Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy

[GNT]

‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Deal: Lucasfilm Taps Simon Kinberg To Write & Produce - Deadline​

EXCLUSIVE: Lucasfilm has closed a deal with Simon Kinberg to develop a trilogy of Star Wars films. Kinberg will write the trio and produce them with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy.

I heard this will comprise Episodes 10-12 of The Skywalker Saga that began with George Lucas’s 1977 first film, which, along with Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, reshaped the global blockbuster game. Insiders disputed my intel that Kinberg will continue that storyline, saying this instead will begin a new aga, and sit alongside percolating Star Wars projects with James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi and Donald Glover. As usual, Lucasfilm and Disney are not commenting.

Kinberg previously worked with Lucasfilm in co-creating with Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck the Emmy-nominated animated series Star Wars Rebels that ran for four seasons from 2014-2018. He was also a consultant on Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the J.J. Abrams-directed film that revived the franchise in 2015.

He has also been heavily involved in other franchises as writer and/or producer. That includes a decade spent on the X-Men films and the Logan spinoff film that starred Hugh Jackman and was directed by Mangold. He was also producer of the first two Deadpool films, and exec producer of the 2024 blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine; he produced the Ridley Scott-directed The Martian‘ and has scripted such films as Mr & Mrs Smithand co-wrote the film that launched the Sherlock Holmes franchise with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. He also produced the Kenneth Branagh Agatha Christie film trilogy that started with Murder on the Orient Express. In short, he’s comfortable in the franchise sphere.

Upcoming, Kinberg is producing Paramount’s remake of Stephen King’s The Running Man, which just went into production. Edgar Wright is directing Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Emilia Jones, William H. Macy and Lee Pace. He also is attached to produce Paramount’s Star Trek movie directed by Toby Haynes and penned by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Kinberg is repped by CAA and Karl Austen at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

 

[thenza]

Remember when your first reaction to hearing about new Star Wars WASN'T "Uh oh..."

 

[AllSystemsGo]

And the wheel of mediocrity starts to spin once again...

We're at the point where Disney Wars has delivered stinker after stinker, where one is not wrong to assume it'll be bad from the get-go, especially with a writer as notoriously awful as Kinberg. "Give it a chance!" doesn't work anymore with their track record.

But like the development hell Rey movies, I don't expect this to go anywhere.

 

[Tikkes]

Does Lucasfilm actively seek out the most pedestrian filmmakers and just hand them the keys? In a world where there are a number of interesting writers and directors, we are relying on Kinberg to deliver us three new movies. Good lord.

 

[keknivek]

Ok, so let's look at credits:

He's written Fant4stic, X-Men Last stand, X-Men Dark Phoenix, and X-Men Apocalypse <arguably the 3 worst X-Men movies and the worst F4 movie. He's done 'script revisions' on Elektra and Halle Berry's Catwoman.

He's had some creative input as a Producer on the Deadpool movies as well as Logan AND he's had his hand in things like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Chappie, The Martian, and Elysium, which were all quite good. There's other stuff that's questionable, but since he does have some Star Wars in there with Rebels and some sort of mention on TFA... he at least has some background in Star Wars.

So, I guess that means Producer I'd give him a solid OK ... or a shaky Yes.

As a writer, perhaps he should get some help... but I'm not sure who as Filoni or Favreau are probably the only ones I'd trust.

 

[GNT]

After the last few years does anyone even have faith that they’ll make anything decent? It just seems they hand out SW projects to anyone.

It would be nice if they could somehow get SW back on track.

 

[Masterfett]

Considering this wasn't an "official" announcement from LFL, I'll take it as rumor or more likely KK trying to maintain relevancy and hold onto her job by low key leaking this nothing burger just like she did with the Rey movie.

That said, if it does wind up being true, I've got no interest in anything tied to the ST. And as far as I'm concerned there are no EP 10-12 because the numbered movies are about the Skywalker story and they are all dead, period. End of story. Rey is a Palpatine, so it cannot be anything to do with Skywalkers. Also, in regard to Rey, she cannot be an Obi-Wan type character because she learnt nothing from Luke. The actual last Jedi, not to mention the Jedi texts were destroyed so she cannot start a new Jedi Order because she doesn't know anything to teach.

I'm fine if they want to start a whole new trilogy about totally new characters but only if it is set 200 years post the ST, or even fine with exploring some tales 300-400 years prior to TPM.

 

[keknivek]

Considering this wasn't an "official" announcement from LFL, I'll take it as rumor or more likely KK trying to maintain relevancy and hold onto her job by low key leaking this nothing burger just like she did with the Rey movie.

That said, if it does wind up being true, I've got no interest in anything tied to the ST. And as far as I'm concerned there are no EP 10-12 because the numbered movies are about the Skywalker story and they are all dead, period. End of story. Rey is a Palpatine, so it cannot be anything to do with Skywalkers. Also, in regard to Rey, she cannot be an Obi-Wan type character because she learnt nothing from Luke. The actual last Jedi, not to mention the Jedi texts were destroyed so she cannot start a new Jedi Order because she doesn't know anything to teach.

I'm fine if they want to start a whole new trilogy about totally new characters but only if it is set 200 years post the ST, or even fine with exploring some tales 300-400 years prior to TPM.

You probably have blocked it from your memory, but there was an actual scene that showed the ancient jedi texts were taken by Rey when she left. Luke didn't destroy anything but a tree.

