Star Wars movie removed from Disney’s 2026 release schedule

Fans of the Star Wars franchise will need to exercise patience, as the next installment will not debut for several years. Recent reports from Variety and The Wrap indicate that Disney has removed an untitled Star Wars film from its 2026 release calendar, opting instead for the premiere of Ice Age 6 on December 18 that same year. Although the specifics about the untitled film remain unclear, Daisy Ridley revealed during the Star Wars Celebration in London last year that she would be reprising her beloved role as Rey in a new cinematic adventure. This anticipated film will be helmed by director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, known for her work on select episodes of Ms. Marvel, and is intended to serve as a direct sequel to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Set fifteen years after the events depicted in the previous film, this upcoming Star Wars movie is expected to focus on Rey’s journey as she establishes a new Jedi academy and works toward creating a new Jedi Order. Notably, Steven Knight, famed for his work on Peaky Blinders and the film Maria starring Angelina Jolie, was brought on board as a screenwriter when the original writers departed last year. However, Knight’s exit from the project in October may have further complicated matters, contributing to the film’s postponed timeline as Lucasfilm continues its search for a suitable replacement writer.

While the next main installment of the Star Wars saga is delayed until after 2026, fans can still look forward to a related film set to release that same year. The anticipated project titled The Mandalorian & Grogu is a continuation of the popular Disney+ series directed by Jon Favreau, and filming has already commenced, with a release date scheduled for May 22, 2026. According to The Wrap, there is still confidence in the development of the next Star Wars film, suggesting that it remains very much alive despite past uncertainties surrounding a film that was once in the works by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, which ultimately faced cancellation.