Patty Jenkins to direct the next Star Wars movie: Rogue Squadron

Disney has at last revealed plans for its next theatrical Star Wars film.

Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins will helm the next big-screen story set in a galaxy far, far away.

The title: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. According to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, the movie will usher in "a new era" for the franchise and “introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing high-speed thrill ride. The legend of Rogue Squadron has been long beloved by fans and will move us into a future era of the galaxy."

In Star Wars canon, Rogue Squadron is the elite Rebel X-wing fighter attack force that Luke Skywalker joins in A New Hope. The team was named after the group that sacrifices themselves to obtain the Death Star plans in the movie Rogue One. The squadron has been featured in a video game series, comic book series and in Star Wars novels.

Jenkins – who will be the first female director of a Star Wars film – posted a video about the news, giving a personal reason why she's excited to tell this particular story.

“It’s been a lifelong dream as a filmmaker to one day make a great fighter pilot film,” Jenkins said. “As the daughter of a great fighter pilot myself, some of the best memories of my life are of seeing my father’s squadron take off in their F4s every morning, and hearing and feeling the awe-inspiring power and grace. When he passed away in service to this country it ignited a burning desire to one day channel all of those emotions into one great film. When the perfect story arrived in combination with another true love of mine, the incomparable world of Star Wars, I knew I’d finally found my next film. I’m extremely honored and excited to take it on, and grateful to Lucasfilm, Disney, and the fans for extending that thrill to me.”

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is planned for Christmas 2023.

Kennedy also announced another as-yet-unnamed Star Wars film in development from Oscar winner (and IG-11 voice) Taika Waititi. “Taika’s approach to Star Wars will be fresh, unexpected, and…unique,” said Kennedy. “His enormous talent and sense of humor will ensure that audiences are in for an unforgettable ride.”

The development was revealed during an investor conference presentation Thursday, just one part of a massive surge of Star Wars news in the presentation. Kennedy also revealed the title and teaser video of the Cassian Andor series starring Diego Luna, the development of a series centered around Lando Calrissian, two Mandalorian spinoff series (including one centered on Rosario Dawson's character Ahsoka Tano), the title of Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland's series – The Acolyte ("a mystery-thriller that will take the audience into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era," and that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series.

The company added that it’s planning a whopping 10 Star Wars series for Disney+ over the next few years, along with an equal number of Marvel series.

Emphasizing the quality of Disney+’s programming Walt Disney Company Executive Chairman Bob Iger told investors, “The only difference between [our TV series] and our feature films is length.”

Related content:

• Hayden Christensen to play Darth Vader in new Obi-Wan Kenobi series
• The Mandalorian announces two spin-offs, including an Ahsoka Tano series
• Raya and the Last Dragon to debut on Disney+ for premium price and in theaters