Lucasfilm once handed Paddington 2 collaborators Paul King and Simon Farnaby a trip to a galaxy far, far away. Their idea centered on a robot, avoided the saga's best-known characters, and never made it beyond development. The useful twist is that the robot is not dead: Disney suggested removing the Star Wars connection, and the pair are now rebuilding it as an original science-fiction film.
What happened to the Star Wars robot movie?
Farnaby revealed the project in a new Variety profile. After Paddington 2, Disney and Lucasfilm approached King and Farnaby about a Star Wars film that King would direct and the pair would write. Farnaby said their pitch revolved around a robot and did not use any of the franchise's key characters.
The idea never reached the point where Lucasfilm announced a title, cast, release date, or production schedule. Farnaby acknowledged that the team never fully cracked the story, while Lucasfilm wanted the concept to feel more clearly like a Star Wars movie.
This was not an announced film that disappeared from a release calendar. It was an unmade development project that Lucasfilm chose not to move forward, which makes it different from a movie canceled after a public reveal.
Why did Lucasfilm pass?
Farnaby connected the decision to two things: the robot-first idea did not involve the main Star Wars characters, and the team never found the final version of the story. Lucasfilm has told successful stories around new characters before, so the absence of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, or another familiar face was probably not the only issue. The confirmed answer is narrower: the pitch never became the kind of Star Wars movie the studio wanted.
There is no detailed studio postmortem, and Farnaby did not reveal the robot's design, personality, time period, or place in the wider timeline. Any claim that the project was about a specific droid, era, or known character would be guesswork.
The robot idea is still alive
The most surprising part of the story comes after Lucasfilm said no. Farnaby said Disney encouraged them to reshape the robot concept as a standalone science-fiction film. He confirmed that they are now working on that version.
That gives the project a rare second life. Without Star Wars continuity, the filmmakers can build their own world, history, and rules around the robot instead of fitting the idea into decades of canon. It may also be easier for the movie to keep the odd, warm sense of humor that runs through King and Farnaby's best work.
The original sci-fi version is still early. No title, studio, distributor, cast, release window, or filming date has been announced. For now, King and Farnaby are simply reworking the robot idea outside Star Wars.
Who are Paul King and Simon Farnaby?
King directed Paddington, Paddington 2, and Wonka. Farnaby co-wrote Paddington 2 with King and continued collaborating with him on Wonka. Their movies are known for bright fantasy, precise comedy, and characters who feel sincere even when the world around them gets ridiculous.
Farnaby also has a small Star Wars connection of his own. He appeared briefly as a Rebel pilot in Rogue One. The abandoned robot movie would have been a much larger step into the franchise, with Farnaby writing and King directing.
What is confirmed - and what is not
Confirmed: Disney and Lucasfilm offered King and Farnaby a Star Wars project after Paddington 2. Their idea focused on a robot, did not rely on key Star Wars characters, and was never turned into a finished Star Wars movie. Disney then invited them to rework the concept as original science fiction, and Farnaby says that work is underway.
Not confirmed: the robot's name, the story, the era, the intended cast, how long the project spent in development, or when the new version could be released. It is also unclear whether the original sci-fi film will stay with Disney.
The takeaway
Lucasfilm passing on the movie closes one door, but it does not end the idea. King and Farnaby now have a chance to make the robot story without a franchise checklist hanging over every choice. The next real update will be a title, studio, or production announcement for that original version. Until then, this remains an intriguing abandoned Star Wars pitch with a new life of its own.
