It’s more bounty of Star Wars material than a hunter would know what do with.
On Thursday, Lucasfilm honcho Kathleen Kennedy announced to Walt Disney Company investors — and the internet via streaming presentation — that an additional 9 – NINE! – series will join the runaway hit The Mandalorian on Disney+ over the next few years.
Some series were already known, including the animated The Bad Batch, the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series featuring Ewan McGregor, and the Cassian Andor series.
Andor sees Diego Luna reprise the role of Rebellion spy introduced in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The series takes place before the film and will focus on the origins of the Rebellion featured in George Lucas’ original trilogy of films. Production has begun in London.
“Everything I did, I did for the Rebellion.” Andor, an Original Series set in the Star Wars universe, is streaming in 2022 on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/q2IT2qzEeR
— Star Wars (@starwars) December 10, 2020
The Bad Batch continues from the story of The Clone Wars. It follows a ragtag group of clones as the Galactic Republic transitions to the Galactic Empire.
Mando expand-o?
Two series spin out of the popular Mandalorian to expand on the state of the Galaxy Far, Far Away following the fall of the Empire.
The first is Rangers of the New Republic. It was hinted at by the presence of the New Republic X-Wing pilots patrolling the Outer Rim in The Mandalorian‘s second season and the recruitment of Din Djarin’s colleague Cara Dune by one of the pilots. No word on if Dune will feature in the new series. Given recent fan dissatisfaction with Gina Carano, Dune’s portrayer, over some expressed political views, we’ll have to see how that shakes out.
The second announced series seemed to be a foregone conclusion given a fan-favorite character’s live-action debut in a key second season episode of the parent series. Ahsoka will show us the life of the former Jedi apprentice and key Rebellion operative during the time frame of The Mandalorian.
It will presumably focus on Tano’s hunt for Grand Admiral Thrawn. The cold, calculating blue-skinned Imperial strategist was last seen in-universe being spirited off to parts unknown with Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger and a pod of hyperspace-capable space whales. With Dave Filoni suggesting the possibility that the end of the animated Star Wars Rebels series, which saw Ahsoka return to the planet Lothal to recruit Mandalorian Sabine Wren to join in her search for Ezra and Thrawn, occurred following the timeline of The Mandalorian, the series presents a lot of potential. Rosario Dawson will return in the role.
Everything you’ve heard about me is true.
You favorite scoundrel is back in Lando. The new limited series will pick up on the younger version of the character highlighted in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Donald Glover, who played the part, was not officially announced as participating but is expected to reprise his role.
For fans of the underrated film, the news is exciting. The “Make Solo 2 Happen” movement has been a positive highlight of the fanbase online in the last couple of years. Hopes are strong that the series will also give glimpses into the young Han Solo, Chewie, Qi’ra, and Maul to pick up on the threads left dangling at the end of the film.
The series headed by Russian Doll co-creator Leslye Headland announced months ago is confirmed to be titled The Acolyte. It will focus on someone drawn to the Dark Side of the Force. Beyond that tasty premise, the series will be set in the High Republic era. This new timeframe of the Star Wars canon lives 200 years before the events of the Prequel Trilogy. It’ll also be explored in books, comics, and other material kicking off in the new year.
Two animated series shore up the offering: Star Wars Visions, a series of animated short films in an anime style and tradition will be an anthology to explore corners of the galaxy; and A Droid Story is an adventure featuring series stalwarts C-3PO and R2-D2.
Impressive. Most impressive.
Perhaps the biggest news of the presentation is that Hayden Christensen, the erstwhile Anakin Skywalker, will be rejoining Ewan McGregor in the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series. Set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Christensen will portray the suited Darth Vader as he did at the end of that film. McGregor says the series will feature a rematch of the iconic showdown between the two former friends.
Hayden Christensen returns as Darth Vader, joining Ewan McGregor in OBI-WAN KENOBI. The Original Series begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Revenge of the Sith, and is coming to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/9WR2npRUkk
— Star Wars (@starwars) December 10, 2020
In addition to two announced feature films from directors Patty Jenkins and Taika Waititi to hit the big screen in a few years, it’s an exciting time for fans as the Star Wars galaxy continues to expand.
