Deadline reported on Thursday that Lucasfilm announced that filmmaker Jon Favreau has been chosen to write and executive produce a new Star Wars series. The show will premiere on Disney’s soon-to-be-launched streaming service.
While no details concerning the story of the new show have been released, the newest developments of the first-ever live-action Star Wars television series is exciting enough for many fans. Plans for the series was first announced back in November, but no other news concerning the series has been announced until now.
Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy released a statement announcing Favreau’s role in the new project. “I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform,” Kennedy said. “Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”
Favreau himself released his own statement, expressing his excitement over being chosen to helm a new Star Wars series. “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you.,” Favreau said. “I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”
Outside of his own work on indie films writing and directing movies like Chef and Made, Favreau has extensive experience working with Disney. Favreau directed Iron Man, Iron Man 2 for Marvel Studios and directed the 2016 Disney adaptation of The Jungle Book. He will also be directing Jungle Book 2 and The Lion King, both of which are expected to hit the big screen in 2019.
Nor is Favreau unfamiliar with the world of Star Wars. The filmmaker also takes on acting roles (having most notably played Tony Stark’s employee Happy in a variety of Marvel films) and has voiced Pre Vizsla in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He will be in the upcoming installment of the Star Wars franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story.
No release date has been given for Disney’s live-action Star Wars series, but the company’s digital streaming service is expected to launch in the fall of 2019.