The Mangold, Waititi, Glover & Soderbergh Checkup: Which Star Wars Movies Are Dead, Alive or Maybe?

Quick hit: Your one-stop checkup on Mangold, Waititi, Glover & Soderbergh

Too many Star Wars rumors. Not enough clarity. If you want a concise, source-backed read on the director-driven films everybody keeps asking about — James Mangold’s Jedi origin epic, Taika Waititi’s mystery movie, Donald Glover’s Lando, and Steven Soderbergh’s Ben Solo — this is it. Below: a project-by-project status, realistic odds for each film, why Dave Filoni’s rise in 2026 matters, and exact signals to watch that mean a project is alive or dead.

The executive summary (most important first)

Short version: Under outgoing Lucasfilm leadership those four films had strong creative pedigree and finished scripts — but in late 2025 and early 2026 Lucasfilm’s leadership change and a new creative prioritization around Dave Filoni’s vision pushed many director-led features to the back burner. That doesn’t mean all are dead; it means times and odds have shifted.

• James Mangold — Dawn of the Jedi: On hold, low odds (Maybe: ~15%).
• Steven Soderbergh — Ben Solo: On the back burner, very low odds (Maybe/Dead: ~10%).
• Taika Waititi — Untitled: Active development but delayed, moderate odds (Maybe/Alive: ~45%).
• Donald Glover — Lando: Script reportedly finished, moderate odds (Maybe/Alive: ~40%).

Why the change in 2026 matters

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought the biggest leadership pivot at Lucasfilm since Disney acquired the company: Kathleen Kennedy stepped back from the presidency and Dave Filoni stepped up as Lucasfilm’s President and Chief Creative Officer, with Lynwen Brennan as co-president handling business operations. That leadership split echoes other studio playbooks — creative lead + business lead — and it matters because Filoni’s prior success has been on TV-driven, serialized worldbuilding (Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka).

What that means in practice: projects that align tightly with Filoni’s serialized, franchise-cohesive approach, and those that generate long-term streaming/merchandising revenue, will get priority. Ambitious, expensive origin epics that don’t clearly fit the new long-form plan are more vulnerable — even if they have ‘incredible’ scripts and big names attached.

“Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon wrote an incredible script, but it is definitely breaking the mold and it’s on hold,” Kathleen Kennedy said in early 2026 — a blunt admission that some high-profile features are now sidelined.

Project deep dives: status, odds, why

James Mangold — Dawn of the Jedi (Origins of the Jedi)

Status: On hold. Odds: Maybe — low (~15%).

The appeal: Mangold (Walk the Line, Logan) was tapped to direct a massive, historical take on the Force that would push Star Wars into mythic prehistory. The script — credited to Mangold and Beau Willimon — reportedly rethinks the origins of the Jedi, 25,000 years before Episode IV. That’s creatively daring.

The problem: It’s also expensive, high-concept, and hard to thread into the current Lucasfilm plan centered on continuity and serialized character arcs. Kathleen Kennedy herself said Mangold’s script is “breaking the mold” — praise, but also a red flag under new leadership that’s prioritizing cohesion. Without a clear way to plug Dawn of the Jedi into Filoni’s roadmap (or a streaming-first rollout), the project’s financial and strategic risk rises.

Signs it could revive:

• Lucasfilm announces a multi-platform tie-in (series + film) to amortize costs.
• Major internal champion (Filoni or a Disney exec) publicly backs the project.
• Visible early-stage production moves: casting notices, VFX vendor contracts, location permits.

Steven Soderbergh — Ben Solo (Adam Driver attached previously)

Status: Back burner / effectively shelved. Odds: Maybe/Dead — very low (~10%).

Soderbergh’s Ben Solo film was a late-breaking prestige pairing: an acclaimed director matched with Adam Driver and a script reportedly by Scott Burns that insiders praised as “just great.” But Disney has a limited appetite for stand-alone prestige Star Wars films that don’t slot into a franchise pipeline.

