For Star Wars fans across the galaxy, the anticipation for any news related to Episode IX has been off the charts. So far, Lucasfilm has officially confirmed that the upcoming film will be the final installment of the Skywalker saga and is slated to take place a year after the events in The Last Jedi. Up next, the Mouse House has been hard at work with a new addition to Disneyland (summer 2019) and Disney World (fall 2019). The upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction will feature an all-new planet for fans to explore. The studio has been having a major moment, recently achieving a major milestone by crushing box office records for 2018.
Next up, fans can continue counting down to Star Wars Celebration in April, where undoubtedly, more new announcements (and hopefully the film’s title!) will be revealed. Navigating the array of current Star Wars books, comics, and video games can be utterly overpowering, so we decided to simplify things by creating a list of all the upcoming releases slated for this year. Returning Star Wars authors Claudia Gray, Alexander Freed, E.K. Johnston, and Timothy Zahn all have new titles coming soon, while fans can also look forward to the long-anticipated return of The Clone Wars later this year. We'll also look at the upcoming Rogue One spinoff to begin production in the fall, and the hotly anticipated television series, The Mandalorian, due this year as well. While we continue to wait for any new reveals, including the long-awaited arrival of a trailer for Episode IX, here are 20 Star Wars Projects Confirmed For 2019 (And 5 Possibilities):
Television: Rogue One Spinoff (Production October 2019)
Director Gareth Edwards had audiences captivated with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story back in 2016. In the grand scheme of things, the film took place before the events of A New Hope and rounded up a team of ragtag Rebels in the fight against the Empire. In this upcoming new series, actor Diego Luna is slated to return with his enigmatic character as Cassian Andor.
Described as a spy thriller, the show is slated to include espionage tactics against the Empire, and we can’t help but wonder if we’ll also see the return of Alan Tudyk as his snarky droid counterpart, K-2SO. More details will be released on the horizon, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for more information at SWCO and SDCC.
Game: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Holiday 2019)
While many fans were elated at the news of video game titles like Star Wars Battlefront and Star Wars Battlefront II, upon arrival, many players felt the bitter sting of disappointment. Whether it was from the convoluted array of microtransactions, lack of campaign content, or other gripes, the new games certainly fell short of player expectations.
Next up, EA is slated to unveil another game titled Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order sometime this year. While the game is slated to take place after the events of Order 66 (and Revenge of the Sith), we wonder how this one will match up to the former video game releases. While an official release date is still in the works, we’ll be sure to update you soon.
Television: The Clone Wars Season Seven (2019)
In a major announcement at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, the company is set to revisit The Clone Wars in an upcoming release of season seven. Showrunner Dave Filoni will return, and the new series is supposedly set to air on Disney’s much talked about streaming service, Disney+, to be officially unveiled this year.
After many years, fans of the animated series, The Clone Wars, are finally getting their unfulfilled wish. The original series ended rather abruptly, leaving many dissatisfied with the show’s failure to give closure to many hanging plot threads. At SDCC, we were given a look at the trailer, and be sure to catch a complete breakdown here.
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars Virtual Reality Series (2019)
As practically everything with the Star Wars franchise, the amount of spinoff material is endless. Whether it’s through button-smashing videogame glory, immersive comics, or books, there’s always a way to find yourself transported to a certain galaxy far, far away.
Next up, the company is set to make waves with a cutting-edge tech approach, employing the use of a virtual reality experience with the Oculus Quest. This isn’t the first foray into VR, as the company has also released other similar projects in the past. Seeing how Vader is one of the most iconic characters from the series, it was only a matter of time before he was treated with his very own VR experience.
Television: The Mandalorian
Lucasfilm is slated to release a compelling new television series entitled The Mandalorian by the end of this year. The show will include Narcos star Pedro Pascal, along with mixed martial artist and actress Gina Carano. Pascal, who also played Prince Oberyn on GoT, is tackling the lead role, while Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, and Carl Weathers have also joined the cast.
Recently, showrunner Jon Favreau confirmed that the robotic bounty hunter, IG-88, will appear in the series. There have also been rumors circulating around that Sabine Wren, the tech-savvy Mandalorian from Star Wars Rebels, might be making an appearance as well. Sadly, we don’t have many more details at this time, but we look forward to reporting all the new developments soon.
1. Episode IX (December 20th, 2019)
As we officially mark the days on our countdown to this film’s release, we’ll briefly touch upon any new developments we’ve learned. Recently, we heard that Carrie Fisher’s brother has said that there is plenty of footage of his late sister as Leia to be used in Episode IX, and Billy Dee Williams is set to return as Lando Calrissian.
While we’re currently waiting for any news regarding the long-anticipated trailer, many fans have continued to share speculations, including whether or not Kylo Ren's demise will occur in the next film. Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.
Comic: Obi-Wan #1 (Jan 2nd, 2019)
Kicking things off as the first comic release of the year, Age of Republic: Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 takes readers back to the era of the Prequels, and after the passing of Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan takes on the mantle of becoming Anakin’s teacher.
Picking up right after The Phantom Menace, the comic explores the difficulties faced by Obi-Wan and Anakin — including Anakin's nagging feeling that he is nothing more than a burden placed on Obi-Wan’s shoulders. As the pair navigate new waters as student and mentor, Yoda guides the way with some helpful insight. Written by Jody Houser, the comic also features artwork from Paolo Rivera and Cory Smith.
