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Back in March of last year, news broke that Watcmen scribe, Damon Lindelof, had begun writing a mysterious new Star Wars film for Lucasfilm and Disney. In the months that followed, the trades confirmed the rumours and added that Lindelof had constructed a writers, found a co-writer in Justin Britt-Gibson (Into the Badlands) and a director in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel). At the time, and for a few later, there was growing momentum and confidence in the Lindelof project, which was set sometime after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and was set to feature an unknown character from the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

However, a year later Damon Lindelof and Britt-Gibson exited the untitled Star Wars film they’d been developing for over a year. Lucasfilm quickly found a replacement writer in Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight, and the director of the project, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy also stayed aboard. Reports at the time added that Lucasfilm and Lindelof parted ways after the Lost writer handed in a draft of the script, which, according to Jeff Sneider of The Hot Mic, wasn’t very good. Sneider added that Lindelof had clashed with the director of the movie, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, throughout development and that Lindelof wasn’t even consulted by Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, regarding the the directors hire, which also reportedly caused friction. Sneider added at the time that the clashes and the unsatisfactory draft is what led Lindelof to exit the project, claiming Kennedy and Lucasfilm could’ve worked on or through a disappointing script, but that Lucasfilm had no plans to.

The movie that Lindelof was working on was finally announced at this years Star Wars Celebration by Kathleen Kennedy and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The duo revealed that the film is set fifteen years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, and would follow Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker forming a new Jedi order. In various interviews from the event, Kennedy also confirmed the involvement of Steven Knight, but there was no mention of Damon Lindelof, who exited the project less than two months before the announcement of the flick.

Lindelof and Lucasfilm have remained tight lipped regarding the formers departure, even with Lindelof spending the last few weeks making his way around the press circuit to promote his new Peacock series, Mrs. Davis. Lindelof recently called his Star Wars script a “labour of love” and wished the best for the films director, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and those working on it. Today however, Esquire got to speak with Damon Lindelof, who has finally shed some light on his departure from the Star Wars movie.

In Esquire’s report, they mention that Lindelof’s script was rumoured to feature an elderly Rey Skywalker training two Jedi Knights, one being Aquaman star, Yahya Abdul Mateen II. It’s unclear if these are rumours Esquire have heard, or if they’re informed from their own sources, but neither of those rumours online have come a source with a good reputation. Mateen II was merely speculation from the previously mentioned Jeff Sneider, who received good information on the Lindelof project when he was attached. At the time Sneider merely speculated based on the fact that Lindelof and Mateen II had worked together on Watchmen, and that a black actor around a similar age, who had also experienced success on both TV and film, had been cast in the lead role. The other rumour of an elderly Rey, as far as I can tell, has not come from a credible outlet.

When Damon Lindelof was asked by Esquire if there was any truth to rumours of him possibly joining the Star Wars universe, Lindelof responded, “I was in more than talks to join the Star Wars universe, I joined the Star Wars universe and was asked to leave.” Lindelof laughs as he reveals his admission, confirming past reports that he didn’t step away from the project, but was asked to leave the production. However, Lindelof didn’t spend anytime discussing his departure in any real detail, nor did he share tidbits from his experience or what he had written. Damon Lindelof did follow up saying that he’d get back in line and try to get back in again someday and added that if you don’t succeed, you should try and try again.

I was greatly disappointed to see Lindelof exit the untitled Star Wars movie as I’m a big fan of his work and would love to see him pen a Star Wars project in the future. I’m quite glad to see that the experience he had did not taint his love of the franchise and that coming back to the galaxy far, far away is still a possibility in his mind.

The untitled Star Wars movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is expected to release on December 19th, 2025 and Lindelof’s latest effort, Mrs. Davis, is currently streaming on Peacock.

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