I gasped the moment he said it.
Tony Gilroy—yes, the Gilroy behind Andor, the show that turned “Star Wars + espionage” into something Shakespearean—just confirmed what many thought was wishful thinking: a Star Wars horror project is likely in development. That's not a drill. That's the Force whispering “boo.”
At a London event promoting Andor's second season, Gilroy casually told Business Insider that the horror genre within the Star Wars universe is being explored. “They're doing that. I think they're doing that. I think that's in the works, yeah,” he said. A statement like that doesn't just float into hyperspace unchallenged. It sparks questions, excitement—and a little fear.
This Isn't the Star Wars Your Dad Grew Up With
Let's get real. The Star Wars franchise has been allergic to genre-bending—at least on screen. Sure, there've been dashes of noir (Solo), heist (Rogue One), and even political drama (The Phantom Menace, anyone?). But horror? That's as far from Tatooine as you can get.
Gilroy has been nudging that boundary for a while. In an earlier interview, he said he fantasized about a Star Wars courtroom drama or even a sitcom. You can almost picture Obi-Wan grilling a witness in front of a galactic jury—or Han Solo in a laugh-track-heavy kitchen scene. Ridiculous? Maybe. Visionary? Definitely.
Why Now? Why Horror?
Let's talk timing. Gilroy isn't just a director; he's the canary in the Lucasfilm coal mine. If he says it's in the works, chances are someone high up (👀 Kathleen Kennedy) greenlit a mood board somewhere.
The question isn't if a horror Star Wars project makes sense—it's why the hell did it take this long? The galaxy far, far away is rich with horror-ready material: ancient Sith rituals, dark side possession, creepy Force visions, and planets that practically ooze dread (hello, Dathomir).
A Star Wars horror film isn't just plausible. It's overdue.
Precedent: When Star Wars Flirted with Fear
Think about it:
- The cave on Dagobah where Luke battles a hallucinated Vader? Horror.
- Maul's resurrection in The Clone Wars, complete with spider legs and madness? Horror.
- The Inquisitors' creepy fortress in Obi-Wan Kenobi? Horror-adjacent.
And don't even get me started on The Rise of Skywalker and its zombified Emperor. That scene was scarier than it had any right to be.
The Real-World Influence: Horror Is Booming
Look outside the Star Wars bubble for a second. Horror has been on a golden run—Hereditary, Get Out, Midsommar, The Babadook—these aren't just scary films. They're cultural events. Meanwhile, franchises like Marvel have begun dabbling (Doctor Strange 2 leaned into Sam Raimi's roots).
Lucasfilm sees the writing on the cave wall. Horror sells. Horror thrills. Horror…fits.
Who Could Helm It? A (Slightly Unhinged) Wish List
If Gilroy isn't attached (and he says he's out after Andor), who could take the wheel?
- Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House): He already wants to make a Star Wars horror movie. Someone call him.
- Jordan Peele (Nope, Get Out): Imagine the social commentary laced into the Force.
- Jennifer Kent (The Babadook): Picture a Jedi losing their mind in isolation on a forgotten moon.
- Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth): He nearly did Jabba the Hutt, and his creature design could resurrect Sith spirits like nightmares made flesh.
What Could It Look Like?
Picture this:
A group of Jedi-in-training explores an ancient temple on Moraband. Whispers in the dark, shifting shadows, one by one they lose themselves—to madness or something darker. No lightsaber duels. No happy endings. Just dread.
Or maybe a Force-sensitive child is haunted by visions only she can see, and a retired Inquisitor must protect her while reckoning with his past. The Shining meets The Mandalorian.
But Here's the Catch…
This is Lucasfilm we're talking about. Projects are greenlit and ghosted faster than you can say “midichlorians.” We've seen it before: Rogue Squadron, Rian Johnson's trilogy, the David Benioff & D.B. Weiss pitch—poof.
Will this one survive development hell? That's the real horror story.
Final Thoughts: Be Afraid (In a Good Way)
Gilroy's comment might seem small. Casual. Offhand. But in Star Wars, even whispers echo through hyperspace. This horror concept—if nurtured properly—could become one of the boldest experiments in the franchise's history.
And frankly? We're ready for it.
What Do You Think?
Would you watch a horror Star Wars movie? What stories or legends should it draw from? Let's talk theories, fears, and Force ghosts—drop your thoughts below. 👇
