Star Wars! What a concept!
Leslye Headland, co-creator and showrunner of Netflix’s multi-Emmy-winning time loop dramedy Russian Doll, is reportedly making a new Star Wars series for Disney+.
People familiar with the matter told Variety the series will be “female-centric” and will take place in a different part of the sprawling Star Wars universe’s timeline than other films and series. Headland will write and showrun, and is currently staffing the project.
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Disney has not confirmed the series’ development, but it has cultivated Star Wars series as a significant part of Disney+’s fare, beginning with launch show The Mandalorian. That series’ eight-episode first season generated enough critical acclaim–and Baby Yoda fever–that a third season is already in development for debut in 2021. The second season is completed, and due to bow in October.
The Mouse House has also officially greenlit an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor, and a Cassian Andor/Rogue One prequel series starring Diego Luna.
Before netting Netflix 13 Emmy nominations with Natasha Lyonne-starring Russian Doll, Headland was best known for writing and directing the 2015 romantic comedy Sleeping with Other People. She also wrote the 2014 remake of About Last Night, and has written for TV shows including Terriers, Blunt Talk, SMILF, and Black Monday. She appears to be involved in the upcoming second season of Russian Doll, but development and filming is currently on COVID-19 hold.
Headland is not the first female director Disney has hired for Star Wars series–perhaps a surprise, considering all 11 Star Wars films thus far have been directed by men. Canadian filmmaker Deborah Chow directed two episodes of The Mandalorian‘s first season, and is attached to direct Disney+’s untitled Obi-Wan series.
