There could be as many as nine Star Wars films currently in development at Lucasfilm, according to one actor involved in the Star Wars franchise.
Tom Kane, last heard as Admiral Ackbar's voice in The Last Jedi, shared the tidbit during an event called the All Star Comic Con, which he attended. He said he isn't aware if the studios are currently making a film centered on Master Yoda, but they're definitely planning to release a lot of films.
A Star Wars Story films are among those in development. These films are centered more on one character instead of an ensemble, and they're typically prequels or origin stories, as in the case of Rogue One and Solo.
"Tom Kane seems to be somewhat in the know but very hesitant to share," wrote Star Wars Bookworms podcast host Aaron Goins on Twitter.
Here Are The Rumored 'Star Wars' Films In Development
Current speculation says Lucasfilm has plans for an origin story film centered on fan-favorite Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi. Additionally, there's a rumored standalone film about bounty hunter Boba Fett, to be directed by Logan director and scribe James Mangold.
Lucasfilm is also said to be developing another trilogy under The Last Jedi helmer Rian Johnson, which will explore another story beyond the Skywalker saga told in episodes four, five, six, seven, eight, and — soon — nine. The upcoming trilogy will be set in an unexplored corner of the galaxy, rumors say.
The project, according to producer Ram Bergman, is still in the early stages. He also confirmed that it'll feature new characters and that "everything is new." He even described it as a "completely new trilogy." Those who watched The Last Jedi might remember that there were several children heavily featured in some parts of the film, and it's possible they end up appearing in the upcoming trilogy.
The new trilogy, plus J.J. Abrams's episode nine, and the Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi standalones make six films in development — what about the other three? In February, Lucasfilm said Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss will create their own Star Wars project but didn't specify exactly what it was, let alone if it's going to be part of the main franchise. If Benioff and Weiss's project is a trilogy, then that adds up to nine films in development.
Star Wars Fatigue
In any case, nine Star Wars films in the pipeline should make any Star Wars zealot thrilled for the future of the franchise. However, while there'll be no shortage of films in the years to come, quality is another discussion altogether. Solo, the most recent Star Wars film, isn't doing so well at the box office and has managed to accrue only a smidge of critics' approval. With nine films in development, there's a great risk of Star Wars fatigue Disney and Lucasfilm must prevent from happening. Time will tell how both companies plan on doing that.
