Scrapped Star Wars Movie Gets New Life as Sci-Fi Film, Writer Simon Farnaby Reveals

A Star Wars movie that was once being developed by Paddington 2 collaborators Simon Farnaby and Paul King will not be joining the iconic franchise after all. However, the project has reportedly found a second life outside the Star Wars universe. Farnaby, the writer, comedian and actor known for Paddington 2 and Wonka, recently discussed the long-gestating project and explained why it ultimately failed to take shape as a Star Wars film.

The project originated after the success of Paddington 2, when Disney and Lucasfilm approached Farnaby and King about developing a movie for the Star Wars franchise.

The pair spent time working on the concept, but the idea eventually ran into a fundamental problem: it did not feel sufficiently like Star Wars.

Simon Farnaby Reveals What Went Wrong

Speaking about the project, Simon Farnaby explained that the proposed film was built around a robot rather than established characters from the Star Wars universe. The concept was intentionally separate from many of the franchise’s familiar heroes and villains. However, Disney and Lucasfilm wanted the project to function unmistakably as a Star Wars movie.

That became a challenge for the filmmakers.

Farnaby acknowledged that the team never fully succeeded in finding the right approach to make the concept work within the Star Wars universe.

The writer’s comments suggest that the issue was not necessarily the robot-focused story itself, but whether the concept could naturally exist within the established mythology and expectations associated with Star Wars.

Disney Keeps the Robot Concept Alive

While the proposed Star Wars movie ultimately stalled, the underlying idea was not abandoned completely.

According to Farnaby, Disney suggested transforming the concept into an original science-fiction movie rather than forcing it into the Star Wars franchise.

The filmmakers agreed, and the project is now being reworked as a sci-fi story. That development means the robot concept could eventually reach audiences, although it will no longer carry the Star Wars name or be constrained by the franchise’s established mythology.

The change could also give Farnaby and King greater creative freedom, allowing them to explore the idea without having to connect it to the Skywalker saga or other familiar elements of the Star Wars universe.

Paddington Creators Move Into Original Sci-Fi

Farnaby and King have already demonstrated their ability to combine humour, heart and imaginative storytelling through their work on the Paddington films.

King directed Paddington and Paddington 2, while Farnaby was among the writers involved with the acclaimed sequel. Their collaboration later extended into other projects, including the world of Wonka.

Their abandoned Star Wars project therefore represented an intriguing opportunity to bring their distinctive style to one of Hollywood’s most valuable franchises.

Instead, the decision to rework the concept as an original sci-fi film could ultimately prove more suitable for the filmmakers. For Star Wars fans, the revelation is another reminder of how many projects have been considered behind the scenes before being reshaped or abandoned.

Although the galaxy far, far away will not receive Farnaby and King’s robot adventure, the story itself may still have a future — just somewhere beyond Star Wars.