Jon Watts, the director who guided Tom Holland through three Spider-Man films and later joined Lucasfilm with Skeleton Crew, had another Star Wars project in the works that was barely known until now. It was not a typical space adventure, but rather a proposal built on the codes of the classic western.
This information becomes relevant just as fans of the saga have spent months wondering what direction Lucasfilm will take after the conclusion of Skeleton Crew and as the studio redirects much of its energy toward cinema. Knowing that such a series existed, developed with significant seriousness, raises the question of why it was never announced.
An eight-episode series developed with Christopher Ford
The information comes from the specialized outlet Knight Edge Media, which brought the existence of this television project to light. According to this source, Jon Watts worked on it alongside Christopher Ford, his regular collaborator on Skeleton Crew, leading a writers' room that was active between January and August 2026.
The series was planned as an eight-episode season, with a development philosophy similar to that used for Skeleton Crew, albeit with a radical change in tone. While that production leaned into pirate adventure and space exploration, this new project sought to translate the codes of the western into the universe created by George Lucas.
The idea is not far-fetched, considering that Star Wars has always drawn from western cinema: isolated towns on desert planets, bounty hunters, gunslingers, and a law that barely reaches certain corners of the galaxy. It would suffice to replace horses with speeders and revolvers with blasters to fit perfectly into that narrative mold.
Is the project still alive?
What is not clear is whether Lucasfilm has definitively discarded the series or if it was simply put on hold while Jon Watts focuses his attention on other commitments within the franchise. There is currently no official confirmation regarding its cancellation.
The studio, as noted, seems to be prioritizing the return of Star Wars to movie theaters right now, following a period marked by the weight of productions designed for Disney+. In that scenario, an eight-episode project might have lost ground to cinematic bets, although that does not mean it is discarded forever.
Cobb Vanth, the ideal candidate to star in it
The news has reignited speculation among fans of the saga: could this series have been intended for Cobb Vanth, the character played by Timothy Olyphant? Vanth first appeared in The Mandalorian and later returned in The Book of Boba Fett, leaving a mark despite his limited screen time.
In the fiction, Cobb Vanth serves as the sheriff of Mos Pelgo, a small settlement on Tatooine, and embodies the classic figure of the lawman trying to maintain order in a territory dominated by criminals and bounty hunters. A profile that fits almost perfectly with the conventions of the western.
The character has not appeared since the post-credits scene of The Book of Boba Fett, where it was revealed that he had survived his confrontation with Cad Bane and was receiving treatment in a bacta tank. His story was left open, which fuels the theory that a series centered on his exploits as a sheriff would make narrative sense.
It is worth noting that, for now, the connection between Cobb Vanth, Timothy Olyphant, and this secret project is pure speculation. There is no confirmation linking the actor or the character directly to the series developed by Jon Watts.
Jon Watts’ creative method in Star Wars
The existence of this western series makes more sense when reviewing how Jon Watts has explained his way of working within the franchise. During the development of Skeleton Crew, the filmmaker related that his conversations with Dave Filoni, and access to George Lucas's original references, were key to finding the right tone for that series.
Watts explained that it was revealing to learn firsthand about the talks Filoni had with Lucas regarding the films and influences that shaped Star Wars. That knowledge, in his own words, helped them introduce new ideas without betraying the essence of the saga.
To build Skeleton Crew, the director and his team reviewed numerous classic pirate films and adventure serials from the twenties and thirties, with the goal of recovering that spirit in a galactic context. Seen this way, making the leap to a series inspired by the western would have been a natural step within that same method: using Star Wars as a stage to explore different cinematic genres in each production.
Jon Watts remains linked to the cinematic future of the saga
While the fate of this series remains up in the air, Jon Watts continues to be linked to Lucasfilm's plans in the cinematic field. The director is associated with a new Star Wars film written by Simon Kinberg, as part of the studio's commitment to strengthening the saga's presence in movie theaters.
Kinberg brings to this project his previous experience on 20th Century Fox's X-Men films, a period with both highs and lows within the mutant franchise. Watts, for his part, arrives backed by the commercial success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the conclusion of his trilogy with Tom Holland for Marvel Studios.
We will have to wait to see if Lucasfilm decides to rescue this western series at some point or if it ends up joining the long list of Star Wars projects that never saw the light of day. For now, the idea of a sheriff, a lost town, and an unexpected gunslinger remains a tempting possibility for the television future of the franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of Star Wars series was Jon Watts preparing?
According to Knight Edge Media, it was an eight-episode series inspired by the western genre, developed alongside Christopher Ford, Watts' collaborator on Skeleton Crew.
When was this project worked on?
The writers' room was active between January and August 2026, according to available information.
Has the Star Wars western series been canceled?
There is no official confirmation of cancellation. For now, it is unknown if Lucasfilm has discarded it or just put it on hold while Jon Watts focuses on other projects in the saga.
Was Cobb Vanth going to star in this series?
It is only fan speculation based on the fact that the character, played by Timothy Olyphant, fits the western aesthetic. There is no official confirmation linking him to this project.
What other Star Wars projects is Jon Watts working on?
The director is linked to a new Star Wars film written by Simon Kinberg, as part of Lucasfilm's commitment to strengthening the saga in cinema.
What is Jon Watts’ relationship with Skeleton Crew?
Jon Watts directed Skeleton Crew alongside Christopher Ford, a Disney+ series focused on pirate adventure and space exploration within the Star Wars universe.
