In March, Lucasfilm announced it canceled a new Star Wars film project from Marvel Studios mastermind Kevin Feige. The unspecified project, with a script by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron, stayed on the ground. However, new details reveal that Joe and Anthony Russo were almost involved with Feige’s Star Wars project. On the Smartless podcast, Joe Russo said the duo was in early talks about joining Feige’s Star Wars movie.
“We love ‘Star Wars,'” said Joe Russo. “There were early conversations, there were some early conversations with us. Kevin Feige is a huge ‘Star Wars’ fan, and there were some early conversations about maybe teaming up with Kevin to do ‘Star Wars.'”
When Lucasfilm announced Feige’s Star Wars project, rumors started swirling that Feige could replace Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy as the head of the Star Wars Universe. This information was false, but Feige was dabbling in making a movie in a galaxy far, far away. Waldron began scripting the story, though progress petered out when Lucasfilm shelved the endeavor. During an interview with Variety, Waldron said, “I’m enjoying having the freedom on that to do something that’s not necessarily a sequel or anything.”
After tackling four films for Marvel Studios (Captain America: The Winter Solider, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame), the Russo brothers could have taken their talents to another beloved franchise, but it was not meant to be.
Patty Jenkins spoke about the Rogue Squadron delay late last year, saying she could still return to the Star Wars project later. “I originally left Rogue Squadron after a long and productive development process when it became clear it couldn’t happen soon enough and I did not want to delay WW3 any further,” Jenkins wrote. “When I did, Lucasfilm asked me to consider returning to RS after WW3, which I was honored to do, so I agreed. They made a new deal with me. In fact, I am still on it and that project has been in active development ever since. I don’t know if it will happen or not. We never do until the development process is complete, but I look forward to its potential ahead.”
Would you like to see Joe and Anthony Russo direct a film in the Star Wars Universe? Would you be okay with Feige moonlighting at Lucasfilm, or should he remain at Marvel and leave Star Wars to other filmmakers? Let us know what you think in the comments below.