It was confirmed back in February that multiple Star Wars TV series were in development, and now we know who one of those shows will be coming from.
Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, The Jungle Book and Elf, has signed up to write and produce a live-action series for Disney’s new platform. He’s previously voiced Pre Vizsla in The Clone Wars and he’ll have a role in Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Favreau, who is currently working on Disney’s The Lion King. “I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said “I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform. Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.” (via StarWars.com)
Of course, the decision to bring Favreau on board won’t lessen criticisms aimed at Disney and Lucasfilm over their continued commitment to hiring white men to tell Star Wars stories, with the decision to make the announcement on International Women’s Day a pretty wild example of tone-deaf timing. The other confirmed Star Wars projects in development include David Benioff and DB Weiss’ new series of films, Rian Johnson’s new trilogy and, of course, JJ Abrams’ Episode IX. Meanwhile, Stephen Daldry is rumoured to be attached to an Obi Wan Kenobi film.
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