Even though a finished script exists, the combination of Soderbergh’s filmmaking style (more indie-leaning, auteur-focused) and the new Filoni-led mandate — emphasizing serialized content and projects that expand the franchise ecosystem — makes Ben Solo a risky bet to greenlight. It’s not impossible, but it needs either a clear commercial rationale or a strategy to repurpose it as a prestige streaming event.

Taika Waititi — Untitled Star Wars film

Status: Active development but delayed. Odds: Maybe/Alive — moderate (~45%).

Taika Waititi is an unpredictable wild card in the best way. He brings tonal invention and a social-media-savvy fanbase, and Lucasfilm has publicly said he has a script. Waititi’s comedy-leaning sensibility could provide a fresh entry-point into Star Wars’ cinematic slate — which is attractive to a studio seeking diversity of tone.

Why it isn’t a sure thing: Waititi is a busy creator with multiple projects across film and TV, and his schedule plus tonal experimentation means Lucasfilm must be confident about how the film fits into the franchise slate. Under Filoni, Waititi’s film will likely survive if it can be positioned as complementary to the wider continuity or as a distinct, low-risk tentpole that can also perform on streaming and international markets.

Signals to watch:

• Official greenlight announcement tied to a production start date.
• Waititi’s own promotional focus — public interviews or festival appearances that tie back to Star Wars.
• Cross-promotion with other Lucasfilm properties (e.g., character cameos or timeline tie-ins).

Donald Glover — Lando Calrissian

Status: Script reportedly finished; development status mixed. Odds: Maybe/Alive — moderate (~40%).

Donald Glover’s Lando was pitched as a major franchise-matching project: a charismatic lead, a beloved character, and cultural cachet. Reports indicate a finished script exists, which in studio terms is a big asset. Glover’s multi-hyphenate profile (actor-writer-director-musician) also opens creative doors.

So why isn’t this a sure thing? Glover’s own calendar, plus Lucasfilm’s strategic pivot to prioritize projects that dovetail with Filoni’s interlinked universe, complicate matters. If Lando can be structured to feed both theatrical and streaming platforms — for example, by planting elements that spin out into series — it becomes more attractive.

What would increase the odds:

• A production timeline that accommodates Glover’s availability within two years.
• A marketing plan that leverages Lando as a transmedia anchor (comics, animated tie-ins, collectible drops).
• Public statements from Filoni or Disney that frame Lando as part of the official roadmap.

How Lucasfilm’s 2026 priorities change each film’s calculus

Under Filoni the playbook favors long-form, serialized storytelling and projects that build sustained engagement rather than one-off prestige films. That’s a data-driven move: TV and streaming offer predictable subscriber value, merchandising synergies, and easier audience lifecycle management than risk-heavy tentpoles.

Practically, that means:

• Higher runway for projects that can spawn series or tie into existing shows.
• Less tolerance for stand-alone features without clear franchise hooks.
• Priority greenlights for projects with cheaper production risk or stronger TV/streaming synergy.

Realistic timeline for next 24 months (2026–2028)

Short-term (next 12 months): Look for Filoni-led projects, official slate rationalization, and Lucasfilm aligning releases to streaming strategies. Expect public updates about The Mandalorian and Grogu (feature release) and Starfighter (2027) while director-driven films remain in “development limbo.”

Medium-term (12–36 months): Projects that can demonstrate franchise connectivity or commercial lower risk (Waititi or Glover if packaged cleverly) get greenlit. Large-scale origin epics without a direct tie-in (Mangold, Soderbergh) will need an advocate or a new distribution play (limited theatrical + streaming event) to move forward.

Signals to watch — exactly what proves a project is alive

Studios leak, but the healthy indicators are clear. Watch these concrete signals; if you’re tracking a project, treat them as your checklist.

1. Official greenlight announcement — not a rumor, not a “we’re looking at it” quote. This is the first unambiguous sign.
2. Production start date — a month/day/year in a trade report or union posting.
3. Union filings / shooting permits — camera/crew hires in local jurisdictions show real spend.
4. Major casting news — A-list attachments that fit the schedule.
5. Vendor contracts — VFX houses publicly announce partnerships or hire edicts.
6. Marketing commitments — teaser artwork, merch previews, or panel slots at D23 or Star Wars Celebration.

