Exclusive: James Mangold Unveils the Untold Origins of His Epic Dawn of the Jedi Star Wars Film

Star Wars has a promising future when it comes to movies, with one captivating entry diving into the early days of the Jedi Order and its origins. James Mangold, renowned director of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Logan, has revealed some fresh details about his involvement in helming this unique story.

With the upcoming film focusing on the New Jedi Order, led by Daisy Ridley's character Rey, and other narratives spanning different periods, the Jedi saga seems comprehensively covered in the Star Wars universe. However, the Dawn of the Jedi era, which has received minimal attention in mainstream Star Wars media since a non-canon comic book series more than ten years ago, presented an appealing and uncharted path.

Curious about the inspiration behind Mangold and the Lucasfilm team's decision to venture into this relatively unexplored territory?

Mangold recently discussed his upcoming Star Wars film with io9, revealing that he played a significant role in taking the franchise back in time. This exciting development originated from discussions he had with the studio. "I've had previous conversations with [Lucasfilm] and have even collaborated on other projects," he explained, possibly alluding to the rumored Boba Fett movie he was linked to direct. "I have a keen interest in their ongoing activities and have friends involved in other Star Wars endeavors. However, I was aware that their focus was primarily on progressing the saga."

There has been considerable attention given to the Star Wars original and sequel trilogies in terms of where the stories take place. Director James Mangold had an intriguing idea to explore the origins of the Force, and he was pleasantly surprised when Lucasfilm president Kathy Kennedy and her talented team expressed excitement about it. Mangold's goal is to be part of the Star Wars saga while avoiding the burden of excessive lore, enabling a story to be effectively told. His proposal is to create a sort of "Ten Commandments of the Force," a captivating tale that uncovers the beginnings and development of the Force.

Although origin stories have been popular for quite some time, it is surprising that the mainstream Star Wars movies and shows have yet to delve into this concept, especially considering Lucasfilm's inclination to uncover the origins of various elements within the Star Wars universe. While the upcoming movies and shows will focus on the High Republic era, set hundreds of years before the prequel era, Mangold's choice to explore an era even further in the past offers exciting opportunities due to the scarcity of information about that time.

Star Wars fans can still experience the excitement of the unknown, dispelling the belief that it has vanished entirely. The return of beloved characters like Luke Skywalker, expertly portrayed by Mark Hamill, adds a touch of familiarity. However, the true brilliance of the Star Wars franchise lies in its creators' ability to narrate the stories they envision, as exemplified by the awe-inspiring Andor. Therefore, there is genuine anticipation that Mangold can successfully capture the enchantment he seeks.