Upcoming 'Star Wars' Movies & Series: 'Obi-Wan Kenobi,' 'Ahsoka' and More
The Skywalker Saga is the past and Disney+ is the future for the galaxy far, far away. "I think The Mandalorian is certainly an indication," Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy told ET upon the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
That was certainly the case when she presented during Disney's Investor Day, confirming six new live-action series -- including two Mandalorian spinoffs -- to exclusively stream on Disney+, along with a number of animated projects and theatrical releases from some of the most sought-after directors. (Patty Jenkins and Taika Waititi are making Star Wars movies!)
"We have a vast and expansive timeline in the Star Wars mythology spanning over 25,000 years of history in the galaxy -- with each era being a rich resource for storytelling," Kennedy said. "Now with Disney+, we can explore limitless story possibilities like never before and fulfill the promise that there is truly a Star Wars story for everyone."
Though the saga of Luke and Leia has been the most prevailing storyline throughout the years, it hasn't been the only one, and as the studio looks ahead to what's next, for the first time in a long time, anything is possible. Here's everything we do know is coming.
TV Series
Obi-Wan Kenobi (May 27, 2022 on Disney+)
Ewan McGregor portrayed the Jedi master in Episodes I through III, but fans have been calling for him to reprise the role for years -- a plea that was finally met when Lucasfilm confirmed during 2019's D23 Expo that the actor would, in fact, return as Obi-Wan for a Disney+ event series.
The show is set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, where Kennedy says, Obi-Wan faced "his greatest defeat -- the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned evil Sith Lord Darth Vader." Hayden Christensen will also return as Vader for "the rematch of the century."
"It was such an incredible journey playing Anakin Skywalker," Christensen says. "Of course, Anakin and Obi-Wan weren’t on the greatest of terms when we last saw them... It will be interesting to see what an amazing director like Deborah Chow has in store for us all. I'm excited to work with Ewan again. It feels good to be back."
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Moses Ingram, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma, Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell and Benny Safdie
Read more about Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Light and Magic (July 27, 2022 on Disney+)
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtains of Industrial Light & Magic, the special visual effects, animation and virtual production division of Lucasfilm, to learn what inspired some of the most legendary filmmakers in Hollywood history and follow their stories from their earliest personal films to bringing George Lucas’ vision to life. The six-part documentary premieres on July 27.
Andor (2022 on Disney+)
The Rogue One prequel series centered on Diego Luna's rebel spy, Cassian Andor, officially has a title -- Andor, appropriately enough -- and is billed as a "a tense nail-biting thriller." Set prior to the events of that film --"during the formative years of the Rebellion" -- the 12-episode series will see Cassian, alongside returning characters like K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), set out to "restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire."
"It is really cool to tell a story where you already know the ending," Luna told ET. "It is a different approach, because it's how things happen. It's not just what happens. It's not the typical way of approaching a story. It's about how things happen... You know the ending, but you don't know how it happened, and we have that challenge in front of us again, which is exciting."
Starring: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller and Genevieve O’Reilly
The Mandalorian, Season 3 (TBA on Disney+)
There was initially some confusion as to whether The Book of Boba Fett was a spinoff of The Mandalorian, or the subtitle of the show's third season, with the main focus shifting from Din Djarin to fellow bounty-hunter Boba? In clarifying that the former is its own separate series, Lucasfilm also announced that "season 3 of The Mandalorian will go into production next year [2021]." As for whether Grogu will appear in these next chapters, only time will tell.
Starring: Pedro Pascal
Read more about The Mandalorian.
Ahsoka (TBA on Disney+)
You don't bring Ahsoka Tano to life and only use her for one episode. Following her live-action introduction in Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, Rosario Dawson's former Jedi Knight will front her limited series from creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. If that previous appearance was any indication, the series will mark another long-awaited live-action debut: That of the villainous Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Starring: Rosario Dawson
Rangers of the New Republic (TBA on Disney+)
In addition to Ahsoka, Favreau and Filoni are concurrently developing a second spinoff series set within the timeline of The Mandalorian that will assumedly pick up certain threads introduced in season 2, what with Cara Dune (Gina Carano) being enlisted by the New Republic. "These interconnected shows -- along with future stories -- will excite new audiences, embrace our most passionate fans and will culminate in a climactic story event," Kennedy teased.
