In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, shared his thoughts on the possibility of an R-rated Star Wars project.
“Sure, I mean, I don’t know. I think it’s interesting,” Filoni said when asked about the idea. However, he emphasized the importance of quality over novelty. “The bottom line is whatever we do, it has to be really well done. I think when you look at something that is taken as different like Andor, it’s so well done, and Tony [Gilroy] and his team do such a phenomenal job, that I think that there’s an audience for that.”
Filoni made it clear that, while he recognizes the appeal of mature storytelling, he still values Star Wars’ accessibility to younger fans. “I think also with that audience, I also though want to still be hitting the imagination of the kids out there, so that they can grow up and appreciate those things,” he added.
Discussing the diverse range of storytelling within the Star Wars universe, Filoni highlighted the importance of authenticity and creative freedom. “[Star Wars] encompasses all types of styles, and the creative of the particular story driving it is the most important thing, and they should do something that’s within their comfort zone. Otherwise, we’re to imagine that everyone’s going to come in and pretend they’re George Lucas.”
Filoni’s currently working on the second season of Ahsoka and is deep into planning his own Star Wars movie, which is set to tie together the Disney Plus shows.
Reflecting on his progress, Filoni shared, “Because I’ve been writing [Ahsoka season 2], things have clicked, and I have a much better idea about where things are going to go. I will say, I have an opening I really like quite a bit, I’m very excited about it for that picture. I’m excited about the potential of just doing it.”
While the idea of an R-rated Star Wars film might excite some fans, Filoni’s comments suggest that Lucasfilm is focused on maintaining the balance between mature themes and the franchise’s broader, family-friendly appeal.