Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Fans Just Got Great News
Disney and its streaming platform, Disney+, dropped a bombshell on Dec. 10, 2020. Whether you are a Marvel fan, a Pixar fan, or a Star Wars fanatic, there's plenty to get excited about.
Robert Iger, executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company, announced that Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins would be working on the next Star Wars feature film. The title, Rogue Squadron, might ring some bells for die-hard Star Wars acolytes and avid gamers alike.
Patty Jenkins released a video on her Twitter that teased her involvement with the franchise. The video was posted prior to Iger's announcement and it portrays Jenkins as she rollerblades on the runway. She mentions an earlier time in her life when she admired her father and his squadron as they roared across the skies.
Jenkins linked the experiences with her late father and her ongoing motivation of "making the greatest fighter pilot movie of all time." She revealed that she had not found the right opportunity to chase that dream — until now. The clip ended as she put on a helmet, orange jumpsuit, and walked towards an X-wing as the screen faded to the Rogue Squadron title.
The original Star Wars: Rogue Squadron released in December 1998 for PC and Nintendo 64. The game was based on a comic book series by Michael A. Stackpole. It follows the adventures of the rebellion and its pilots (led by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles) as they attempt to neutralize the Empire. The game received a solid Metascore of 85 and went on to spur two more sequels.
Lucasfilm briefly commented on the Rogue Squadron movie and mentioned, "The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy." It's currently unclear whether the film will follow the story in the original game trilogy or take place in a different timeframe. But don't be surprised if you see a young Wedge Antilles at the helm — anything is possible with a passionate director such as Patty Jenkins.
Rogue Squadron is expected to arrive from a galaxy far, far away, in Christmas 2023. Those looking for a starfighter fix before then can check out the 2020 video game release Star Wars: Squadrons, out now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.