Jon Watts’ Untitled ‘Star Wars’ Western Series Development Details Emerge After ‘Skeleton Crew’

Jon Watts has emerged as a compelling voice at Lucasfilm, largely due to his work on the ‘Star Wars’ series. Before he became associated with the galaxy far, far away, Watts and his writing partner Christopher Ford had a simple concept about kids lost in space.

This concept evolved into ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’, which debuted on Disney+ in 2024, featuring Jude Law alongside a young cast. Watts pitched an Amblin-style coming-of-age narrative, resulting in an 8-episode series, with Watts directing the first and last episodes. The show received generally positive reviews, and Ford even earned a Children’s and Family Emmy for his contributions.

Despite its success, ‘Skeleton Crew’ only ran for one season, leaving fans curious about what Watts and Ford might pursue next. A recent report from Knight Edge Media suggests they were already working on a new project. According to the report, Watts and Ford were developing a separate, untitled ‘Star Wars’ series for Disney+, envisioned as a western.

This was not just a rough idea; the report indicates that a full writers’ room was established in January and continued its work through August 2026, totaling about 8 months of active development. The planned series was also intended to consist of 8 episodes, mirroring the length of their previous project.

Importantly, this new series was not a sequel to ‘Skeleton Crew’. The report clarifies that it would present an entirely new story, distinct from the adventures of Jod Na Nawood and the children of At Attin.

The concept is quite intriguing. While ‘Skeleton Crew’ drew on swashbuckling pirate themes and the charm of 1980s Amblin films, Watts and Ford aimed to infuse a western flavor into the franchise, similar to how they approached their first series. This genre-blending approach contributed significantly to the unique character of their initial show.

The idea seems like a natural fit. George Lucas famously incorporated elements from westerns, samurai films, and classic adventure serials when creating ‘Star Wars’. A dusty frontier narrative filled with blasters and bounty hunters would not only harken back to the saga’s origins but also take it in a fresh direction.

However, the status of the series remains uncertain. It is unclear whether Lucasfilm has shelved the project or quietly abandoned it altogether, and the studio has yet to comment on the report. Until an official statement is made, this should be regarded as an unconfirmed development.

The timing is noteworthy. The writers’ room reportedly concluded its work in August, and shortly thereafter, it was announced that Watts would direct the first film in Simon Kinberg’s upcoming trilogy, often referred to as ‘Star Wars: Episode X’. Although this film has not yet been officially greenlit by Disney, it’s easy to see how such a significant project could divert a filmmaker’s focus from a television series.

Additionally, there are broader changes occurring behind the scenes. ‘Skeleton Crew’ was produced under the previous leadership of Kathleen Kennedy at Lucasfilm, and Watts’ potential return comes 9 months after she was succeeded by co-presidents Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. New leadership often brings new priorities, and it remains to be seen whether a western series is among them.

The cinematic slate is rapidly filling up. ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, directed by Shawn Levy, is set to premiere on May 28, 2027, marking the first canon film or TV project to take place after ‘The Rise of Skywalker’. With ‘Episode X’ potentially following, Lucasfilm has a lot to manage.

Nevertheless, the establishment of a full writers’ room and 8 months of development work suggests that if Lucasfilm decides to revisit the western concept, they already have a solid foundation to build upon. Furthermore, with no new live-action ‘Star Wars’ series announced recently, a collaboration between Watts and Ford could address a significant gap.

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