Summary

  • Beau Willimon, known for his work on House of Cards, is set to write James Mangold's Star Wars Jedi origin movie.
  • The film is a prequel for the entire franchise, exploring the first-ever Jedi 25,000 years before The Phantom Menace.
  • Willimon's experience with Lucasfilm from writing for the Disney+ series Andor makes him a fitting choice for the new Star Wars project.

Nearly a year after it was first announced, James Mangold's Among these are The Mandalorian & Grogu, which was recently confirmed for a May 2026 release, a Daisy Ridley-led movie, a Taika Waititi-helmed film, the Solo: A Star Wars Story spinoff Lando and Mangold's project.

The Hollywood Reporter has brought word that Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Beau Willimon has been tapped to pen the script for Mangold's Star Wars Jedi origin movie. The writer already has experience with the Lucasfilm franchise by having written three episodes of Disney+'s Andor, namely the show's acclaimed Narkina 5 arc. In addition to this, Willimon has also garnered acclaim for his work on Netflix's House of Cards, which he developed, and the George Clooney-helmed The Ides of March.

James Mangold's Movie Will Reveal The Origin Of The Force Itself

Left side: The Prime Jedi mural from Star Wars: The Last Jedi; right side: Je'daii Ranger Lanoree Brock on the cover of Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Into the Void.
Custom Image by Nathaniel Roark

Initially announced at 2023's Star Wars Celebration in Europe, Mangold's movie is reportedly being titled as Dawn of the Jedi, borrowing the name of a Dark Horse Comics story arc exploring the early days of the Jedi. Though Mangold has hinted that the word "dawn" might not even be uttered within the movie, he has confirmed that it will be set roughly 25,000 years before the events of A New Hope, with the plan being to kick off a new era within the franchise exploring the origins of The Force and the iconic religious organization.

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Willimon's attachment to the new Star Wars movie marks the first major update it's received since it was first announced, particularly due to Mangold's ever-growing docket. In the year since the reveal, Mangold began production on his Timothée Chalamet-led Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, while also set to write and direct the DC Universe's Swamp Thing movie, both of which were said to happen after Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny's release. As such, it seemed like Dawn of the Jedi was either being pushed back or held indefinitely in the same vein as Waititi's movie.

Though Willimon's hiring indicates positive progress for Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi's development, it does still seem unlikely to be released for another few years. Between Mangold's busy docket and Lucasfilm's other planned projects, including the releases of The Acolyte, another prequel exploring the High Republic era of the franchise, and Skeleton Crew, and the in-development Andor and Ahsoka season 2, the schedule is pretty full for all involved. Despite the longer wait, though, Mangold's overall ion for the project and Willimon's prior success with Andor are promising signs of what's to come from it.

Source: THR

Star Wars- Dawn of the Jedi Poster
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi
Not Yet Rated
Fantasy
Director
James Mangold
Franchise(s)
Star Wars

Announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi is a prequel focusing on the first-ever Jedi. Taking place 25,000 before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Dawn of the Jedi will explore the events set prior to the Old Republic and the Disney+ series, The Acolyte. 

Studio(s)
Lucasfilm
Distributor(s)
Disney