Star Wars project lands Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight to write the script

Just days after Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson were first reported to have left their Star Wars project, Disney and LucasFilm have already found a new writer.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has come on board to take over writing duties on the secretive project, according to Variety.

Lost and Watchmen creator Lindelof and Counterpart writer Britt-Gibson were hired to pen the script in July 2022.

Both reportedly handed in their draft of the project earlier this year and left the project in February 2023.

While little is known about the project, it was reported in October that the project takes place after 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and it was also said that it may contain characters from the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

New Writer: Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has come on board to take over writing duties on the secretive project, according to Variety.

Star Wars: While little is known about the project, it was reported in October that the project takes place after 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and it was also said that it may contain characters from the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who directed two episodes of last year’s Marvel Studios TV series Ms. Marvel, is still attached to direct the secretive project.

More details about the project, including the potential title, are expected to be revealed at Star Wars Celebration, which kicks off on April 7 at the ExCeL Exhibition Center in London.

This is one of the few Star Wars projects still in development at Disney-owned LucasFilm, amid several others that have been cancelled.

Taika Waititi is still developing a Star Wars project that he is expected to direct and star in, which is scheduled for a December 19, 2025 release.

It was also reported in November that Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Free Guy) was set to develop and direct a Star Wars project, though it will arrive after he directs Deadpool 3, which is set for release on November 8, 2024.

However, Disney has removed several other projects from its development slate, including two earlier this month.

The studio quietly pulled Star Wars: Rogue Squadron from director Patty Jenkins upon its release in late 2023 and is now no longer in active development.

Disney was also developing a Star Wars feature by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige as of September 2019, though that too has been removed from active development.

Director: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who directed two episodes of last year’s Marvel Studios TV series Ms. Marvel, is still attached to direct the secretive project.

It was still in development as of May 2022, when Feige hired Michael Waldron (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) to pen the script.

However, just five months later, Feige invited Waldron to write Avengers: Secret Wars, which would end Marvel’s Multiverse Saga.

JD Dillard (Devotion) was also slated to develop a Star Wars project, though he revealed in November that won’t be happening anymore.

Knight began his writing career on shows in his native UK such as The Detectives and Commercial Breakdown, and was also one of the three creators of the original UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

He eventually turned to feature films, most notably with 2002’s Dirty Pretty Things, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

He went on to write Amazing Grace and Eastern Promises before becoming a writer-director on Redemption and Locke.

His other writing credits include Closed Circuit, The Hundred-Foot Journey, Pawn Sacrifice, Seventh Son, Burnt and Allied before returning to television.

He also created hit shows Taboo, Peaky Blinders, See and Rogue Heroes, with a host of other film and television projects in development or in various stages of production.

Writing Career: Knight began his writing career on shows in his native UK such as The Detectives and Commercial Breakdown, and was also one of the three creators of the original UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Breakthrough: He finally turned to feature films, breaking with 2002’s Dirty Pretty Things, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Creator: He also created the hit shows Taboo, Peaky Blinders, See and Rogue Heroes, with a host of other TV and film projects in development or in various stages of production.