Disney delays next three 'Star Wars' films

Although 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker marked the end of the Skywalker Saga, it didn’t mark the end of the franchise.

However, we will have a little longer to wait until we return to the Galaxy Far, Far Away, as Disney has delayed the releases of the next three live action films in the series by a year each. The first new Untitled Star Wars Film will now arrive on 23 December, 2023, a second on 19 December, 2025, and a third on 17 December, 2027.

It’s not yet clear which of the many Star Wars films Disney’s subsidiary Lucasfilm is currently developing will take each slot though. Thor: Ragnarok’s Taika Waititi will direct a Star Wars film, based on script he’s recently begun to co-write with 1917’s Krysty Wilson-Cairns.

Read more: New Star Wars animated series announced

The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is working on a trilogy of films, separate from the Skywalker saga. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is also developing his own Star Wars film, as are Sleight writer-director J.D. Dillard and Luke Cage writer Matt Owens.

A film based on the Knights of the Old Republic video games from writer Laeta Kalogridis is said to be in the works, as is one set in the era of the High Republic.

Following the indefinite delay of Mulan and a postponement of the forthcoming Avatar sequels, Disney announced sweeping changes to its slate, however the release of its forthcoming MCU films - Black Widow, The Eternals, Shang-Chi, Thor: Love and Thunder etc - remain unchanged, for now.

The second season of Disney’s hit Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian is still slated for launch on Disney+ later this year.