Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Star Warsneeds to stop teasing me with cool X-wing action and finally makeRogue Squadronalready. As seen inThe Mandalorianand other connected New Republic Era shows, X-wings have briefly been featured from time to time as the New Republic strives to keep the galaxy safe following the fall of the Empire. However, we’re long overdue for theRogue Squadronmovie that was first announced over 4 years ago.
Originally announced in December 2020,Lucasfilm revealed that aRogue Squadronmovie was in development with director Patty Jenkins. An all-new fighter pilot epic featuring a new generation of X-wing pilots in the galaxy far, far away, the movie eventually faced multiple delays before being pulled from Lucasfilm’s release schedule.Now,Star Warskeeps teasing epic X-wing action sequences in its shows, while I’m still waiting forRogue Squadronto finally happen.
Star Wars' Mandoverse Shows Keep Teasing X-Wing Action
Skeleton Crew Has Some Great (But Brief) X-Wing Sequences
X-wings have been featured in multipleStar Warsshows in recent years, includingThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett,Ahsoka, and most recentlySkeleton Crew. For the most part, The Aldelphi Rangers have been the ones shown piloting these X-wings, having been tasked by the New Republic government with patrolling the Outer Rim. This notably includesCaptain Carson Teva (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), who’s made appearances in nearly all of these shows.
The notable exception is currentlySkeleton Crew. While it’s not been confirmed whether the X-wings inSkeleton Crewepisode 6 are from Adelphi Base, the X-wings that pursued Jod Na Nawood and the kids aboardThe Onyx Cinderappeared to be from Blue Squadron.While there’s certainly still time for Carson Teva or his fellow Rangers to make appearances in upcoming episodes, there have still been some exciting aerial action sequences, with X-wings engaging with various pirate vessels.
“Rangers Of The New Republic” Would’ve Been Perfect
A Cancelled Mandalorian Spin-Off
While the aforementioned X-wing sequences have been fun to see, they are often brief and from a distance, rather than being up close in the action and only sometimes in the cockpit with the pilots themselves.To that end, we would likely have seen even more epic action and focus on the pilots themselves hadRangers of the New Republicnot been canceled. Also announced in 2020,Rangers of the New Republicwas envisioned as a spin-off series fromThe Mandalorianthat would have made the Aldelphi Rangers leading characters along with the former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune.
“There’s still hope on the horizon to eventually get what I know can be one of the bestStar Warsmovies ever…”
However,Lucasfilm and Disney’s decision to fire actress Gina Carano led to the show’s cancelation. While no scripts were written, various elements that had been thought of for the show were incorporated into future seasons ofThe Mandalorianinstead. That said, I still find it very disappointing that a show starring X-wing pilots was canceled, and a movie was put into limbo.However, there’s still hope on the horizon to eventually get what I know can be one of the bestStar Warsmovies ever.
Forget Rangers: Bring On Rogue Squadron!
(Yes, The Movie Is Currently Still Alive)
Rouge Squadronwas indeed pulled from Lucasfilm’s release schedule, having been originally slated for a release date of December 2023. However, Patty Jenkins hasn’t given up on the movie, nor has Lucasfilm. To that end,Jenkins revealed in March 2024 that she had signed a new contract to serve as both writer and director forRogue Squadron.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron - Cancelation, Franchise Future & Everything We Know
Patty Jenkins’s Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is reportedly no longer in development, so will there ever be a movie based on stories about X-Wing pilots?
By all accounts, it seems the script is still being written. To that end, one can only hope that all the brief X-wing action teased in the shows will be paid off with a full-fledgedRogue Squadronmovie, inspired by classic fighter pilot/dogfight movies likeTop Gun.When and ifRogue Squadronfinally happens, I’ll be first in line as it’s such a cool concept that Lucasfilm should have fast-tracked. In the meantime, I’ll just have to hope that we get more X-wing action and future appearances from pilots like Carson Teva asStar Wars’various projects continue.
The first six episodes ofStar Wars: Skeleton Creware now streaming on Disney+.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Cast
Skeleton Crew follows four ordinary children who become lost in the expansive Star Wars galaxy. As they navigate unfamiliar worlds and the challenges they present, the group endeavors to find their way back to their home planet, undertaking a journey across the iconic Star Wars universe.