AND, I agree that they really need to jump into the future or focus on the distant past. They have the Darth Krayt or Zayne Carrick but they won't use them.

 

[Oofa]

I'm hearing this is just another modus operandi as per LFL just before an investor meeting.
So it might not even have any legit merit.

 

[Masterfett]

You probably have blocked it from your memory, but there was an actual scene that showed the ancient jedi texts were taken by Rey when she left. Luke didn't destroy anything but a tree.

AND, I agree that they really need to jump into the future or focus on the distant past. They have the Darth Krayt or Zayne Carrick but they won't use them.

Kathleen in particular seems to have an issue using past lore/characters, as well as Disney would prefer to utilize their own creations to get away from paying royalties. Meanwhile Filoni doesn't mind stealing from it and making the characters a shallow interpretation of their former selves. But still, I wouldn't want current LFL to come anywhere near established characters as they've proven to be pathetic at the attempts. I'd rather they just create new characters to explore.

 

[Oofa]

Kathleen in particular seems to have an issue using past lore/characters, as well as Disney would prefer to utilize their own creations to get away from paying royalties. Meanwhile Filoni doesn't mind stealing from it and making the characters a shallow interpretation of their former selves. But still, I wouldn't want current LFL to come anywhere near established characters as they've proven to be pathetic at the attempts. I'd rather they just create new characters to explore.

Fully agree.
Problem is, their new characters start at level 0, whereas OT is currently at level 47 and PT is a level 25, if you think of it in terms of games.
And the mouse want their characters to be at level 25 and 47 from the get go. They kind of "paid to win" when purchasing LFL, but the "gamer" didn't understand the full potential of a level 25 and 47 and still don't.

 

[AllSystemsGo]

They fumbled the bag with Thrawn so even them using old EU characters isn't very reassuring.

 

[keknivek]

They fumbled the bag with Thrawn so even them using old EU characters isn't very reassuring.

I was not a huge fan of the depiction of Thrawn in live action, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

I've seen some talk about comic writers wanting more money for things they created that have made millions of dollars for someone else and I understand how that really kinda sucks that they don't get much additional compensation from their work. I personally think they should bring in those writers and artists to help in making the movie.

John Jackson Miller is a great writer and I'm sure would be a wealth of knowledge to pull from if they were to make a Zayne Carrick movie.
Jan Duursema and John Ostrander would absolutely nail a Cade Skywalker, Darth Krayt movie.
I think those 2 along with a possible Darth Revan movie would be the top 3 EU stories outside of the main OT time frame that I'd like to see.
I'd lose my mind if they decided to make a series of movies of the actual Rogues Squadron / Wraith Squadron, but anything OT is going to be met with a yes from me really.

 

[Masterfett]

I was not a huge fan of the depiction of Thrawn in live action, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Hence why I say "current" LFL, no one there seems to be able to write worth a damn. Even Dave and Jon have had missteps, refusing to acknowledge that is basically burying head in sand. Dave is fine with animation, yet so far hasn't impressed me with live action. Jon started out fairly good with Mando and that has slowly gone downhill. One they get someone in charge that's an actual fan of the IP rather than someone wanting to hijack it or destroy it as revenge on George, because that's how it feels to me. It will always be like this. And once they get a CEO who only runs the Company and allow the "creatives" to create, similar to how Iger let Feige run Marvel, they should feasibly be able to hire the right people who know how to write solid compelling characters first, as well as how to immerse them into a functioning world together and make it all coherent plot.

With all these bungles I'm starting to wonder if she actually earned her Producer credits or just had her name slapped on project because of her Husband and his relationship to individuals like Spielberg. After all, "donate" enough Money to a production and favors are granted, it's been that way since Hollywood started.

 

[ZiggyStarkiller]

Kathleen in particular seems to have an issue using past lore/characters, as well as Disney would prefer to utilize their own creations to get away from paying royalties. Meanwhile Filoni doesn't mind stealing from it and making the characters a shallow interpretation of their former selves. But still, I wouldn't want current LFL to come anywhere near established characters as they've proven to be pathetic at the attempts. I'd rather they just create new characters to explore.

What? Did we not get an entire show about Boba Fett? Obi-Wan? Ahsoka? Appearances from Anakin/Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker? Bo Katan? Darth Maul and creepy CGI Leias and Tarkins that didn't even need to be in the movie? Totally superfluous appearances from Ponda Baba, Dr Evazan, R5-D4 that had zero effect on the story? If anything they shoehorn in past characters way more than they need to. What world are you living in? We've gotten like 3 shows with original characters and 1 that started that way for a single season and proceeded to start shoehorning OT, PT, and Clone Wars characters into every single episode. Even one of them with mostly original characters decided to shove in Ki-Adi Mundi for no reason! Using past characters seems to be of no issue to them.

 

[Masterfett]

The only reason those character we even shoehorned in was an attempt to lure audiences by baiting nostalgia, sadly all they did was character assassinate them in an attempt to make theirs shine brighter. Tell me, which one of those shows actually concentrated on the titular character's journey without introducing unnecessary side characters to fill airtime? That is my point, they won't ever out the focus on those characters or try to tell a good story about them. They are seen simply as bait for audiences.

 

[ZiggyStarkiller]

But you attribute it to “royalties” as if you don’t have to pay royalties if the movie/show is bad or something.