J.D. Dillard no longer developing Star Wars movie or Rocketeer sequel for Disney

It was reported way back in February 2020 that J.D. Dillard was developing a Star Wars movie for Lucasfilm, but while speaking with The Wrap recently, the director explained that the project, as well as a sequel to The Rocketeer, is no longer moving forward.

J.D. Dillard told The Wrap that his Star Wars movie is “unfortunately no longer a thing,” but that it wasn’t “for lack of trying.” He still hopes to helm a sci-fi movie, but when he does, “it will be an original idea.” Dillard also explained that his introduction to the franchise arrived with the TIE Fighter flight simulator video game (which happens to be one of my favourites as well).

My dad being an aviator, we had a bunch of flight simulators. I’m playing this [TIE Fighter] game for months. And my dad’s flying it with me. And I’m like, ‘Man, this game is just so cool.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you know, this game comes from a series of movies.’ And I was like, ‘You’re kidding me.’ That is where I watched ‘Star Wars’ for the first time and realized the full scope of what it meant to world build because I’d been playing this pseudo-16-bit game.

While J.D. Dillard’s Star Wars movie may not be happening, it was revealed earlier today that Shawn Levy was in talks to direct a Star Wars movie after he completes work on Deadpool 3 and the final season of Stranger Things. Dillard was also linked to a sequel to The Rocketeer. Titled The Return of the Rocketeer, the sequel was said to center on a retired Tuskegee airman who takes on the mantle of the Rocketeer. “I am not on that movie,” Dillard said. “But, you know, it’s tricky. I love, love, love ‘The Rocketeer.’ What I have a slightly hard time wrapping my head around now is going back to pre-1970 aviation. You know, I’m not saying never. But I think I need a breather from period aviation.“

J.D. Dillard’s latest movie, Devotion, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year. The film stars Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell as two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Be sure to check out a review from our own Chris Bumbray before Devotion hits theaters on November 23rd.