Disney Removes Untitled Star Wars Movie From December 2026 Release Slate

We have felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. We fear something terrible has happened... and, well, it sort of has, actually. No, we're not talking about certain developments across the pond earlier this month, or the inexplicable further delay of Mickey 17, but rather the news coming to us from Variety that another Star Wars project has fallen by the wayside (at least for now) at Disney and Lucasfilm.

Per Variety's reporting, an as-yet-untitled Star Wars movie slated for release on 18 December, 2026 has been bumped from its planned launch, and will instead be replaced by the recently announced Ice Age 6. This development follows hot on the heels of the news that broke late last month that director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's planned Rey movie with Daisy Ridley has lost screenwriter Steven Knight — and although there's nothing officially tying that planned Christmas 2026 movie to Obaid-Chinoy's film, it wouldn't be a wild stretch to imagine that this may be the project that's come off the slate. What's more, with Simon Kinberg now reportedly developing a new trilogy set in that galaxy far, far away (a trilogy that Ridley's beloved Jedi noteworthily would potentially be the focal point of), it'll be interesting to see how — and indeed if — the two Rey-based projects eventually shake out and come to our screens.

Whilst losing a Star Wars project from the slate, even if only on a temporary basis, is never going to be good news, it's not all doom and gloom for lovers of the universe that George Lucas created. For one, The Mandalorian & Grogu movie remains on track to release in cinemas in May 2026. For two, another Star Wars movie is still slated for 17 December, 2027. And for three, as well as Skeleton Crew being mere weeks away from dropping on Disney+, the second season of Andor is right around the corner too (22 April, 2025 to be exact.) Speaking of, you can read all about Cassian Andor's commitment to the rebellion, the return of Director Krennic, and much more besides in Empire's world exclusive Andor Season 2 issue, which hits newsstands on Thursday 21 November. Save the Rebellion, save the dream!