As Lucasfilm looks to usher in a new era of Star Wars movies, the studio has several films from talented creatives in various stages of development. One of the most intriguing titles in the works is known as Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi. Set to be directed by Logan helmsman James Mangold, the film’s story takes place 25,000 years before Star Wars: A New Hope, exploring the discovery of the Force and the earliest days of the Jedi Order. Dawn of the Jedi has the potential to be unlike anything fans have seen from the franchise to date, yet it remains undated (despite being announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023). Based on Mangold’s latest career moves, it could be a while before his Star Wars film hits the big screen.
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According to Deadline, Mangold has signed an “overall deal” with Paramount. Under the terms of the agreement, Mangold will “develop, direct and produce feature film projects.” His partnership with Paramount doesn’t come as a surprise, as the studio recently won the bidding war for the upcoming crime drama High Side, which reunites Mangold with his A Complete Unknown star Timotheé Chalamet. The Deadline report doesn’t provide an update on Dawn of the Jedi (or Mangold’s Swamp Thing movie for DC Studios, for that matter), but it raises questions about how it’ll be impacted.
Will Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi Still Happen?
At Star Wars Celebration Japan back in April, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed which Star Wars movies are still in development. Among those listed was Dawn of the Jedi, though there haven’t been any concrete updates on the project since. In the meantime, Star Wars is returning to movie theaters next summer with the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu, while Star Wars: Starfighter (currently in production) is set for a May 2027 release. Dawn of the Jedi doesn’t appear to be an immediate priority for Lucasfilm, if it’s still happening at all.
Mangold striking a deal with Paramount could be an indication of where things stand with his planned franchise projects. Paramount isn’t going into business with the director so he can make blockbusters for Disney and Warner Bros. The idea is for Mangold to call Paramount home for the foreseeable future. If either Dawn of the Jedi or Swamp Thing were moving along at a steady pace, Mangold might have been reluctant to sign a Paramount deal at this point in time, keeping his schedule open for those other projects. Instead, it seems like High Side will be his next film. With Chalamet attached to star, it’s emerged as a priority for Paramount’s new leadership team.
The reports do not indicate if there’s anything in the contract that prohibits Mangold from making a film for another studio, but logistically, it’s hard to see how he could pull that off. A movie like Dawn of the Jedi or Swamp Thing would tie him up for an extended period of time, between production, post-production, and the inevitable press tour to promote the movie. Paramount brass probably wouldn’t be happy if they had to wait a year or two for Mangold to be free to work for them again. Fortunately for them, Star Wars and DC may not even be on Mangold’s mind right now. In a statement coinciding with the news, he excitedly shared that Paramount has “embraced my ideas for future projects,” implying he already has movies in mind to make after High Side is complete.
Dawn of the Jedi isn’t cancelled, but the odds of it happening probably took a fairly substantial blow with this latest development. It’s a shame because it has the potential to be a truly game-changing film for Star Wars, demonstrating the wide breadth of stories possible to tell in what should be an expansive sandbox. It would have been fascinating to see a Star Wars movie so far removed from what came before, which would have allowed Mangold maximum creative freedom within the confines of a larger franchise. If he has to step away from Dawn of the Jedi, hopefully there’s another filmmaker out there who can pick up the reins. One way for Star Wars to remain viable in the future is to tackle different film styles and concepts that break the mold of what a “Star Wars film” can be. A biblical epic about the origins of the Jedi fits that bill, and it would be great to see it become a reality.
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