Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film seems to have been put on the back-burner, but she should still get to direct a Star Wars movie. Jenkins’ direction of the Wonder Woman movies was defined by expelling the word “cheesy” from her vocabulary and telling the story with real sincerity. Speaking to The New York Times, when the interviewer used the word “cheesy,” Jenkins took the opportunity to explain her approach: “‘Cheesy’ is one of the words banned in my world. I’m tired of sincerity being something we have to be afraid of doing.” This approach is perfect for the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars movies and TV shows work best when they empathize with their characters and tell their stories earnestly.
The official plot synopsis on StarWars.com promises that Rogue Squadron “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.” According to Total Film, Rogue Squadron will follow an original story, but Jenkins noted that her film will take “great influence from the games and the books.” She said that she’s “so psyched” to direct Rogue Squadron and that she’s setting out to make the “greatest fighter pilot movie ever.” Since Jenkins made this comment, the bar for fighter pilot movies has been set pretty high by Top Gun: Maverick. Jenkins didn’t just want to make a Star Wars movie as a Star Wars fan; as the daughter of a fighter pilot, she also wanted to make a movie honoring the heroic efforts of fighter pilots. Rogue Squadron is one of the most exciting announced Star Wars projects, but there hasn’t been a lot of movement on it. Whether Rogue Squadron goes ahead or not, Jenkins should still get the chance to direct a Star Wars movie.
Has Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron Movie Been Canceled?
Whether or not Rogue Squadron has been scrapped at Lucasfilm or simply deprioritized is a little fuzzy. The film was originally set to be released on December 22, 2023, with Matthew Robinson working on a script. But, in the interim between its announcement and the planned release date, Rogue Squadron was removed from Disney’s release schedule. When James Gunn and Peter Safran took control of DC Studios and scrapped Jenkins’ Wonder Woman threequel, IGN reported that Jenkins was refocusing her efforts on Rogue Squadron.
Jenkins confirmed that her Star Wars movie was in active development, but did add that it might not get made. IGN later reported that Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy had spoken to them at Star Wars Celebration and told them that Rogue Squadron is “something that we still talk about.” Kennedy mentioned that the movie could happen at some point in the future or get retooled into a streaming series. It’s clear that Rogue Squadron is not a top priority at Lucasfilm, but the project isn’t completely dead yet, either. Jenkins may still get the opportunity to put her own artistic stamp on a galaxy far, far away.
Why Jenkins Is A Perfect Fit For The Star Wars Universe
Jenkins would be a perfect fit for the Star Wars franchise, because she knows how to strike the balance of action and heart and she’s just as interested in the emotions of a story as the spectacular set-pieces it can deliver. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and other recent blockbusters have become notorious for using a too-cool-for-school technique known as “bathos.” They undercut any genuine moment of drama with a goofy sight gag or a self-aware one-liner, as if they’re afraid to express an emotion. With its roots in fairy tales and classical myths, Star Wars needs to avoid bathos at all costs.
From Yoda lifting the X-wing from the swamp in The Empire Strikes Back to Luke refusing to fight his father in Return of the Jedi, the greatest moments in Star Wars history take themselves seriously. Some fans have their issues with The Mandalorian’s side quests and lack of meaningful consequences, but the show strikes this tone beautifully. There can be plenty of humor in a Star Wars story – The Mandalorian certainly has its fair share of laughs – but it shouldn’t come at the expense of the drama. Jenkins gets that more than almost any other blockbuster filmmaker working today.
Of all the filmmakers announced to be working on Star Wars movies – Thor: Love and Thunder’s Taika Waititi, Logan’s James Mangold, The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson, etc. – Jenkins is the most promising hire. Waititi might fill his Star Wars movie with too much winking self-deprecation; Mangold might go too dark and gritty with his Star Wars movie; and Johnson has already proven that his own deconstructive take on the Star Wars myth drains it of all its fun. But, based on the style of her Wonder Woman films, Jenkins would hit all the right notes, imbue all her action scenes with human emotion, and capture the familiar magical feel of the Star Wars saga.