Rogue Squadron Cancellation Reveals Lucasfilm's Disney+ Series Rework

The Star Wars film Rogue Squadron was cancelled after multiple delays and a failed reimagining as a Disney+ series. Originally announced by Lucasfilm in December 2020, the Patty Jenkins-directed project was slated as the first post-Rise of Skywalker movie for a December 22, 2023 theatrical debut but never got off the ground.

The studio produced a high-budget video announcement during the pandemic. Jenkins, coming off 2017's Wonder Woman, discussed her Air Force background and a desire to make a Top Gun-style film in the Star Wars universe. After this reveal, the project faded. It faced numerous delays before being pulled from the schedule and ultimately scrapped.

From film to series

After the film version stalled, Rogue Squadron was redeveloped as a Disney+ series set in the same time period as The Mandalorian. This was the third iteration of the concept. Rick Famuyiwa, a director on The Mandalorian, was set to be the showrunner with Rayna McClendon as co-showrunner.

The project's origins actually predate Patty Jenkins. The first version dates to 2018, with J.D. Dillard attached to write and direct alongside screenwriter Matt Owens. This early development version never went anywhere. Dillard later directed the 2022 film Devotion, starring Jonathan Majors. During its press tour, he teased that his Star Wars movie was inspired by the TIE Fighter PC game he played as a child, along with his father's aviator background. Jenkins joined at the end of 2020 to reinvent the project.

Why it fell apart

Lucasfilm's strategic priorities shifted decisively toward Disney+ series. This move was driven by the global smash hit success of The Mandalorian and a corporate mandate under former CEO Bob Chapek. The studio chose to focus on developing more projects within the interconnected 'Mandoverse'.

The Mandalorian, created by Jon Favreau and run by Dave Filoni, launched in November 2019. It stars Pedro Pascal as the helmeted bounty hunter Din Djarin, with Brendan Wayne as a body double. Its success paved the way for a theatrical film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, announced in January 2024 and released earlier this year. That film is the first Star Wars movie since The Rise of Skywalker and serves as the Mandoverse's big-screen debut.

Other series like Andor, showrun by Tony Gilroy, further cemented the streaming focus. This environment left Rogue Squadron deprioritized. In 2024, Jenkins briefly mentioned working on the movie version again, but no revival materialized.

The Mandoverse moves forward

With Rogue Squadron abandoned, Lucasfilm's pipeline is dominated by its streaming universe expanding into films. The Mandalorian & Grogu is set for release in May 2026. The Mandoverse continues on television with Ahsoka season 2, also slated for 2026.

Another pilot-centric film, Shawn Levy's Starfighter, is scheduled for May 27, 2026. It is described as an entirely different pilot movie. The announcement for Rogue Squadron came over three years before the announcement for The Mandalorian & Grogu. The Mandalorian and Grogu is set for release in May 2026, continuing the Mandoverse's expansion on the big screen after Rogue Squadron's cancellation.