Will James Mangold‘s new deal with Paramount Pictures impact his planned Star Wars and DCU movie, Swamp Thing? On September 30, 2025, Deadline reported that James Mangold, director of films such as Logan, Ford v. Ferrari, and the recent Best Picture nominee A Complete Unknown, had signed an overall deal with Paramount Pictures to develop, direct, and produce feature film projects for the studio. The first film as part of this deal is High Side, which will see Mangold reteam with Timothée Chalamet.
While the exact details remain unclear at the moment, including the exclusivity, it raises a question about what this means for projects Mangold has at other studios, particularly Disney and Warner Bros. Mangold had previously, and at the time of this writing is still currently, attached to Dawn of the Jedi, a Star Wars film centered on the very first Jedi, and the DCU’s Swamp Thing. Mangold’s new deal at Paramount raises questions about the fate of these projects: can he still work on them, or might he have to drop out? If he does, will the films proceed without him?
James Mangold’s Involvement in ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Swamp Thing’ History
It is reasonable to assume that Mangold’s new deal with Paramount does not override prior agreements with other studios. Given that he has been attached to the Dawn of the Jedi film and Swamp Thing since at least 2023, both titles should be safe. However, neither project has seemingly become a high-priority film for either Mangold or the studios.
Mangold signed on to direct his planned Star Wars film shortly before the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but he had already lined up A Complete Unknown to begin filming after finishing production on the final Indiana Jones movie. A Complete Unknown was also produced and distributed by Searchlight Pictures, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Corporation, like Lucasfilm, so there seemed to be leniency by the studio.
The assumption would have been that after A Complete Unknown, he would move on to his Star Wars project, but by that point, he was already in talks to direct Swamp Thing for James Gunn’s newly announced DCU slate. With Mangold now set to join two high-profile franchises, fans discussed what would take priority. Then, many were shocked when Mangold announced his follow-up film, and it was neither the Star Wars nor the Swamp Thing film, but High Side, which further pushed his two franchise films down the pipeline.
On the Star Wars front, Lucasfilm and Disney appear not to be rushing Mangold on his film. The following two years are already planned out, with The Mandalorian & Grogu and Starfighter set for 2026 and 2027, respectively. Many expect the Daisy Ridley-led Rey film will be next in 2028, and now Simon Kinberg is working on his own Star Wars trilogy. With Mangold’s film centered on the first Jedi, it is likely to be a very different entry in the franchise. As a result, Disney and Lucasfilm may be willing to wait until the brand is on a more stable footing in theaters. This suggests that Mangold’s Star Wars film could still happen, but neither he nor the studio plans to rush it. If Mangold does drop out of the title, one wonders if this is an idea Lucasfilm will revisit or scrap altogether.
As for Swamp Thing, James Gunn is taking a more loose approach to which projects move forward at the DCU. While Swamp Thing was part of the initial DCU slate, many films not part of the lineup have been announced and are moving forward, such as Clayface and a planned Wonder Woman film. Swamp Thing’s nature in the comics is often on the outskirts of the DCU, so his feature film is likely not as high-profile a priority for the franchise as, say, Batman. He can fit into the DCU slate at any time, so it is a title that could theoretically wait for Mangold to be ready.
Gunn has also been willing to scrap films if they are not working, as many suspect has happened with The Authority. This means that if Mangold is forced to drop out of Swamp Thing, Gunn could either scrap the film or bring on a new director. Swamp Thing is a film many DC fans want to see, but Mangold’s involvement in it now remains a big question mark.
Will Paramount Recruit Mangold To Revive One of Their Franchises?
Paramount Has ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Transformers,’ and ‘G.I. Joe’
Paramount is likely to have big plans in store with James Mangold. The director clearly is interested in original films, or at least mid-budget movies aimed at a more adult audience. However, his experience in franchise filmmaking — including Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny — along with his plans to work on both Star Wars and the DCU, may encourage Paramount Pictures to have Mangold apply his talents to their own film franchises.
An obvious pick would be Star Trek, as Paramount Pictures has spent nearly a decade in development hell with Star Trek 4. There is also Transformers, a franchise that Paramount Pictures wants to get back on track, and which is reportedly in talks with director Michael Bay to return. G.I. Joe is another brand that has never quite taken off. However, under Mangold’s direction, it could be what the franchise needs, giving it a grounded nature and maturity that would be very different from what most people expect from a movie based on a toy.
Those are just a few of the many franchises that Paramount has access to, which they likely want Mangold to help guide. All of this is possible, including his Swamp Thing and Star Wars projects, but Mangold currently seems focused on mid-budget films that could become surprise box office hits and award contenders.