The Future of Star Wars: Where It's Going, and Where it's coming from

It should come as no surprise that Star Wars is among the most recognizable titles in the world. Ever since A New Hope (originally titled Star Wars) premiered in 1977, the franchise has been a cult classic and has become one of the biggest franchises in the film industry. With eleven total movies on the big screen, three animated shows, one animated movie, and two Disney+ shows and more to come, it is no surprise that Star Wars is as popular as it is. That is not including the hundreds of books, comics, and video games also under the name. With the addition of the sequel trilogy, starting in 2016 The Force Awakens, the franchise has announced several big plans going forward. So what are these new additions, and how will they stack up to the previous media?

As of now, there are no official plans to create any new movies. The Hollywood rumor mill has brought up mentions of investigating the time period known as “The High Republic” (a time period similar to the Pax Romana, where the Galactic Republic was at its peak and the Jedi flourished, which takes place about 200 years before The Phantom Menace) but for now it is only speculation. However, there are two books that already explore this time period, The Light of the Jedi and A Test of Courage, with more planned to release later this year. What makes these books interesting is that the High Republic is a time period that has not been seen in much in any form of Star Wars media, and gives the authors a lot of space to experiment and do a lot of worldbuilding, so it will be interesting to see where the series goes, but for now, we will have to wait.

In the 2020 Disney Investor Day, several upcoming projects were announced, some of which have seen more progress than others. The announcement included several TV series, including a continuation of The Mandalorian, one of the most successful shows on Disney+. The series Andor was announced, which chronicles the adventures of Cassian Andor, the Rebel captain who starred in Rogue One, and while the exact date is unknown, it is set to release later this year. Rangers of the New Republic, which would star Gina Carano, has been delayed and very little details have been given out. The Acolyte, a series set in the High Republic and centered around members of a Sith cult, has been given a similar treatment to RotNR, but is supposedly coming out in summer of 2023. Fan favorite character Ahsoka Tano has been given her own show, starring Rosario Dawson (who already portrayed the character in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett), and while it is unclear when the show will release, filming has begun.

Not all projects have been given attention, as discussed with RotNR and The Acolyte. Charismatic smuggler Lando Calrissian is also purported to be getting his own show, but no details have been released about when it is coming out or even what it will be about. While not a show, Rogue Squadron will be a movie based on a video game series of the same name, and just as few details have been given on that. On the flipside of this, Obi-Wan Kenobi is the newest upcoming project, giving a new perspective on the Jedi Master’s days during his exile on Tatooine, and is set to premier on May 25th of this year.

Star Wars also has some new video games in the works. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is releasing this April, and in addition to having levels from Episodes I-IX, the game will include over 300 playable characters and a more open-world environment, compared to previous LEGO title games. Speaking of open-world, Ubisoft has partnered with Disney and Lucasfilm Games to create an open-world Star Wars game. Details surrounding the game are being kept tight, but it is expected that news about its development will be coming out at some point in the near future.

One of the most successful Star Wars video games thus far has been Star Wars: The Old Republic, an online MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) that has been operating since 2011, and has since had six major expansions. The last, Knights of the Eternal Throne, came out in 2016, and the game has had several smaller updates. However, a new expansion has been announced: The Legacy of the Sith. Based on the trailer, players for both factions can expect the story to revolve around the plans to an ancient Sith device, which were stolen by Darth Malgus at the conclusion of the cinematic trailer. Legacy of the Sith marks the biggest update since KotET, and has drawn a lot of new fans to the game, as well as marked the return of many older players.

The Star Wars franchise is looking at a massive expansion of its title, and Disney and Lucasfilm certainly have a lot on their plate. The sequel trilogy has sparked a massive debate between fans, some of which praise its addition to the franchise and others which seek to retcon it. That being said, the success of The Mandalorian, Rogue One, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars season seven have saved Disney’s reputation, and the ball is in their court now. As Star Wars fans eagerly await the arrival of the long-anticipated Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, there is promise of a successful year for the franchise.