Damon Lindelof Says He Was Fired From Star Wars Movie After Two Years of Development

Damon Lindelof says he was removed from a planned Star Wars movie after spending two years developing it for Lucasfilm.

Speaking on the House of R podcast, the Lost and Watchmen creator said Lucasfilm initially liked his idea for the project but later let him go. “Two years later, I was fired,” Lindelof said.

Lindelof explained that his version of Star Wars would have explored the conflict between nostalgia and change within the franchise. He described the concept as “the Protestant Reformation inside Star Wars,” with themes about balancing classic elements and new ideas.

He said the studio did not seem opposed to the concept itself. Instead, he believes problems came from the slow development process and uncertainty about how the film would connect to the larger Star Wars timeline after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.

Lindelof also said it has become harder for Lucasfilm to define the “center” of Star Wars following the sequel trilogy. He questioned whether characters like Rey, Finn, and Poe remain central to the franchise, or if newer figures such as Din Djarin and Grogu from The Mandalorian now fill that role.

The project was first announced in 2022 with Ms. Marvel director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attached to direct. In 2023, reports confirmed that Lindelof and co-writer Justin Britt-Gibson had exited the film, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight later brought in to work on a new script.