Following the news earlier this week that Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had left the Star Wars trilogy they’d long been attached to work on, reports are starting to emerge with more information about the pair’s departure – and what their films might have involved. According to Variety, the Benioff and Weiss trilogy could have taken place in a period even longer ago in the galaxy far, far away – exploring the origins of the Jedi.
According to the report, the films would have looked at the emergence of the Jedi, hinting at a story set many, many years before the main Skywalker Saga. Considering the excitement among hardcore Star Wars fans over the prospect of a screen adaptation of the Knights Of The Old Republic videogame, there’s speculation that the Benioff and Weiss films could have been set in that period.
In a statement released earlier in the week, Benioff and Weiss cited their busy schedule and Netflix deal among their reasons for “regretfully stepping away” – and according to Variety, the streaming service was unhappy at the prospect of the pair being tied up with Star Wars for potentially four years. The report also claims that Kathleen Kennedy’s position as Lucasfilm president remains untroubled, and that rumours of MCU boss Kevin Feige – recently reported to be producing a Star Wars film himself – entering the Lucasfilm fold in a more significant role are unfounded.
Disney hasn’t commented on the Variety report, so bear that in mind for now – but it’s interesting to hear what the under-wraps films may have been. It’s yet unknown whether another creator will be brought in to revive the Benioff and Weiss project, or if new Star Wars projects will take their place. In terms of definite projects to look forward to: The Mandalorian series is released on Disney+ in November, with a UK date yet to be confirmed, and Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi show starts shooting next summer. Oh, and of course Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker will end the Skywalker Saga on 19 December. Between the Star Wars projects that have fallen and the ones that are moving forward, it seems the Force remains balanced on both sides.