Disney announced BIG Star Wars plans at Investors Day 2020. The growing popularity of the Mandalorian has fans wondering what the next big move would be for Disney with the Star Wars franchise. Yesterday fans got their wish and then some. Katherine Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm announced yesterday at Investors Day 2020 several movies, live-action TV series, and few animated series all scheduled to come out over the next few years. Here is a breakdown of all the major announcements.
Movies
Rogue Squadron
The next Star Wars movie will be Rogue Squadron directed by Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins. The film will feature a new group of starfighter pilots trying to make a name for themselves in the galaxy. We expect to see boundaries being pushed and risks being taken. Rogue Squadron is expected to be released in theaters Christmas 2023.
Untitled Taika Waititi Film
We do not know much about this film. Kennedy did not reveal any details at Investors Day 2020. All she said about the project was that “Taika’s approach to Star Wars will be fresh, unexpected, and…unique,” and “His enormous talent and sense of humor will ensure that audiences are in for an unforgettable ride.”
Live Action TV Series
Obi-Wan Kenobi
We have known about this series for awhile. It was announced by Lucasfilm at the last D23 Expo. The series brings back the return of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan himself. The show timeline is 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. Obi-Wan at this point had witnessed the downfall of his best friend and apprentice Anakin Skywalker. Anakin has turned to the darkside and has become the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.
It was revealed yesterday that Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in the prequel films will be returning to portray Darth Vader. The series will be directed by Deborah Chow, who also directed several episodes of The Mandalorian Season 1. The show is set to begin filming in the upcoming months.
Ahsoka
Ahsoka Tano is one of the most popular characters that has come out of Star Wars animation. She made her first appearance in The Clone Wars series and later in Star Wars Rebels. Ahsoka has now made her long-awaited debut in live-action on The Mandalorian Season 2 played by Rosario Dawson. It was announced yesterday that Dawson will continue her role in a limited series on Disney+. The series will be executive produced by Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau.
Rangers of the New Republic
Rangers of the New Republic is another live-action series that we know little about. The show is set within the timeline of The Mandalorian. The new series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni will overlap with future stories and feature a climactic story event.
Lando
This new live-action series will star everyone’s favorite scoundrel Lando Calrissian. We do not know if Billy Dee Williams, who originally played the character, or Donald Glover who played the character in Solo: A Star Wars Story are involved in the project. The Disney+ series story is being developed by Justin Simien, creator of the critically-acclaimed Dear White People.
Andor
Andor was created by Tony Gilroy, and is set to arrive on Disney+ in 2022. Diego Luna, reprising the role of rebel spy Cassian Andor from Rogue One. He is joined by a whole new cast featuring Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma. Production kicked off three weeks ago in London.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take the audience into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. The High Republic era takes place hundreds of years before the beginning of the Skywalker Saga. The High Republic is the height of the Jedi Order, who were significantly more active throughout the galaxy. The era is kicking off next month with a long-awaited publishing effort. The series will be directed by Leslye Headland, Emmy Award-nominated creator of the mind-bending series Russian Doll.
Animated Series
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
The animated series will follow the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch, who was first introduced in The Clone Wars. As they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the aftermath of the Clone Wars. Members of Bad Batch, which is a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army, each possess an exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers. The animated series will arrive exclusively on Disney+.
Star Wars: Visions
Star Wars: Visions is a unique project. The series of animated short films celebrating Star Wars through the lens of the world’s best anime creators. The series will bring 10 fantastic visions from several of the leading Japanese anime studios, offering a new cultural perspective to Star Wars.
A Droid Story
Lucasfilm Animation will be teaming up with Lucasfilm’s visual effects team, Industrial Light & Magic, to develop a new Star Wars adventure for Disney+, A Droid Story. This new epic journey will introduce fans to a new hero, guided by the legendary duo R2-D2 and C-3PO.
We are beyond excited for all of these and future announcements from Disney about Star Wars and which direction it will go.
