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Paddington 2 Directors Were This Close to Making Star Wars
The Star Wars Movie That Never Was: The Paddington Directors’ Lost Droid Adventure
The Big Picture: So Many Rumors, So Few Movies
If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ve probably heard about a lot of movies that were "in development" but never actually happened. Think of it like a kid making a Christmas list with 50 toys but only getting three. Here are just a few famous "lost" Star Wars projects:
- A trilogy by Rian Johnson (director of The Last Jedi)
- A movie from the Game of Thrones showrunners (David Benioff & D.B. Weiss)
- Guillermo del Toro’s idea for a Jabba the Hutt film
- And now… a droid movie from the Paddington 2 team
Important Point: Star Wars has announced or rumored far more movies than it has actually released in the Disney era.
Meet the Dream Team: Paul King & Simon Farnaby
You might not know their names, but you definitely know their work:
| Movie | Their Role | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington 2 | Director (King) & Writer (Farnaby) | Widely considered one of the best sequels ever made (99% on Rotten Tomatoes!) |
| Wonka (2023) | Director (King) & Writer (Farnaby) | A massive global hit, earning over $600 million worldwide |
These two have a magic touch for making heartwarming, critically acclaimed, box-office-smashing family films.
The Pitch: A Star Wars Movie With Zero Jedi, Zero Skywalkers, Just… A Droid
After Paddington 2 became a sensation, Lucasfilm called them up. The offer? "Make a Star Wars movie."
Their Big Idea:
- Focus entirely on a droid (think R2-D2 or BB-8, but as the main character)
- No major Star Wars characters — no Luke, no Leia, no Vader, no Mandalorian
- A completely standalone story in that galaxy far, far away
Important Point: This was a bold, risky swing — a Star Wars movie without the "Star Wars" icons fans expect.
Why It Fell Apart: "It Didn’t Feel Enough Like Star Wars"
In a recent interview with Variety, Simon Farnaby explained what happened:
"They were like, ‘We really need it to be a Star Wars movie,’ which is probably why it didn’t get turned into a Star Wars movie! But we never really nailed it."
The Core Conflict:
- King & Farnaby wanted to make a unique, character-driven story (their specialty).
- Lucasfilm wanted something that felt like a traditional Star Wars epic.
- Result: The project stalled. They "got distracted by it for a while" but couldn’t bridge the gap.
The Happy Ending (For Them): Life After Star Wars
Here’s the best part: They totally landed on their feet.
What They Did Next (Step-by-Step):
- Moved on from the Star Wars idea (which Farnaby says might become a non-Star Wars project someday).
- Made Wonka — a huge critical and commercial success.
- Signed on for a Labubu movie — based on the wildly popular collectible toy line.
Important Point: The Paddington duo is doing just fine without a lightsaber in sight.
The Current State of Star Wars Movies: A Bit of a Mess
While King & Farnaby are thriving, Star Wars theatrical films are… stuck in hyperspace.
The Scoreboard:
- Rian Johnson’s trilogy — Stalled/Unconfirmed
- Game of Thrones duo’s movie — Cancelled
- Taika Waititi’s movie — Stalled
- Guillermo del Toro’s Jabba movie — Never happened
- The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026) — Reportedly underperformed expectations / shifted to streaming (Note: Article implies disappointment)
The Current "Only Hope":
- 2027: Star Wars: Starfighter — Starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine, Stranger Things).
- Simon Kinberg’s Trilogy — "In development"
- Rey Movie (Daisy Ridley returning) — "Maybe"
- James Mangold’s "Dawn of the Jedi" — "Potentially"
Important Point: As the article jokes: "Help us, Dave Filoni. You’re our only hope." (Filoni is the current Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, overseeing TV shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka).
Summary: What We Learned
- Paul King & Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Wonka) were hired by Lucasfilm to write/direct a Star Wars movie.
- Their pitch: A solo droid adventure with zero legacy characters.
- Lucasfilm rejected the vibe — it didn’t feel "Star Wars-y" enough.
- The project died, but the duo crushed it with Wonka and have a Labubu movie coming.
- Star Wars movies remain in limbo, with all theatrical hopes pinned on Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter in 2027.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Would a Paddington-style Star Wars movie have actually worked?
Maybe! Star Wars has always had "droid comedy" (C-3PO, R2-D2, BB-8, K-2SO). A heartfelt, character-driven droid movie could have been a refreshing palate cleanser — think Wall-E in space. But Lucasfilm plays it safe with theatrical releases.
Why does Lucasfilm cancel so many movies?
Fear of failure + high stakes. After Solo lost money and The Rise of Skywalker divided fans, they’ve become extremely risk-averse. They’d rather make 10 Disney+ shows than one risky $200M movie that might flop.
What is Labubu and why are they making a movie?
Labubu is a viral collectible elf/monster toy from Pop Mart (huge in Asia, blowing up globally). It has a distinct, quirky aesthetic — perfect for the Paddington/Wonka duo’s whimsical style. It’s a smarter bet than navigating Star Wars canon.
Is Star Wars: Starfighter definitely happening in 2027?
As of now, yes. It has a star (Ryan Gosling), a hot director (Shawn Levy), and a locked date (May 28, 2027). In Star Wars terms, that’s as "real" as it gets — but we’ve been burned before.
Could the droid idea still happen outside Star Wars?
Absolutely. Farnaby explicitly said they’re reworking the idea for a non-Star Wars project. Imagine an original sci-fi film about a lonely robot, made by the guys who made you cry over a CGI bear. Sign me up.
