A few days ago, it was announced that Lucasfilm had indefinitely delayed Star Wars: Rogue Squadron due to creative differences with director Patty Jenkins. But now a new report claims that Jenkins is still attached as director, and Rogue Squadron is sticking by its original 2023 release date. Jenkins recently handed over the directorial duties of Paramount’s Cleopatra to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland. Jenkins will now serve as a producer on Cleopatra alongside lead star Gal Gadot.
As per Justin Kroll at Deadline, “Jenkins fell off as director so she could focus on her next two projects: Wonder Woman 3 and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.” Jenkins or Lucasfilm haven’t confirmed the reports, but with Paramount eager to get cameras rolling on Cleopatra, Gal Gadot will be preoccupied for some time. With this shift in schedule, Jenkins may prioritize Rogue Squadron over Wonder Woman 3 as her next film project.
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Rogue Squadron was announced last year during the Disney Investor Day presentation. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins was set to direct the film. Rogue Squadron follows a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing high-speed thrill ride. Jenkins revealed that Rogue Squadron won’t adapt any pre-existing Star Wars video games or books from which the film derives its title. But it will incorporate their ideas and styles into the story. Rogue Squadron will tell an original story, which will likely tie into one of several Star Wars movies and TV shows Disney and Lucasfilm are developing.
Fans were initially thrilled with the announcement, but after the lukewarm reception to Wonder Woman 1984, the hype died down a bit. But still, it was great to see an accomplished filmmaker like Patty Jenkins direct an original Star Wars movie. Even after the disappointing WW84, Jenkins remains an amazing filmmaker who has helmed outstanding movies like the 2003 drama Monster, starring Charlize Theron as serial killer Aileen Wuornos. She has also directed episodes of the television dramas, The Killing, and Entourage. Plus, Jenkins is quite passionate about the project and has been working on the script with Love and Monsters scribe Matthew Robinson for a long time. She confirmed in the summer that Rogue Squadron will be her next project before she reunites with Gal Gadot for Cleopatra and Wonder Woman 3.
It came as a surprise to everyone when Lucasfilm removed Rogue Squadron from their 2022 filming schedule but retained the 2023 release date. Then reports of creative differences between the studio and the film’s director, Patty Jenkins, came to light, evoking memories of similar scenarios happening several times in the past. Josh Trank, Colin Trevorrow, Rian Johnson, David Benioff & DB Weiss, and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller all left Star Wars movies alleging micromanagement from Lucasfilm bosses. While the departure of Rian Johnson and David Benioff & DB Weiss was understandable, considering the negativity surrounding their last projects, The Last Jedi and Game of Thrones, Lord and Miller left Solo: A Star Wars Story after months of filming.
That being said, we hope Jenkins and Lucasfilm sort out whatever creative differences they have and deliver a Star Wars movie for the ages. Rogue Squadron is slated for release on December 23, 2023. Stay tuned for more updates.
