Jon Watts to Direct Next 'Star Wars' Movie

Jon Watts will direct the next "Star Wars" movie, according to a report first broken by Knight Edge Media. The film is currently in development with Watts attached.

Watts is best known for directing the "Spider-Man" trilogy starring Tom Holland: 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming," 2019's "Spider-Man: Far From Home" and 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home." The upcoming 2026 installment, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Before Marvel selected him for "Spider-Man," Watts helmed "Cop Car" and "Clown."

Watts already has deep ties to Disney. In 2024, it was reported that Watts, his production company Freshman Year and producer Dianne McGunigle had signed a first-look feature deal with Walt Disney Studios.

The director also has prior "Star Wars" experience. In 2024, Watts co-created the series "Skeleton Crew" alongside Christopher Ford. The coming-of-age series, set in the era of the New Republic, followed four young characters on a new adventure, per the show's official logline. Jude Law starred as Jod Na Nawood, with Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim, Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern, Kyriana Kratter as KB and Robert Timothy Smith as Neel.

With the role, Watts joins a short list of previous "Star Wars" directors that includes Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand, J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson and franchise creator George Lucas. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," released in 2019, remains the most recent film in the franchise to debut theatrically.

Simon Kinberg will pen the script, as previously reported by Variety. Kinberg is best known as a writer, producer and director for the "X-Men" franchise, and was considered a surprising choice at the time of the announcement.

The project gives the franchise its clearest theatrical path forward since "The Rise of Skywalker" closed out the sequel trilogy six years ago — with a proven blockbuster director and a screenwriter whose selection already divided industry observers.