LOS ANGELES – Director Rian Johnson has put years of speculation to rest, confirming that his much-discussed but ultimately shelved “Star Wars” trilogy never advanced beyond a preliminary, conceptual phase. In a recent interview, the filmmaker revealed that the project never had a formal outline, treatment, or script.

The revelation provides a definitive, albeit anticlimactic, conclusion to a saga that has captivated and divided the “Star Wars” fanbase since the trilogy was first announced by Lucasfilm in 2017.

A Project That 'Never Really Happened'

Speaking with Rolling Stone in an interview published over the weekend, Johnson, who directed 2017’s polarizing installment Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was candid about the status of the planned films.

“The truth is, they were very, very, very conceptual,” Johnson stated, according to reports from Variety which cited the interview. “I had a notion for what I wanted to do with them, but I never got to the point where I wrote it down. I never had an outline or a treatment or anything. So nothing really happened with it.”

This clarification reframes the narrative surrounding the project. While many assumed the trilogy was actively developed and then cancelled, Johnson’s comments suggest it never truly gained momentum at Lucasfilm, remaining an idea that was ultimately superseded by other priorities.

Years of Speculation and Fan Debate

Lucasfilm originally announced Johnson’s trilogy in November 2017, a month before The Last Jedi hit theaters. The studio’s then-president, Kathleen Kennedy, expressed excitement for Johnson to introduce "new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored."

However, following the release of The Last Jedi, which garnered critical acclaim but a deeply divisive fan reception, official updates on Johnson’s project ceased. For years, both Johnson and Kennedy maintained in various interviews that the trilogy was still on the books, though its timing was uncertain as Johnson focused on his successful Knives Out franchise.

The prolonged silence fueled intense debate online, with detractors of The Last Jedi claiming the project was quietly cancelled due to the film's controversial narrative choices. Supporters, meanwhile, held out hope that the director would get a chance to realize his unique vision for the galaxy far, far away. Johnson’s latest remarks confirm the project is no longer in development, but for reasons more rooted in creative logistics than in fan backlash.

Lucasfilm's Evolving Strategy

The fate of Johnson's trilogy appears to be part of a broader strategic evolution at Lucasfilm under Disney's ownership. Since the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, the studio has pivoted its focus heavily toward streaming series on Disney+.

The immense success of shows like The Mandalorian, Andor, and Obi-Wan Kenobi has demonstrated a viable and popular model for expanding the Star Wars universe through long-form storytelling.

On the cinematic front, Lucasfilm is moving forward with a new slate of films, including projects directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which will feature Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey; a film from James Mangold exploring the origins of the Force; and a culminating movie for the "Mando-verse" storyline from Dave Filoni.

Johnson's admission that his trilogy "never really happened" closes a significant chapter of what-ifs for the franchise, highlighting the fluid and often unpredictable nature of blockbuster filmmaking in modern Hollywood.