A Fighter Pilot's Daughter Aims for a 'Star Wars' Reboot With 'Rogue Squadron'

Has it really been only a year since "The Rise of Skywalker" let all the air out of the "Star Wars" universe? Fortunately for Disney, "The Mandalorian" television series was a hit before the release, and season two is currently keeping fans mesmerized.

"Rogue Squadron" will be the first post-Skywalker "Star Wars" movie. Scheduled for release in December 2023, Disney has landed director Patty Jenkins to helm the project. Jenkins directed both the beloved "Wonder Woman" movie in 2017 and the upcoming sequel "Wonder Woman 1984."

Jenkins offers a legitimate reason for hope because she's the daughter of a fighter pilot. Capt. William Jenkins flew in the United States Air Force and was killed in a NATO simulated dogfight when his daughter was only seven years old.

In a video released by the studio, she talks about watching her father fly F-4s as a small child and how it's always been her ambition to make "the greatest fighter pilot movie of all time." She's been looking for the right project for years and has decided that "Rogue Squadron" will be that movie.

Check out the video she posted on Twitter below.

"Rogue Squadron" was founded by Luke Skywalker after he destroyed the Death Star. It's named in tribute to the Rogue One unit that stole the plans, making his mission possible. It's a beloved part of the "Star Wars" universe and a good place to start if they're looking to rebuild faith with the hardcore fans.

And now we've got a milkid who's using a "Star Wars" movie to pay tribute to her fighter pilot dad who died in service? That could be fuel for one of the best "Star Wars" movies ever.

Disney also announced a ton of other new post-Skywalker projects at its 2020 Investor Day. There's an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan MacGregor, with an appearance by Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. "The Mandalorian" will have two spinoff series -- "The Mandalorian: Rangers of the New Republic" and "Ahsoka." "Star Wars: Andor" brings back Diego Luna's "Rogue One" character in a prequel to that movie. There's "The Acolyte," a series set in the High Republic era from "Russian Doll" creator Leslye Headland, and an event series called "Star Wars: Lando" about Han Solo's best frenemy Lando Calrissian.

That's just the TV stuff. In addition to the "Rogue Squadron" movie, there's an untitled movie in development from "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Jojo Rabbit" writer/director Taika Waititi and a new trilogy from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson.

All this new stuff demands a few questions about possible quality-control issues, but the good news is that the Patty Jenkins movie looks by far like the best thing that's ready to go. The idea that a fighter pilot's kid is making a "Star Wars" fighter pilot movie seems like an instant cure for Skywalker burnout, and here's looking forward to Christmas 2023 in a packed theater watching some outer space dogfights.

Keep Up With the Best in Military Entertainment

Whether you're looking for news and entertainment, thinking of joining the military or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to the Military.com newsletter to have military news, updates and resources delivered straight to your inbox.