Star Wars: Rogue Squadron was supposed to be the first major Star Wars movie we got in theaters in some time. That's ... not exactly changed, but we might have to go even longer. Originally, Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman 1984, Monster) was at the helm to forge new ground in the galaxy far, far away. But that's all in jeopardy now.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron's plot will likely prompt a lot of debate, as Disney and Jenkins are going to mix some elements the Extended Universe books and video games with a lot of new material. The official Lucasfilm announcement reveals that "The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy."
Now, we can simply say we have more than enough time to easily watch the Star Wars movies in order multiple times. More on this below.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron was announced at the 2020 Disney Investors Day event by Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. This isn't even the sole Star Wars movie that's under way, as Kennedy also revealed an untitled Taika Waititi-helmed Star Wars project is in the works.
Latest Star Wars: Rogue Squadron news (updated Sept. 15)
- Rogue Squadron has been removed from the Disney Theatrical Release schedule.
- A fan has revealed that Patty Jenkins has been in touch with a key author in the Star Wars EU.
- Disney still has Rogue Squadron on its calendar for the 2023 holidays.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron movie release date disappears
We're gonna have to wait a while, so don't strap into your X-Wing too soon. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron used to have a release date of December 22, 2023.
Then, things got rocky. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the film was facing delays that would postpone production past 2022. Matthew Belloni of The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that this was due to "creative differences" tied to the script in his newsletter.
Now, Variety reports the film is no longer on Disney's official schedule. This was partially somewhat inevitable, as Rogue Squadron's timing would have been extremely tight to meet that 12/22/23 date.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron crew
Of course, Patty Jenkins is directing Rogue Squadron, and in June 2021 we learned that Matthew Jenkins will write the film, though Disney did not confirm that Variety report. Jenkins' past work includes Love and Monsters and The Invention of Lying.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron movie trailer speculation
We do not have an trailer, and it's going to be a very long while before we get one, considering the series' late 2023 release. Expect something to arrive during the spring or summer of 2023, and not earlier.
but director Patty Jenkins provided a bit of footage to get us all excited for her entry into the Star Wars universe, with this clip that was used for the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron announcement:
pic.twitter.com/e3N00xCr5iDecember 10, 2020
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron movie plot
If you were thinking Star Wars: Rogue Squadron was going to just adapt the video game and books of the of the same name, think again. But don't worry.
Patty Jenkins told IGN that "we're doing something original with great influence from the games and the books ... There's a lot of things being acknowledged and understood about the greatness of all of those things, but yes, it's an original story and I'm so psyched to do it." She echoed that to the AP, saying that the film will "honor" the books and games that came before, but also that "it must be brought to a new age, because we have to tell a new story with it."
This news got better, as a tweet from a fan named "just brad" on the account @Jedi4Liberty claims that Star Wars Extended Universe author Michael Stackpole told him that Jenkins "had been in contact with him early on."
So, we may expect the film to reference the work of Wedge Antilles, who created the elite group of pilots who were the original Rogue Squadron (which Luke Skywalker captained). The Rogue Squadron books were a part of the Star Wars Extended Universe, which was basically erased, when it was announced that "In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, Star Wars Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe."
In that same announcement, the folks behind Star Wars left the door open for this kind of movie, stating "Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe," which is how Jenkins will be able to make reference to what is necessary, without being completely tied to the books.
The film may also serve as the jumping off point for the post-Skywalker Saga era, as Jenkins told THR that "I’m so excited about the story and excited that we’re the next chapter of Star Wars, which is such a responsibility and such an opportunity to really start some new things. It’s really exciting in that way."
Looking for something else to watch while you wait? We've got all the Stranger Things season 4 details.