How to follow and verify ongoing developments (practical advice for fans and podcasters)

Stop treating tweets and anonymous “insiders” as equal to trade reporting. Use this checklist to separate noise from signal.

• Follow authoritative trades: Deadline, Variety, THR, and The Walt Disney Company investor releases.
• Watch Lucasfilm’s official channels: Lucasfilm.com, StarWars.com, and verified social accounts for greenlight statements.
• Track union databases: IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, and local film office permit trackers often publish production filings.
• Monitor industry filings: MPAA release slate updates and distributor release calendars.
• Attend or watch D23/Star Wars Celebration — Filoni-era roadmap announcements are likely to drop at big fan events.

What would revive a sidelined project?

If you want Mangold or Soderbergh’s films back on the immediate slate, look for at least one of these triggers:

• A studio strategy pivot to big theatrical tentpoles again (unlikely short-term).
• A public champion within Lucasfilm or Disney — Filoni’s endorsement would be decisive.
• A new distribution model: hybrid event release + streaming window that reduces upfront risk.
• External financing partner or co-production to spread cost.

Case study: Why Filoni’s TV-first track record matters

Filoni built audience trust and franchise continuity through serialized storytelling and deep fan engagement. The practical upshot: TV shows produce dependable viewership patterns, long-tail merchandise sales, and recurring streaming subscribers — the kind of predictable revenue that justifies investment. That’s why the new regime’s priorities are meaningful beyond aesthetic preference: they’re a business decision aimed at sustainable IP management.

Final verdict — ranking the four projects

1. Taika Waititi — Maybe/Alive (45%) — Most likely to get a greenlight if packaged as a lower-risk, tonally distinct film that can cross-promote. Waititi’s public profile helps.
2. Donald Glover — Maybe/Alive (40%) — Scripted advantage; viability rises if tied to transmedia strategy and scheduled around Glover’s availability.
3. James Mangold — Maybe (low, 15%) — Brilliant script but high cost and low fit with Filoni’s serialized roadmap make it the least likely to proceed quickly.
4. Steven Soderbergh — Maybe/Dead (10%) — Prestige meets strategic mismatch; requires extraordinary business rationale to revive.

Takeaways & tactical advice for superfans, creators, and podcasters

• Superfans: Bookmark the signal checklist. Treat trade outlets and union filings as your primary sources. Save the speculation for reaction segments — but open episodes with verified news.
• Podcasters: Build shows around analysis of confirmed moves (greenlights, casting, permits). Deep dives on why Filoni’s strategy matters will attract long-term listeners.
• Creators: If you want to pitch into Star Wars, think transmedia first: propose ideas that can live across series, games, and film to match Lucasfilm’s new priorities.

What to expect in 2026 — watch this timetable

Expect Lucasfilm to publish a clarified roadmap throughout 2026: more precise dates for Filoni projects, possible festival reveals for Waititi or Glover if filming begins, and candid statements about which legacy features are paused. Don’t expect Mangold or Soderbergh to pop back without visible strategic changes.

Closing: Where we go from here (and how you can stay ahead)

The headline is simple: finished scripts aren’t guarantees. Leadership change + strategic refocus in 2026 means some director-driven Star Wars films are on life support; others are merely delayed. If you want the most accurate picture, track the signals above and prioritize official trade reporting.

Want the fastest updates? Follow Lucasfilm’s official channels, set alerts for the trades, and subscribe to curated newsletters that slice through social-media noise. We’ll keep tracking every greenlight, casting call, and permit filing — and translate that into short, shareable recaps you can use for your feed or next podcast topic.

Call to action: If you want weekly, no-BS status reports on every Star Wars project — from Filoni’s TV slate to director-driven films — subscribe to our Star Wars Brief. Share this piece with a friend who sends you rumor screenshots at 3 a.m., and let’s stop amplifying noise and start following the signals that actually matter.

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