For the first time, Kathleen Kennedy has publicly confirmed that the long-discussed James Mangold Star Wars film is no longer moving forward as planned.
In her Deadline exit interview, Kennedy acknowledged that Mangold’s highly touted project — often referred to as Dawn of the Jedi — is now officially paused, despite years of Lucasfilm messaging that suggested the film was actively progressing.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm attends the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
“Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon wrote an incredible script, but it is definitely breaking the mold and it’s on hold,” she said.
The statement marks the first explicit confirmation that the James Mangold Star Wars movie is stalled, validating long-running industry skepticism after the director repeatedly took on work for other studios while Lucasfilm continued to frame his film as part of its future slate.
A Quiet Walk-Back After Years of Assurances
Lucasfilm previously positioned Mangold’s Star Wars movie as a bold new direction for the franchise, emphasizing its ancient timeline and prestige creative team. However, no casting, production start date, or concrete development milestones were ever announced.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
Kennedy’s admission that the film is now “on hold” reframes that silence — not as secrecy, but as inertia.
Notably, Kennedy did not cite scheduling conflicts or creative disagreements as the cause. Instead, she emphasized the film’s unconventional nature, hinting that its ambition may have worked against it.
James Mangold’s Standing at Lucasfilm After Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
James Mangold’s relationship with Lucasfilm cannot be separated from the performance of his most recent collaboration with the studio: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Released with an estimated production budget reportedly approaching $300 million before marketing, the film failed to recoup its costs theatrically and became one of the most high-profile box office disappointments in Disney-era Lucasfilm history. While Mangold was praised in some circles for his craftsmanship, the film’s commercial outcome illustrated the growing disconnect between Lucasfilm’s legacy brands and audiences.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: (L-R) James Mangold, Harrison Ford, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge attend “Indiana Jones and The Dial Of Destiny” photocall at Carlton Pier on May 18, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
That context matters when evaluating the status of Mangold’s Star Wars project. Lucasfilm has not publicly linked the film’s pause to Dial of Destiny, but Lucasfilm is now operating in a markedly more cautious environment. As Kathleen Kennedy herself acknowledged in her exit interview, studios are increasingly “risk-averse” and under pressure to justify large-scale investments.
The James Mangold Star Wars movie — described by Kennedy as “breaking the mold” — would have represented another expensive, prestige-driven swing for a studio already reeling from costly underperformers. In that light, the decision to place the project “on hold” reads less like an isolated development issue and more like a recalibration of trust, timing, and appetite for risk.
(L-R): Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in Lucasfilm’s INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Whether Mangold’s standing at Lucasfilm has been permanently diminished is unclear. What is clear is that the commercial failure of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has reshaped the landscape in which his Star Wars film would have to be approved — making its pause easier to understand, even if it was long denied.
Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film Still Script-Only
Kennedy also addressed the long-gestating Star Wars project associated with Taika Waititi, confirming that while a script exists, the project remains far from production.
“Taika has turned in a script that I think is hilarious and great,” she said. “It’s not just my decision, especially when I’ve got a foot out the door.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 23: Taika Waititi attends the Thor: Love and Thunder World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in [Hollywood], California on June 23, 2022. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
The comment confirms that Waititi’s film has not advanced beyond the screenplay phase and that final approval has been deferred to incoming leadership — another indication that the project lacks momentum despite years of public discussion.
Donald Glover’s Lando Script Confirmed, Status Unclear
Kennedy further revealed that Donald Glover has completed a screenplay for a Star Wars project centered on Lando Calrissian.
Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian in Solo – Disney+
However, no additional details were provided regarding casting, timeline, or greenlight status. As with other projects discussed in the interview, the existence of a script does not equate to an active production plan.
A Pattern of Announcements Without Follow-Through
Taken together, Kennedy’s remarks paint a clear picture: multiple Star Wars films long presented as “in development” are effectively stalled, paused, or awaiting decisions from future leadership.
Kennedy acknowledged broader institutional hesitation as a contributing factor:
“Right now we’re in an era where companies are so risk-averse… they’ve got Wall Street to please,” she said.
Cartman as Kathleen Kennedy in South Park – Paramount+
That admission reframes Lucasfilm’s expanding list of unmade Star Wars films not as isolated setbacks, but as part of a systemic inability to move projects from announcement to execution.
What This Means for Star Wars Going Forward
Kennedy’s exit interview confirms what fans and industry observers have increasingly suspected: much of Lucasfilm’s theatrical Star Wars slate exists more on paper than in practice.
The confirmation that the James Mangold Star Wars movie is officially on hold represents more than a single delay — it shows a decade-long pattern of ambitious announcements followed by prolonged silence or quiet retreat.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
As new leadership prepares to take over Lucasfilm, the challenge will not be announcing new Star Wars movies, but actually making them.
And after years of promises, that distinction matters more than ever.
Do you think the James Mangold Star Wars movie will ever happen? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
I really don’t think she’s going anywhere. I’m thinking it’s like when all the pushback started with dei departments, they simply renamed them to the teammate help center or some bullshit. They haven’t GONE anywhere. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I doubt it. Plus you still have iger at the helm and brokeback mtn. cowboy filloni. Thank god for the first six movies, old Marvel Comics and a few others. This disney thing is NOT Star Wars and never will be. That’s the simple fact. Fuck you kathleen kennedy.
The odds of any of these projects seeing the light of day is about the same as if you were to be struck by lightning. Twice. While waiting at the lottery office to collect the Powerball Jackpot you just won.
“On hold”
Millions were spent on prestigious MBA degrees to simply produce……. on hold.
We need a revolution of college stewardship.
A toppling of the present.
We need our own “GREAT REPLACEMENT” on college campuses everywhere. From Bangor Maine to Molokai Hawaii.
I’d love a “Lord of the Flies” on the current crop of white-guilt pigs currently ensconced in the higher-learning hierarchy.
We need a French Revolution resolution to the current college staff predicament.
When Charlie Manson stole “Piggies” away from George Harrison the White Album, he knew the enemy would ultimately, turn to the, well-intentioned white woman.
He wanted a race riot and used “well-intentioned” white woman as his initial move.
A white chick has never changed history….
Except for the worst of ways.
Every woman scrambling for power is Salome.
Beware of Salome.
Sal-O-May
Do we really need more James Womangold?
We do not.
What a pathetic woke linup that is.