The Star Wars fandom arrived at the ExCel Centre in London for four days of joy, wonder, and galactic reveals at the Star Wars Celebration 2023. The usual tradition comes with exciting news for the future of the epic spacefaring saga, which has been more or less dormant in theaters since the end of the latest – and most divisive – film trilogy.
Whether you just can’t get enough of the Force, live to debate Cantina band setlists, or eagerly await each new glimpse into the future of the franchise, Star Wars Celebration is the perfect place to know about all the new things coming from a saga that’s been running for nearly five decades strong.
As much as fans love the usual announcements concerning new collectibles and memorabilia of everyone’s favorite sci-fi franchise, we all know that what everyone loves most about the Star Wars Celebration is that we get to see exclusive sneak peeks into the saga’s upcoming films and TV shows. Here’s a recap of the most exciting new Star Wars projects coming our way!
Dave Filoni Will Bring the Disney+ Universe to the Big Screen
If there’s one director that has surely won over Star Wars fans in recent years, that would be Dave Filoni. Thanks to his work in shows like The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Rebels, Filoni has quickly become a mentor of sorts for all the things fans love about the series.
Now, the filmmaker is set to direct a movie that will potentially bring together The Mandalorian and Ahsoka on the big screen. Fans of the show’s neo-western style will be pleased to hear that Filoni will bring his vision to the Star Wars cinematic universe, and not just the Disney+ exclusive series.
Andor Strikes Back
Disney+‘s Andor was met with near-universal praise when it made its debut on the platform last year. With its darker tone and more mature storylines, Andor encapsulated that edgier side of Star Wars that some fans felt was sorely missing from the series. Despite some disappointing ratings, the show has been renewed for a second season, which should arrive on the platform in 2024.
A new trailer was revealed during the Celebration, showing that the series remains one of the most mature spin-offs in Star Wars history. Even though we all know how Cassian Andor‘s story is going to end – thanks, Rogue One – there’s no denying that the show’s gripping action makes it one of the finest pieces of Star Wars media ever released.
Ahsoka Arrives on Disney+ In August
The long-awaited series featuring Rosario Dawson as Anakin Skywalker‘s Padawan comes to Disney+ this August. Since her introduction to the Star Wars live-action series, fans were eager to see Dawson‘s take on the character getting a show of her own – and that’s about to become a reality.
Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen will join Dawson, playing a live-action version of Grand Admiral Thrawn in the series. The trailer also revealed that Ahsoka will be an adaptation of the novel Heir to the Empire – a fan favorite when it comes to Star Wars literature.
More Info on The Dial of Destiny
It’s worth noting that not all the reveals in the Star Wars Celebration were necessarily Star Wars-related. Another of Lucasfilm‘s beloved franchises, Indiana Jones, also got a new trailer during the event.
Advertised as the last Indy adventure – for real, this time – The Dial of Destiny will mark the last time Harrison Ford will play the iconic archaeologist.
Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte – Polar Opposites
Andor might be the most mature show in the current Disney+ Star Wars lineup, but Skeleton Crew shows that there’s a place for all sorts of stories in this vast universe. The show focuses on a young cast of adventurers trying to find a way back home. Fans might be on the lookout for Jude Law, as he’s set to make his Star Wars debut in Skeleton Crew.
On the other hand, The Acolyte promises to be a rather unique show for the Star Wars universe. Set a hundred years before the events of the Prequel Trilogy, The Acolyte will be the first live-action show to introduce the High Republic era. As a side note, the show will also see the first live-action Wookie Jedi Master – which will be interesting to see, to say the least.
More Animation on the Menu
The animated side of the Star Wars universe has always been one of the most beloved by fans of the franchise. Disney+ has a healthy offering of unique animated Star Wars projects that are coming back for more seasons, including the fan-favorite The Bad Batch. This third season will be the last for the epic animated show, which has enjoyed an amazing run over at Disney+.
Then, we have Tales of the Jedi, which returns for its second season. The anthology series chronicles the adventures of multiple Force users during the Prequel Trilogy, and season two will return to introduce even more characters and unique points of view.
Tales of the Jedi isn’t the only anthology series coming back for a second season: Star Wars: Visions is also making its long-awaited comeback. Unlike the other projects we’ve seen so far, Visions exists outside the main Star Wars canon – instead offering a chance for different animation studios to bring fans their take on what Star Wars could be.
More Rey
One of the most surprising reveals of the Star Wars Celebration had to do with Daisy Ridley‘s Rey. While some fans had a hard time warming up to her character, it’s safe to say that everyone involved with the Sequel Trilogy deserved better than what they got – including Rey.
Set fifteen years after The Rise of Skywalker, the untitled sequel will see Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order. So far, we know that Steven Knight – of Peaky Blinder‘s fame – is writing the script, while Ms. Marvel‘s Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct.
The Origins of the Force
The Dial of Destiny won’t be the only George Lucas-related project filmmaker James Mangold will be working on, it seems, as the director will also introduce a new film set a thousand years before the Skywalker Saga.
The film will serve as a starting point for many of the franchise’s well-established lore – and that includes the nature of the Force. Codenamed “Star Wars Zero,” the film still doesn’t have a solid release date, but considering the sheer amount of new content coming our way, it would be unlikely to see it arriving anywhere before 2025.
