James Mangold Discusses His STAR WARS Film Explaining It's Free From the Lore's Restraints

James Mangold, the director behind Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is currently developing an ambitious Star Wars project for Lucasfilm that will explore the origins of the Jedi.

Tentatively referred to as Dawn of the Jedi, this story will take audiences 25,000 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, diving into an unexplored era of the Star Wars universe.

In a recent interview with MovieWeb, Mangold shed some light on his approach to crafting this project. Collaborating with screenwriter Beau Willimon, the filmmaker talked about the importance of originality in this new story.

He said: “To me, the really important aspects are the freedom to make something new. Do we find a way on the page to say something original?"

Mangold acknowledges the challenges of working within a franchise so steeped in lore, adding:

"I'm not that interested in being handcuffed by so much [immovable] lore at this point that it's almost immovable, and you can't please anybody."

By setting his film in the distant past, Mangold will be able to sidestep the narrative constraints and fan expectations tied to the established Star Wars timeline.

The director described the project as a sweeping epic like Ben-Hur or The Ten Commandments, centered on the discovery of the Force and the origins of the Jedi Order.

Mangold shared: "The Force has become a kind of religious legend that spans through all these movies. But where did it come from? How is it found? Who found it? Who was the first Jedi? That’s what I’m writing right now.”

This era represents uncharted territory for the Star Wars franchise. Historically, the Jedi Order was established around 25,793 BBY, following the devastating Force Wars on Tython. The Prime Jedi, the first to wield the Force, is a key figure in this period.

First depicted as a mosaic in The Last Jedi, the Prime Jedi symbolizes the duality and balance of the Force, drawing inspiration from Taoist yin-yang iconography.

Mangold also recently said: "The Star Wars movie would be taking place 25,000 years before any known Star Wars movies take place. It’s an area and a playground that I’ve always [wanted to explore] and that I was inspired by as a teenager."

Despite this ambitious scope, Mangold faces the challenge of delivering a film that resonates with fans. The distance from the established timeline may work in his favor, offering a fresh take on a galaxy far, far away.

Although there’s no confirmed release date for Dawn of the Jedi, it’s unlikely to hit theaters before 2027 or 2028.

By diving into the distant past of the Star Wars galaxy, he has the opportunity to craft a story unlike any other in the franchise's history.