Screenwriter Steven Knight exits Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film about Daisy Ridley’s Rey

Here are some “Star Wars” news to surprise no one this morning: Variety reports (via Puck) that screenwriter Steven Knight has left the upcoming sequel about Daisy Ridley‘s Rey after 2019’s “The Rise Of Skywalker.” Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoys movie, her game debut, was already put on development hiatus earlier this year. Does Knight’s exit mean this “Star Wars” project will go its way Patty Jenkins‘ “Rogue Squadron“: constantly in development hell?

It’s up for debate, as well Lucas film is reportedly talking to several writers to replace Knight. But it’s yet another bad look for a studio that has become notorious with its fan base for frequently stalling announced projects. And Obaid-Chinoy’s film may be the most important of the three announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, as it carries the story of the new trilogy into new, uncharted territory. The stakes are much lower for Jon Favreaus”The Mandalorian & Grogu” (the only “Star Wars” movie currently with a release date of May 22, 2026), James Mangolds”Dawn Of The Jedi” prequel, or Dave Filonis project. These films (and several others in development) do not have central “Star Wars” stories; Obaid-Chinoy’s does, and thus is arguably the anchor for where the franchise goes from here.

But that also means the film has high stakes too Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm. The needs to get the future of the “Star Wars” universe right and the right person writing the story to ensure it happens. Losing Knight is a loss, but the prolific writer known for tackling multiple projects at once is in one of the busiest stages of his career right now. Knight’s had two series debuts this year (FXs”The veil” and BBCs”This city“), a film (Pablo Larraíns”Maria“), and then has “A thousand blows” debuted in early 2025 and his “Peaky Blinders“Film”The Immortal Man” on the way at Netflix. Needless to say, his work rate doesn’t sit well with a film that has stalled creatively, and Knight is attached to several other upcoming projects as it is. But replacing Knight will be tough: he lends pedigree to the project, and that’s something first-time director Obaid-Chinoy doesn’t yet have career-wise (despite winning Oscar for Best Documentary Short twice).

Whenever Obaid-Chinoy’s film comes out, it will focus on Rey’s attempt to start a new Jedi Academy and preserve the Order in a politically fraught galaxy. If Lucasfilm finds a new writer soon, the film could still start filming next year and get one of the two theatrical release dates Disney applies to upcoming “Star Wars” movies (December 2026 and December 2027). With Mangold’s “Dawn Of The Jedi” almost certainly claiming one of them already, Obaid-Chinoy’s film could seize the other.

But that’s pure speculation, and “Star Wars” fans should instead expect more of the same: delays and projects mired in creative stasis. That’s been the trend in the franchise for the last few years, and this news all but guarantees that it will continue.

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Screenwriter Steven Knight exits Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film about Daisy Ridley’s Rey

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