Patty Jenkins will direct the next Star Wars feature film, titled Rogue Squadron, opening in theaters on Christmas Day 2023.
The original film will follow fighter pilots across the Star Wars universe, though no additional details were revealed. Lucasfilm announced the news about Jenkins as part of Disney’s Investor Day presentation on Thursday.
This marks the first time a woman has directed a Star Wars movie, and the announcement comes just days before Wonder Woman 1984 is released on HBO Max. Rogue Squadron will follow a group of fighter pilots as they band together through thick and thin to defend good against evil. It’s a fan adored part of the Star Wars universe — one that prominently featured in a popular Nintendo 64 game — and will help Lucasfilm move beyond the Skywalker Trilogy on the big screen.
The Wonder Woman filmmaker said on Twitter that she was inspired to take on the project of what will be “the greatest fighter pilot movie of all time” because of her own experience as the daughter of a fighter pilot in the military. In the video, a determined Jenkins can be seen suiting up and walking toward an X-Wing.
In the Star Wars universe, Rogue Squadron was founded and led by Wedge Antilles, a skilled pilot who appears in Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Lucasfilm is currently developing another Star Wars feature with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, but Rogue Squadron is the first film with a firm title and release date.
Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984 will be released on HBO Max and in theaters on Christmas Day, marking the first film as part of Warner Bros.’ new approach to release its entire 2021 slate day-and-date on HBO Max and in theaters, with a one-month period on the new streaming service before returning to normal theatrical windows. Jenkins will also re-team with Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot for a new take on Cleopatra at Paramount.
We can guess that RS will have a Gal Godot moment!
Rogue Squadron was the only Star Wars feature announced on Thursday, but Lucasfilm and Disney did unveil several other Star Wars live-action and animated series, saying that there will be 10 in the next few years.
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David Raiklen wrote, directed and scored his first film at age 9. He began studying keyboard and composing at age 5. He attended, then taught at UCLA, USC and CalArts. Among his teachers are John Williams and Mel Powel.
He has worked for Fox, Disney and Sprint. David has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2004 American Music Center Award. Dr. Raiklen has composed music and sound design for theater (Death and the Maiden), dance (Russian Ballet), television (Sing Me a Story), cell phone (Spacey Movie), museums (Museum of Tolerance), concert (Violin Sonata ), and film (Appalachian Trail).
His compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the first Disney Hall. David Raiken is also host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club.