The Acolyte (TBA on Disney+)
Russian Doll showrunner Leslye Headland's Disney+ series -- which she will write and executive produce -- is officially titled The Acolyte and teased as "a mystery-thriller that will take us into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark sides power in the final days of the High Republic era." (That is, hundreds of years before the Star Wars prequels in the golden era of the Jedi.) It was previously reported that the series will feature a female protagonist.
Lando (TBA on Disney+)
"Lando Calrissian is the galaxy's smoothest, most notorious scoundrel, and he'll return in a brand-new event series," revealed Kennedy, though she notably did not disclose who would be playing Lando this time around: Billy Dee Williams, who originated the role, or Donald Glover, who portrayed a younger Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Or perhaps both, via flashbacks or dual timelines? We do know the series is being developed by Dear White People's Justin Simien.
Films
Rogue Squadron (TBA)
The next Star Wars feature set for the big screen will make history as the first in the franchise to be helmed by a female director. Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) will usher in a "future era of the galaxy" with Rogue Squadron, introducing a new generation of Starfighter pilots as they earn their wings.
"We're doing something original with great influence from the games and the books," Jenkins told IGN. "There's a lot of things being acknowledged and understood about the greatness of all of those things, but yes, it's an original story and I'm so psyched to do it."
Directed by: Patty Jenkins
Untitled Taika Waititi Movie (TBA)
When it was first reported that Waititi had been tapped to direct his own Star Wars movie, he reacted with this Jedi mind trick: "Listen, what does 'approached' even mean?" he told ET in February. "I've seen Star Wars. That's about as far as it got."
Turns out, that is not as far as it got: Waititi is officially helming a Star Wars feature film, Lucasfilm announced, and will co-write the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917). Waititi previously directed the season 1 finale of The Mandalorian, along with voicing the bounty droid IG-11.
"Taika's approach to Star Wars will be fresh, unexpected, and... unique," Kennedy promised. "His enormous talent and sense of humor will ensure that audiences are in for an unforgettable ride."
A Droid Story (TBA on Disney+)
Lucasfilm Animation will team up with Industrial Light & Magic to create a new adventure for R2-D2 and C-3PO. A hybrid of animation and visual effects, the "epic journey" will introduce a new hero to be guided by the beloved droid duo on a "mission known only to them." Kennedy teased, "What could possibly go wrong?"
Untitled Rian Johnson Trilogy (TBA)
Before The Last Jedi even hit theaters, Lucasfilm tapped Rian Johnson for not one, not two, but three more films, announcing that the writer-director would create an "all-new Star Wars trilogy" to "introduce new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored."
"We all loved working with Rian on The Last Jedi," Kennedy said at the time. "He's a creative force, and watching him craft The Last Jedi from start to finish was one of the great joys of my career. Rian will do amazing things with the blank canvas of this new trilogy."
Then The Last Jedi came out and became one of the most divisive installments in the franchise. When years passed without any updates, fans speculated whether the trilogy had been quietly canceled. "I'm still working with Lucasfilm on it," Johnson reassured ET. "And they're figuring out when they do what and everything."
Untitled Kevin Feige Movie (TBA)
Under Kevin Feige's direction, the Marvel Cinematic Universe became the biggest movie franchise in history. Now, the uber-producer and head of Marvel Studios will make his way to a galaxy far, far away to develop a new film alongside Kennedy. "Knowing what a die-hard fan Kevin is, it made sense for these two extraordinary producers to work on a Star Wars film together," Alan Horn, co-chairman and CCO of Walt Disney Studios, said.
Untitled J.D. Dillard Movie (Rumored)
Lucasfilm is tapping new, exciting voices to fill out its slate: Director J.D. Dillard (who helmed Sleight and Sweetheart and more recently an episode of HBO's The Outsider) and writer Matt Owens (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) are developing a new project, though The Hollywood Reporter says it's "unclear" whether this is a theatrical release or something for Disney+. (Dillard essentially confirmed the news himself when he liked the news on Twitter.)
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