Jon Favreau to write, produce new Star Wars series
The Associated Press | Posted: March 8, 2018 5:12 PM | Last Updated: March 8, 2018
Past work with Disney includes Iron Man, Avengers, The Jungle Book and The Lion King
Jon Favreau will write and executive produce a live-action Star Wars series for the Walt Disney Co.'s planned streaming platform.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy says in a Thursday announcement that Favreau will oversee the new spinoff series.
"Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe," Kennedy, Lucasfilm president, said in a statement.
"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."
Disney is readying a streaming service to compete with Netflix, and it has signalled that Star Wars will be a major component. The not-yet-named service is planned to launch in late 2019.
Favreau has been a Disney regular, having directed the first two Iron Man films for Marvel, helped produce several Avengers movies and directed 2016's The Jungle Book. He's currently prepping a Lion King remake to be released in 2019.
He has some Star Wars experience, too, having provided a voice for The Clone Wars animated series and will appear in a role in the upcoming Han Solo spinoff Solo: A Star Wars Story.
"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," said Favreau.
No details or release date were announced for Favreau's series.