Disney has pulled Rogue Squadron from its release schedule, making a Star Wars release in 2023 even more unlikely and proving that the franchise telling Old Republic stories on film is needed now more than ever. Initially, Rogue Squadron was set to release on December 22, 2023, directed by Patty Jenkins of Wonder Woman fame. However, after the film's initial announcement in 2020, updates on the film's production remained few and far between, with Kathleen Kennedy stating in May 2022 that the film had been pushed to the side for further work on the script.
Since then, news on Rogue Squadron continued to be sparse until Disney officially announced the film was being pulled from the studios' release schedule. This is not only worrying news for those eager to see Patty Jenkins' take on the Star Wars universe but the franchise itself and the continued uncertainty over its cinematic future. Since the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, there hasn't been a cinematically released Star Wars film with Lucasfilm leaning into TV on Disney+ as its primary output in a galaxy far, far away.
Rogue Squadron being pulled now means that audiences will have to wait even longer before another Star Wars is shown in theaters, further exemplifying its cinematic woes after the reaction to the sequel trilogy. However, there is one way in which Lucasfilm could save Star Wars' future on film: The Old Republic. The Old Republic is an era of Star Wars mythology that spans a massive 25000+ years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. This era is home to Legends stories found in video games such as Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: The Old Republic as well as many novels and comics, and is something that could bring about Star Wars' big screen resurgence.
How An Old Republic Series Can Save Star Wars' Theatrical Future
The main reason a movie series set in the era of the Old Republic will secure Star Wars' theatrical future is simply the desire for it - and lack thereof for a story such as Rogue Squadron. While the latter was certainly highly anticipated by many, it was considered a surprise announcement due to it being largely unexpected among Star Wars audiences. The clamor for a movie surrounding fighter pilots and their ships has never been immense and, despite the talent involved behind the camera, was met with more cautious optimism than overwhelming excitement. A movie series centered in the Old Republic, however, has been one of the most requested Star Wars projects from fans since even before Disney acquired Lucasfilm.
In announcing a trilogy of movies, or even multiple standalone anthologies, based in the era of the Old Republic, Lucasfilm would be satisfying one of the most irrepressible desires of the majority of Star Wars fandom and simultaneously setting themselves up for the next 10 years of cinematic releases. With the popularity of the Star Wars Old Republic, and the desire to see the era in live-action from audiences, any project announced by Lucasfilm in this era would undoubtedly be a success. As with every Hollywood franchise in recent times, this would lead to endless sequels, spin-offs, and projects Disney could cash in on through cinematic releases, not only satisfying the franchise's audience but solidifying Star Wars cinematic future after the endless uncertainty around projects such as Rogue Squadron.
