Damon Lindelof is leaving the upcoming Star Wars film

March 21, 2023

Justin Britt-Gibson was also out. Shameen Obaid-Chinoy remains on board to direct the project, which is slated for release in 2024.

Damon Lindelof hails from a galaxy far, far away. The creator of “The Leftovers” and “Watchmen” will no longer write the script for the next “Star Wars” movie, Deadline reports.

Lindelof is leaving the project along with co-writer Justin Britt-Gibson, and a replacement writer has yet to be announced. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, best known for her role in Disney+’s “Ms. Marvel,” is said to still be directing the film. Details about the project remain undisclosed, but it is said to be announced at Star Wars Celebration next month, April 7-10.

IndieWire has reached out to Lucasfilm for comment.

The film will reportedly remain one of, if not the first, film in the “Star Wars” franchise to hit theaters since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Disney currently has an untitled “Star Wars” movie on its theatrical release calendar for Dec. 19, 2025, but it’s unclear whether it’s Obaid-Chinoy’s play or another project.

Lindelof is one of several high-profile creators attached to film projects within the franchise who have dropped out or stalled development on their projects; Earlier this month, it was reported that Patty Jenkins’ long-delayed “Rogue Squadron” and Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige-produced film were shelved at Lucasfilm.

Since “The Rise of Skywalker” debuted to mixed reviews from most critics and fans and the spinoff “Solo” underperformed in 2018, Lucasfilm and Disney have been extremely careful bringing the franchise back to theaters. In addition to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the studio also has two other “Star Wars” movies in development: “Deadpool 3” director Shawn Levy’s film and “Thor: Love and Thunder” directed by Taika Waititi. .

The “Star Wars” franchise has mostly existed on television since 2019, with Disney+ launching several live-action shows in the universe, including “The Mandalorian,” “Andor,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and the upcoming “Ahsoka”. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are set to direct the upcoming Star Wars show “Skeleton Crew,” it was announced Monday.

As for Lindelof, the acclaimed author isn’t completely out of science fiction; the Peacock series “Mrs. Davis premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival earlier this month and will debut on April 20.

Above the Line first reported the news of Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson’s departure from the “Star Wars” film.

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