As “Obi-Wan Kenobi” fast approaches its premiere on Disney+ on May 27, there’s still plenty on the calendar for new Star Wars projects. “Andor” is the next Disney+ show, set to premiere this summer, and “The Mandalorian” Season 3 and “Ashoka” arrive afterward in early 2023. There’s also a slew of things coming to big screens. Taika Waititi’s film with “1917” screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns comes first, with Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” close behind. And after that? Well, Marvel guru Kevin Feige’s attached to another film set in a galaxy far, far away, with “Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness” writer Michael Waldron on board to write.
In a recent interview with The Playlist on The Discourse Podcast about ‘Multiverse Of Madness,’ Waldron also talked about the “Star Wars” project he is writing for Feige. And while the project’s still in early development, it’s clear that Waldron wants to make the best Star Wars film he possibly can.
Obviously, Waldron wouldn’t say too much, but we fished for clues by asking him what makes a good “Star Wars” film in his mind. “I think that ‘Star Wars,’ at its core, is a story about family,” he explained. “Not in the sense that it’s a story about familial legacy, but it’s Han, Luke, Leia, C3PO, R2, Chewy, coming together as this surrogate family that comes together that you fall in love…that faces great odds together, being split apart, rooting for them…I do think that’s what I’ve always latched on to.”
While he admitted it was an obvious choice, Waldron said “The Empire Strikes Back” was his favorite Star Wars film because of the division of that family and the strain that it puts on all the characters. “It’s not an original answer, but [I think it’s my favorite] because that family gets split apart,” he explained. “That movie exists because the first one does such a great job of assembling that family unit, and then there’s so much yearning and tragedy across that second movie in watching [that family] get broken apart, and that’s why it works.”
Asked if there’s a difference between working with Kevin Feige on a “Star Wars” film versus working with Feige on a Marvel film, Waldron said, “so far, no,” there’s not much difference. “It’s driven by character, and ‘who are some great characters, and what’s a great story?’ And it’s really as simple as that.”
Asked what “Star Wars” era the film could be set in, Waldron got cagey and vague, not wanting to reveal too much. “It’s a big universe; that’s the good news. That’s what I love about Star Wars. Your canvas is all of the time and all of space, so I feel like you’ve got to take advantage of that.”
Our interviewer then sly quipped about a particular planet that always seems to turn up in this galaxy. “Oh, so you’re saying it’s set on Tatooine then.”
“[Ha] Exactly. Tatooine, yes. Has to be set on Tatooine,” he joked dryly. “That better not be the headline!”
“Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness” is in theaters now. Feige’s “Star Wars” film still has no release date, and given the journey to this new galaxy is just getting started, we could be waiting for a while, so be patient.