Star Wars Under Filoni: The Projects Fans Should Be Excited — and Worried — About

Filoni Takes the Helm — What Fans Are Missing and Why It Matters Now

If you've ever felt flooded by half-announced Star Wars projects, missed out on surprise live streams, or waited months for a sequel that never lands — you're not alone. The franchise's post-2019 lull and the recent shakeup at Lucasfilm have left fans craving a clear vision and dependable rollout. With Kathleen Kennedy's exit and Dave Filoni stepping into a co-president creative role in early 2026, the studio has promised an accelerated movie slate. That sounds exciting — but it also raises urgent questions about franchise cohesion, quality control, and what community-first fans should do next.

The high-level: what's happened in late 2025 and early 2026

By January 2026 the headline was stark: Kathleen Kennedy left Lucasfilm and Dave Filoni assumed creative leadership alongside Lynwen Brennan. Industry outlets and fan channels quickly reported an intent to revive theatrical Star Wars after a multiyear pause. The new slate — partly public, partly rumor-driven — signals a pivot toward projects with direct ties to Filoni's television work, and an accelerated production timeline. That combination offers both hope and risk.

Why this moment is different

• Creator-led era: Filoni's promotion formalizes the trend of letting a showrunner-driven auteur shape the canon, something fans celebrated with The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Mandalorian.
• Streaming and theatrical hybrid norms: By 2026 studios are experimenting with release windows and live companion experiences — meaning movies won't live in isolation anymore.
• Fan power is louder: Dedicated communities and live reaction culture now influence marketing and even creative decisions in real time.

The Filoni-era movie slate: what we know, what is rumored, what to watch

Lucasfilm has confirmed a small number of projects and industry reporting has filled in several rumored titles. Rather than a definitive list, think of the current slate as a mix of concrete picks and developmental experiments.

Confirmed / Very likely

• Mandalorian & Grogu (Feature) — Reported as a priority feature: a direct lift from the overwhelmingly popular Disney+ universe. This is the project fans mention first — and it's also the clearest example of the opportunities and pitfalls ahead.
• Filoni-led projects connected to TV canon — Expect films that bridge or extend TV arcs rather than isolated, stand-alone tentpoles.

Reportedly in development or under discussion

• Character-centric origin pieces — Smaller, character-driven films that deepen known arcs instead of introducing entirely new trilogies.
• Legacy tie-ins — Projects that bring back legacy-era elements; the risk here is retconning or tone mismatch.

What remains unclear

• Scope and timing for theatrical vs streaming premieres.
• Which creative teams outside Filoni will be empowered, and how much editorial oversight Lucasfilm will exert.
• How canon continuity will be maintained across TV shows, games, comics, and movies.

Projects that promise innovation — and why to be excited

Filoni's strength is clear: he knows how to expand a galaxy by honoring texture, character beats, and long-game storytelling. Several features of the new slate point toward innovation:

1. Deep continuity that rewards long-term fans

Under Filoni, Star Wars became a tapestry. The promise now is movies designed to complement TV arcs rather than compete with them. That means films could serve as emotional payoffs for years of serialized storytelling — a design that benefits passionate viewers who follow the broader ecosystem of shows, comics, and games.

2. Character-first filmmaking over spectacle-only tentpoles

Filoni has repeatedly proven he can make audiences care. Expect projects that use film to intensify personal journeys (e.g., Grogu, Din Djarin, or other series protagonists) rather than rely solely on event-level spectacle. For fans tired of franchise bloat, this focus can feel restorative.

3. New release and event models

The theatrical landscape in 2026 favors hybrid strategies. Lucasfilm can lean into simultaneous live companion experiences, director Q&As, and community watch-alongs. These approaches create shared live moments and replays that solve the