Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight has reportedly departed the upcoming Star Wars film that is set to revolve around Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
Knight’s involvement was first announced in March 2023, when it emerged that he would be writing the screenplay for the movie, replacing Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, who had themselves left the project.
Variety reports that the film is intended to pick up the story after the events of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019), and will follow Rey’s efforts to open her own Jedi Academy. With this setback, however, it is unlikely the film will enter the production stage until the second half of 2025 at the earliest.
NME has approached Knight’s representatives for comment.
The film is still slated to be the directorial debut of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who directed episodes of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, and has picked up two Oscars for Best Documentary Short Film.
There is not a Star Wars film set for release until Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu in May 2026, which, if it arrives on time, will bring to an end a seven-year gap. Several others are thought to be in development, including from directors Taika Waititi, Donald Glover, Patty Jenkins, Rian Johnson and James Mangold.
NME awarded The Rise Of Skywalker three stars on its release in 2019, writing: “Most who watch this film will have an enjoyable time. It’s exciting, surprisingly funny – special mention to C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), who nails zinger after zinger in a standout turn – and is stuffed with strong performances from its leading cast, especially John Boyega as Stormtrooper-turned-rebel Finn.”
“Nearly all the unanswered questions are resolved and Skywalker feels sufficiently satisfying as a final chapter. It’s taken 42 years to get here, but (for now) the circle is finally complete.”
Knight, meanwhile, has several other upcoming projects, including Maria, a biopic of the opera star Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, and The Immortal Man, the feature film adaptation of Knight’s own BBC hit series Peaky Blinders. He has also been working on the boxing drama series A Thousand Blows, which will arrive on Disney+ in 2025.