James Mangold’s New MotoGP Film Is Bad News For The Director’s $10 Billion Franchise Prequel

A Complete Unknown director James Mangold is reuniting with Timothée Chalamet on a new motorcross heist movie, High Side, and that’s bad news for Star Wars. Chalamet and Mangold have a celebrated history, and they’re apparently teaming up for a new film based on an unpublished short story by Jaime Oliveira.

Chalamet and Mangold’s reunion doesn’t quite seem to be a done deal just yet, with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reporting it only as a “potential reteam” for the pair. ᴀssuming it does indeed happen, though, it could cause quite a few problems for one upcoming Star Wars movie.

It’s Been Two Years Since James Mangold’s Star Wars Prequel Was Confirmed

Star Wars Prime Jedi, Rey, and Grogu

James Mangold enjoyed working with Lucasfilm on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and he pitched a Star Wars movie to Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy. Set during the “Dawn of the Jedi” era, this would essentially be an origin story for the Force, set 25,000 years before the Skywalker saga. It was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

“Dawn of the Jedi” was one of three movies announced there, alongside Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s “New Jedi Order” and a Mandalorian-era movie by Dave Filoni. Two years later, there’s been no real progress on any of those three тιтles. Lucasfilm’s plans changed completely; Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu will now come out next year, followed by Shawn Levy’s Starfighter in 2027.

Progress on Mangold’s ultimate prequel movie is clearly going slow. He’s confirmed to be working on the script with Beau Wilimon (one of the Andor screenwriters), but he doesn’t exactly seem to be in a hurry.

Mangold’s Star Wars Prequel Could Be Delayed Even Further

James Mangold smiling next to artwork of the Jedi from Star Wars

Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook

Six months ago, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy discussed the future of Star Wars in detail. “We’re going to develop lots of different things with an understanding that not everything gets made,” Kennedy confirmed, explaining why so many Star Wars movies seem to get canceled.

Lucasfilm has clearly done a major course-correction since Star Wars Celebration 2023, and it’s entirely possible Mangold’s “Dawn of the Jedi” movie is no longer really a corporate priority. Indeed, that may well explain why Mangold himself is beginning to move on to other things, such as this reunion with Timothée Chalamet in the first place; because he’s done waiting around.

If that’s the case, then one more upcoming Star Wars movie could well ultimately be pushed back still further – or perhaps even canceled. Only time will tell whether Mangold’s movie happens in the end.

Star Wars Franchise Poster

Created by

George Lucas

First Film

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Cast

Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal

TV Show(s)

The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions

Movie(s)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order

Character(s)

Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren


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