10 Failed Star Wars Movies (And Why They Didn't Happen)

10. Star Wars Episode IX: Duel Of The Fates

The Movie

The ninth instalment of the Skywalker Saga was originally going to be helmed by Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow.

In 2016, he co-wrote a script titled Duel of the Fates with regular collaborator Derek Connolly, which ended up leaking online in January 2020, revealing that Trevorrow's vision was radically different from the Episode IX that we ultimately got.

Duel of the Fates would've included a lot more of Rose Tico, a lot less of Emperor Palpatine (none of him, to be exact), and would've revealed that Rey's last name is Solana, ending the movie with her vowing to train children in the ways of the Force.

We would've also seen the Force ghosts of Yoda, Luke, and Obi-Wan in the same frame, which would've been an incredible moment to experience in a packed theatre.

Why It Didn't Happen

Trevorrow left the project in 2017, for reasons unknown. The official statement was that he and Lucasfilm had creative differences, but it was suspected that the real reason was the critical and commercial failure of his movie, The Book of Henry, which released mere months before he exited Episode IX.

Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.

Episode VII director J.J. Abrams was soon hired as Trevorrow's replacement, and Duel of the Fates was discarded in favour of a new script.