A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one
Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is set to write a screenplay for a new Star Wars movie, according to reports.
Variety states that the untitled feature is expected to be among the first films in the franchise since 2019’s divisive The Rise of Skywalker.
The outlet also says Knight was brought in to pen the script after the movie’s original writers Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen) and Justin Britt-Gibson (Banshee, Counterpart) left the project.
In doing so, they become the latest in a number of creators to part ways with the franchise’s studio Lucasfilm having previously signed up to develop films set in the Star Wars universe (For more on some of those shelved projects, see here).
Ms. Marvel director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is attached to helm the movie Knight is reportedly set to write. Further details about the film are expected to be revealed at the Star Wars Celebration in London next month.
A prolific screenwriter covering various genres, Knight received early acclaim for his work on London-set crime thrillers Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises.
He would later go on to create the shows Peaky Blinders, SAS: Rogue Heroes and Taboo, as well as pen the screenplays for the films Allied, Burnt, Closed Circuit, Pawn Sacrifice, Spencer, and Locke, the last of which he also directed.
Reports of Knight’s involvement with the space opera franchise follow the news earlier in the week that Oscar-winning directors The Daniels will helm an episode of the upcoming Star Wars series Skeleton Crew. Starring Jude Law, the show is expected to premiere on Disney+ later this year.
Related links:
Tom Hardy series Taboo gets surprise update six years after it aired on BBC
Peaky Blinders creator on the lookout for ‘skinheads’ for new drama
Mark Hamill on the one piece of dialogue he got removed from the original Star Wars
