The Star Wars Version Of Top Gun Is Happening
Patty Jenkins says Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is still moving forward at Lucasfilm. The filmmaker made the revelation in a heartfelt social media post where she also broke her silence on the third Wonder Woman movie. While squashing rumors, the 51-year-old said she essentially wanted to create the Top Gun version of Star Wars in honor of her father who was a fighter pilot.
Although she was unable to confirm a timeframe for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Jenkins explained that she only exited the project to dedicate her time to Wonder Woman 3. “I originally left Rogue Squadron after a long and productive development process when it became clear it couldn’t happen soon and I did not want to delay Wonder Woman 3,” she wrote. She also said that Lucasfilm asked her to rejoin the project once the DC film was complete.
“I was honored, so I agreed,” Jenkins continued. The filmmaker explained that the studio offered her a new deal and that Star Wars: Rogue Squadron has been in active development ever since. Approaching the subject with caution, the Wonder Woman alum also explained that nothing is guaranteed in the industry. “I don’t know if it will happen or not. We never do until the development process is complete,” she said. “But I look forward to its potential.”
Patty Jenkins was first announced as the director of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron during the Disney Investor Day presentation in 2020. But the project was rumored to be in turmoil due to creative differences between the director and the studio. And in September, it was unceremoniously removed from the Disney release schedule.
Developed by LucasArts and Factor 5, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron is a series of action video games. The story follows a Rebel Alliance unit known as Rogue Squadron, which uses starfighters to defeat the Galactic Empire. Led by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, the games are set during A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi — recreating the battles from those movies.
Although the movie shares the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron name with the popular video game, Jenkins said it is not an adaptation of that property. However, in an interview with IGN, she admitted that the film was influenced by the games and the books. “There’s a lot of things being acknowledged and understood about the greatness of all those things,” she explained.
If you’re wondering how Star Wars: Rogue Squadron could be likened to Top Gun, the YouTube channel Star Wars Explained says the Tom Cruise films took a lot of inspiration from the faraway galaxy. Several sequences in the final aerial battle against mysterious foreign adversaries in Maverick echo A New Hope. Even the mission briefing scene, the final save by a cocky pilot and some dialogue are reminiscent of the George Lucas saga.
While A New Hope holds the most Star Wars references in Top Gun, it also includes a good dose of The Phantom Menace and The Force Awakens. The podcast also claims that similarities with The Clone Wars can be spotted too, especially since Rooster and Maverick’s relationship seems to be an echo of Anakin and Ahsoka’s. It remains to be seen if Star Wars: Rogue Squadron will include original aspects of the Tom Cruise movies, too.
