It would be easy to write off the Disney+ streaming service as an unnecessary addition to the current battle royale of services vying for your subscription dollars. On paper, the idea of a service with family-friendly content, focusing on animated projects, live-action remakes of classic Disney films, along with a healthy dose of Marvel and “Star Wars” series, seems fairly niche. But then the Mouse House goes and hires some of the best creators around, and you realize that come 2019, you’ll be spending a bit more on your monthly streaming budget.
Deadline has now announced who will be spearheading the upcoming “Star Wars” live-action series based on the character of Cassian Andor, last seen dying at the end of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and played by Diego Luna. Stephen Schiff, a successful writer and TV producer, has been tapped to showrun the sci-fi/fantasy series.
While you might not immediately know the name, Schiff is probably best known for his work as the executive producer on one of the most underrated drama series of the last decade, “The Americans.” However, in addition to that work, he’s also written films such as “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” “Lolita,” and recently, “American Assassin.”
As mentioned, the untitled series is set to star Luna, reprising his ‘Rogue One’ role, and will obviously have to be a prequel, taking place somewhere between the events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” and ‘A New Hope.’ Jared Bush, best known for writing “Zootopia” and “Moana,” wrote the pilot episode and the series bible.
No word on a release date for the series, but with Disney+ expected to launch in late 2019, with another “Star Wars” live-action series, “The Mandalorian,” leading the way, it’s safe to pencil this ‘Rogue One’ spin-off for sometime in 2020.