Lucasfilm has finally unveiled Project Luminous, a secret Star Wars undertaking which had been kept under wraps since 2018, and has been in production since 2014. Welcome to the High Republic, a massive publication initiative with several different books and comics from a variety of publishers. This includes Marvel and IDW, who will both be releasing new comic series later this year revealing the Jedi Order in a never before seen era of the Star Wars timeline, with all new characters, threats, and frontiers to explore.
The High Republic is set 200 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga. It's a period of expansion and exploration, with the Jedi at the height of their power. While creating the concepts and ideas for the initiative, several authors and creatives came together at Skywalker Ranch to brainstorm with a level of pre-production akin to the level received by the films. According to Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain. The reveal event also teased the introduction of a new threat known as the Nihil, a group similar to Vikings who take and plunder and sow chaos, as well as hinting at other, more sinister threats.
Marvel's new Star Wars: The High Republic series will come later this year from Cavan Scott. During the event, it was said that Scott's series will primarily take place on Starlight Station, a sort of Jedi satellite. Jedi of all ages and species will be featured as they work with the Republic towards peace. The series will also feature younger Jedi who will be interacting and learning from older Jedi who are considered to be Legends among the Order. IDW's series will be titled Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures and will be geared towards a younger readership audience. The series will feature Padawans who travel across the galaxy with a crew of Jedi, exploring the outer most reaches and frontiers. Coming from Daniel José Older, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures will most likely be similar to previous IDW Star Wars series such as Tales From Vader's Castle, Forces of Destiny, or the upcoming Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars- Battle Tales where the series will be a collection of short one-shot adventures.
There are so many new storytelling avenues that can be explored in this new time period, and it's very exciting to see how much work Lucasfilm and the creatives have already accomplished in what is only the first phase of The High Republic. Beyond the comics, Justina Ireland will be writing a middle-grade book titled A Test of Courage, Claudia Gray's will have a young adult book titled Into the Dark, and the whole initiative kicks off with Charles Soule's adult novel, Light of the Jedi. “We are so excited to be opening up such a rich, fertile era for our authors to explore,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “We'll get to see the Jedi in their prime.” All in all, it's a very exciting time to be a Star Wars fan.
Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative begins this August.