‘Damon Lindelof Says He Was ‘Asked to Leave’ His Star Wars Project’:
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43728671/damon-lindelof-star-wars
“I was in more than talks to join the Star Wars universe,” Lindelof says. “I joined the Star Wars universe and was asked to leave.”
Though he doesn’t seem deterred by it:
"“Will I get back in line outside the club and try to get back in again?” Lindelof asks himself in the interview. “Absolutely.” The original Star Wars was the first film the director ever saw in theaters, and he’s still in love with the storytelling. “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again,” he jokes, “or again again try, as Yoda would say.”
I hope he does get the chance to do something with Star Wars, though no more “mystery boxes”.