Lucasfilm has reportedly started casting the two leads for Episode X, the planned next installment of the Skywalker Saga, and the studio is said to be seeking performers in their early twenties for a story with a romantic relationship at its center.
The project, written by Simon Kinberg and directed by Jon Watts, would continue the saga’s timeline after Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Daisy Ridley is expected to return as Rey Skywalker, though reportedly as a mentor figure rather than the film’s protagonist.
The move would mark a structural departure from the sequel trilogy, which was built around an ensemble of Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (Adam Driver). It also comes during a period of executive change at the studio, with Kathleen Kennedy stepping down as president earlier this year and Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan assuming new leadership roles.
Insider Details Casting Search
The casting update comes from Star Wars insider @fiveswalker, who posted on X on October 29 that the search for the film’s stars is active.
“Like I previously stated, casting is underway for episode 10. They are looking for an early 20s duo,” they wrote. “It will go heavy on the romance aspect between the two. It will be one of the key definers [of] the film.”
In a follow-up post, the insider offered an indication of how the material is being received internally. “‘Very YA but very good’ is something I was told,” they added. “I personally would love a romance-focused Star Wars story, so I am quite excited.”
The young adult descriptor points to a notable tonal shift. YA storytelling generally centers on coming-of-age arcs, first love, and characters discovering their place in a larger world, an approach that would distinguish Episode X from the war-scale conflicts that defined previous saga films.
Character Breakdowns
The insider had previously outlined the two leads in earlier posts.
“Episode X will have duo leads like Finn and Rey,” the scooper explained. “Their dynamic is very much that archetype, but with a more clearly defined romantic component. [The] male lead comes from a harsh orphaned background just like Rey and is swept up into the story after being implicated in a killing.”
“[The] female lead comes from high society, a perfectionist. Royalty,” they continued. “She and the male lead are caught up in a big adventure together, with her bringing him into the larger ‘world’s stage’ of Star Wars characters we know.”
The pairing of an orphan accused of a killing with a royal perfectionist follows a familiar mismatched-partners formula, and the female lead’s position would give the film a built-in path toward established characters.
A Break From Franchise Precedent
Romance has been part of Star Wars since its inception, from the relationship between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) in the original trilogy to the ill-fated marriage of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) in the prequels. The Rise of Skywalker closed with a brief kiss between Rey and Ben Solo.
Across what will be over five decades by the time Episode X arrives, however, those relationships have largely served the broader conflict between Jedi and Sith, Rebellion and Empire, or Resistance and First Order. Even Anakin and Padmé’s romance ultimately functioned in service of Darth Vader’s origin. Positioning romance as one of the film’s “key definers” would reverse that hierarchy for the first time since George Lucas launched the franchise in 1977.
Rey’s Standalone Film on Hold
Insider Daniel Richtman previously reported that Watts’ film will have two leads, with Rey as their mentor. According to Richtman, Rey’s standalone feature has not been scrapped but is currently on hold.
That film, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and frequently referred to as New Jedi Order, was one of three features announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023, alongside James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi and Dave Filoni’s New Republic film. It was designed to follow Rey as she rebuilt the Jedi Order, a premise compatible with a mentor role in Episode X.
Lucasfilm has not confirmed whether the Rey project has been canceled or absorbed into Kinberg’s trilogy. With newer projects advancing, the 2023 slate no longer appears to reflect the studio’s near-term priorities.
Development Status
Kinberg has reportedly been developing the trilogy since late 2024. Watts directed Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and co-created Star Wars: Skeleton Crew with Christopher Ford.
Disney has not formally greenlit Episode X, and no release date or plot details have been confirmed. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, remains the franchise’s next confirmed theatrical release, set for May 2027.
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