 based on the name alone might be recognizable to Star Wars fans as a potential nod to Star Wars: Rebels, as the ship is called Ghost (featured in live-action projects) and there just happens to be six crew members. However, it’s speculation based on the name as there hasn’t been anyone official confirmation from Lucasfilm that a series will focus on Rebels characters, despite rumblings of the Ahsoka series potentially including them after her being on a mission to find Grand Admiral Thrawn was revealed in the character’s episode in The Mandalorian. The Ghost was spotted in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Ace of Hearts might be the Lando series given the character’s connection to gambling and seduction, then again, could be meant for something else like Rogue Squadron, Children of Blood & Bone, or the High Republic-set series The Acolyte

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