After signing a historic nine-figure deal with Netflix, former Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will no longer usher in the next trilogy of Star Wars films, according to Deadline.
Alongside a previously announced trilogy from The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, it was expected that Benioff and Weiss would launch the next phase of Star Wars films with a trilogy of their own in 2022. While the duo expressed their gratitude for the opportunity and excitement for the Star Wars franchise in a statement to Deadline, ultimately, they just felt they didn’t have the time necessary to truly create something worthy of the Star Wars moniker.
“There are only so many hours in the day, and we felt we could not do justice to both Star Wars and our Netflix projects,” the duo said in a statement to Deadline. “So we are regretfully stepping away.”
While many (including me) were excited for the executives behind one of the greatest television phenomenons of all time to take the reins of their own Star Wars trilogy, it’s hard to fault their reasoning for stepping away. Game of Thrones is rightfully regarded as one of the best television shows of all time, but it is nearly impossible to deny that the final season of the acclaimed series felt rushed and incomplete.
So, Benioff and Weiss leaving Star Wars because they feel like they wouldn’t have enough time to do what they want? It’s probably for the better, for all parties involved.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy hasn’t outright shut the door on the Game of Thrones showrunners, however, telling Deadline “David Benioff and Dan Weiss are incredible storytellers. We hope to include them in the journey forward when they are able to step away from their busy schedules to focus on Star Wars.”
This may be disappointing to some, but there is still plenty for Star Wars fans to be excited about post-The Rise of Skywalker. In the live-action realm of the franchise alone, there is still The Mandalorian, the untitled Cassian Andor series, the untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and the untitled Rian Johnson series confirmed to be on the way. That’s not to mention Kevin Feige’s Star Wars project and the plethora of new comics, books, and cartoons on the way.
What do you think about Benioff and Weiss’s exit from Star Wars? Do you think Kevin Feige will step in and helm the next Star Wars trilogy? Let us know in the comments!
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