Steven Knight, who left as screenwriter ofRey’s New Jedi Order movieback in October last year, gives a simple reaction to the recent changes - suggesting the fandom should really stop panicking. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s mysteriousupcomingStar Warsmoviewas announced back in October 2023, and progress has been slow.Peaky Blindersscribe Steven Knight left the project last year, replaced by George Nolfi (ofBourne Ultimatumfame). The apparent delays have led to a great disturbance in the fanbase.
Speaking to theDaily Telegraph, Knight addressed the departure and made it clear he isn’t concerned by it - and, in fact, seems to consider this standard for Hollywood.
“There’s a system, and when you engage with it, you know what it is.You do your bit, you turn in your draft or drafts, as I did, and then the system moves on.I fully expect that substantial amounts of what I did will be in the movie – who knows? But that’s the expectation.”
As interviewer Liam Kelly notes, relations between Knight and Disney clearly remain cordial; Knight’s latest TV show,A Thousand Blows, has already been renewed for a second season.
Steven Knight Is Right: This Is Normal In Hollywood
Star Warsfans are primed to expect disappointment; there have been far too manycanceledStar Warsmovies and TV showsover the years. But Knight does have a point here; although Lucasfilm announced Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey back in 2023,the studio has never given any official hint about when it would come out. There were initial rumors it would release in 2026, butThe Mandalorian and Grogutook that slot, and Ridley has frequently insisted there’s no rush.
There’s nothing unusual about a movie going through multiple drafts.EvenThe Empire Strikes Backwas originally drafted by Leigh Brackett after she consulted with Lucas; that early version didn’t have the famous Darth Vader “I am your father” scene, which only occurred to Lucas when he took on the second draft after Brackett’s sad passing. From Lucasfilm’s perspective, it’s better to get Rey’s New Jedi Order movie right than to rush it.
Our Take On Rey’s New Jedi Order Movie
Lucasfilm Has Learned An Important Lesson
There have been several other occasions where Lucasfilm did indeed rush production. With the benefit of hindsight, delays toStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker- necessitated after Carrie Fisher’s death - would probably have helped.Solo: A Star Wars Storywas released at the worst possible time, overshadowed byAvengers: Infinity War, and there were reports Disney forced the release despite concerns from Lucasfilm bosses. It’s better to take time, and get things right.
The problem, of course, is thatStar Warsfans are nervous. The fandom is in a tumultuous place right now;The Acolyte’s cancelationleft deep scars, and there’s a genuine sense of fear that Lucasfilm may not be able to get things back on track. Those concerns flow from a sense of deep and abiding passion, but they’re leading to something of an overreaction when it comes toRey’s New Jedi Order movie.
