Screenwriter Matthew Robinson talks about Patty Jenkins’ ‘Star Wars: Rogue Squadron’

Writer Matthew Robinson Says Rogue Squadron “Was Very Much a Movie About Fighter Pilots”

It’s been nearly five years since Lucasfilm announced plans for a Rogue Squadron film during Disney’s 2020 Investor Day, showing a promotional video of filmmaker Patty Jenkins next to a life-sized X-wing, marking her as the first female director of a Star Wars feature film.

Since then, the film has been met with significant delays, with the latest rumors indicating it is being redeveloped into a Disney+
live-action TV series, despite Kathleen Kennedy, who said goodbye to her post last month as President of Lucasfilm, not even mentioning it in her exit interview.

While details surrounding the status of the Rogue Squadron remain sparse, the screenwriter for the film, Matthew Robinson, out and about promoting his latest film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die directed by Gore Verbinski, recently spoke with Polygram, and touched on why, as a longtime Star Wars fan, Rogue Squadron was so important to him.

“I had a great time writing it. Patty Jenkins is one of my favorite artists in the world. I think she’s absolutely brilliant. We had a great time working together.

I don’t currently know what Lucasfilm wants to do with it. They’re in a pretty big state of flux at the moment, after Kathleen [Kennedy] leaving, and who knows what the future holds for them theatrically.

It was a great thrill to write that, and especially to work with Patty, who made it a very personal story. It was very much a movie about fighter pilots. Her father was a fighter pilot.

It was very personal to her, and we were trying to tell a really great personal story about fighter pilots and Rogue Squadron pilots in the Star Wars universe. I think we did a great job with it, and I really hope one day we get to see a version of that.”

Although Robinson didn’t share much information about the current status of the film, other than Lucasfilm’s current “state of flux,” it was nice that he was able to offer some details about his personal experience while working on it and that he still has hope that one day it will come to fruition.

The recent film Star Wars: Rogue One is frequently recognized as the pivotal moment for diversity within the Star Wars franchise, significantly shifting the cast toward a more multiracial and ethnically diverse lineup. Rogue Squadron was set to take it a step further, expanding Star Wars film lore by introducing LGBTQ+ representation and non-binary characters, hoping to break the barriers that cloud older generations’ mindsets.

With Lucasfilm appearing to ramp up its Star Wars content with Disney Plus’ Ahsoka streaming series and the Maul: Shadow Lord animated cartoon, along with the theatrical screen adventures of The Mandalorian & Grogu launching in May and Starfighter on the way next year, it’s going to be an exciting time for fans as we explore the next chapters in film and TV and how they will shape the Star Wars universe moving forward.

As far as Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron film finally taking flight, anything is possible, but it is probably best not to hold your breath until after Lucasfilm’s new co-presidents Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan make an official announcement, whenever that may be.

Jenkins’ reputation as a talented and visionary director offers some hope that the film could still happen. The filmmaker recently mentioned that she really “never walked away” from Rogue Squadron, only pausing it to focus on her blockbuster Wonder Woman 3 film. She since stated to that she had “finalized a new deal” with Lucasfilm to return to the script, a process she confirmed is now underway.

Whether that’s the same of similar script that Patty wrote with Matthew Robinson remains to be seen. Hopefully, we will receive some more concrete information soon.

Until then, may the Force be with you…