UPDATE 5/4/20: The Star Wars official Twitter account and website confirmed that Headland will indeed get her own Disney+ show.
Another transmission, Emmy Award winner @LeslyeHeadland to write, produce, and serve as showrunner for new untitled Star Wars series in development for #DisneyPlus: https://t.co/o3Exz8ndy9 pic.twitter.com/NM8uIJBGez
— Star Wars (@starwars) May 4, 2020
The same night over and over in a galaxy far, far away. That may sound like a bit, but it’s where our mind is at after hearing some thrilling news from Variety this afternoon. In a exclusive, the trade reports that Leslye Headland, co-creator of Netflix’s Russian Doll, is working on a Star Wars television series for Disney+.
This is a big deal for a lot of reasons. First of all, this means we’re getting another another streaming Star Wars project fronted by a woman, after Deborah Chow’s Obi-Wan series. It’s also a match of a project and creative that feels fresh and exciting—the sort of experimental content that deserves a home in the endless world of possibility that is the Star Wars universe. The Disney era of Lucasfilm has had its share of big-screen blunders, with directors let go at the last minute, production shuffling, and other mishaps. Disney+ seems like the perfect testing ground to take some stylistic risks without box office pressure.
Netflix (via Giphy)
Not that Headland is a “risk.” Russian Doll was a massive critical success for Netflix, raking in Emmy nominations and topping best-of lists in 2019. The show stars Natasha Lyonne as a woman named Nadia caught in a time loop during a New York City party that results in her death night after night. (Lyonne also co-created the series with Headland and Amy Poehler.) It’s a series about self-betterment and acceptance, themes that fit right into the world of Star Wars.
There are currently no details about the plot of Headland’s series, though Variety notes it’s “a female-centric series that takes place in a different part of the Star Wars timeline than other projects.” That sounds about right. The other Star Wars series currently in production for Disney+ all feature male leads in familiar timelines. (In addition to Obi-Wan, there is also The Mandalorian and the upcoming series based on Rogue One character Cassian Andor.) Seeing new faces and new places is an exciting way to branch off and explore new stories in the galaxy.
Lucasfilm (via Giphy)
According to Variety, the show is currently staffing. Neither Disney nor Headland have confirmed the news, so it’s possible we’re not getting the full picture here, but we’re intrigued either way. We’ll keep you posted as more news on this thrilling prospect becomes available.
Featured Image: Lucasfilm/Netflix