Comic: Star Wars: Age Of Republic - Jango Fett (2019) #1
Whether you love them or not, the prequels have been a subject of discussion by Star Wars fans from either side of the debate. In Marvel’s upcoming Age Of Republic - Jango Fett, readers will be whisked away to a new adventure featuring everyone’s favorite enigmatic bounty hunter on January 9th, 2019.
As part of a new array of Marvel comics to be released this year, this issue will focus on Jango Fett and his son, Boba. Penned by author Jody Houser, and featuring art from Luke Ross, this comic book will take a closer look at Jango’s past as a bounty hunter.
Television: Star Wars: Resistance Season One Finale, Episodes 12-14
Star Wars Resistance originally aired last October on the Disney XD channel. The animated series takes place just before The Force Awakens and is a family-friendly adventure taking place in another corner of the galaxy. After meeting with Poe Dameron, young pilot Kazuda Xiono agrees to work undercover to discover more about the First Order.
The show has featured some other familiar faces, including General Leia and Captain Phasma. Tune in for episode 12: “Bibo,” airing on January 13th, episode 13: “Dangerous Business” on January 20th, and the season finale, “The Doza Dilemma” on January 27th. Although the show also includes quite a few action-packed racing scenes, thankfully, there are no podracers involved.
Comic: Star Wars: Age Of Republic Special #1 (January 16th, 2019)
Boasting four separate stories, the upcoming Age of Republic Special #1 is bound to please fans. Written by Marc Guggenheim, Jody Houser, and Ethan Sacks, these books will take things back before the main trilogy, and way before the latest timeline.
Mace Windu is slated to return, as provided by Old Man Hawkeye’s artist, Ethan Sacks. Author Jody Houser will show Asajj Ventress front and center, and we’re looking forward to seeing the dangerous Sith in action with her twin lightsabers. While the return of Jar Jar Binks sounds like a surefire snoozefest, we look forward to seeing the return of Clone Wars fan favorite, Captain Rex. Stay tuned for more updates regarding this title.
Comics: Doctor Aphra #28, #29, #30, and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 5
For those unfamiliar with the character, Doctor Aphra has been likened as the female Indiana Jones of the series. Written by Simon Spurrier, the upcoming #28 comic also features artwork by Emilio Laiso and cover artist Ashley Witter. Since 2016, fans have been delighted with tales of her adventures across the galaxy.
Next up, Marvel is planning to release three upcoming issues, including Doctor Aphra #28 on January 30th, #29 on February 27th, and #30 on March 27th. Additionally, it has been announced that Doctor Aphra Vol. 5 will be released on June 11th, 2019.
Comics: Forces of Destiny Cinestory and Strength and Hope Cinestory
One of the biggest criticisms of the original Star Wars films was a lack of underdeveloped female characters, thus, bringing about the rise of a new generation of heroines. Fresh off the release of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy book last year, the company has continued to highlight more equality and diversity to the franchise as a whole.
Forces of Destiny introduced fans to a series of animated shorts — all focusing on some of the toughest heroines in the series. Next, fans can enjoy a short adventure focusing on Rey and her experiences back on Jakku. The Forces of Destiny: May the Force Be with Us Cinestory hits shelves on January 29th, 2019, and the Strength and Hope Cinestory will be released on August 20th, 2019.
Comic: Anakin Skywalker #1
While Marvel has already kicked things off on a wildly successful streak, fans can eagerly look forward to the release of Age Of Republic - Anakin Skywalker #1 on February 6th, 2019. These new comics from Marvel have proven to be a major upgrade from the often-mocked films set in the prequel era.
While fans may argue that we’ve learned plenty about Anakin Skywalker over the years, the possibilities with comic book storytelling are truly endless. There’s always something more to learn and more developments to be revealed. As excited as we are about this one, to be honest, we certainly hope there’s no mention of disliking sand.
Comic: Count Dooku #1
Next up, fans can get a closer look at none other than Count Dooku himself. Penned by Star Wars veteran Jody Houser, the upcoming Age of Republic - Count Dooku #1 comic takes a closer look at the dark ways of the Sith.
Whether you liked or disliked the prequels, it’s hard to ignore the amount of widespread popularity the films have had over the years, spawning thousands of memes across the internet. In the prequels, Sir Christopher Lee brought Dooku to life, and we look forward to learning more about Darth Tyranus in this comic book story on February 13th, 2019.
Book: The Queen’s Shadow
At San Diego Comic-Con last year, the Star Wars team officially announced the release of a new book. For fans of a certain galaxy far, far away, this is yet another coveted text to add to your collection. While we already know that Star Wars has had a severe underrepresentation of females in past films, the company is looking to make amends with new storytelling through comics and books.
Author E.K. Johnston has revealed that she has penned a new novel, The Queen’s Shadow, focusing on Padmé Amidala: It’s the story of Padmé changing from a queen to senator and the person right behind her and all the other handmaidens behind Padmé,” Johnston said during a publishing panel. Look out for the book on shelves March 5th, 2019.
Comic: Padmé Amidala #1 (March 6th, 2019)
While actress Natalie Portman has already confirmed that she won’t be returning as Padmé anytime soon, fans can continue to learn more about her character in the form of comics and books. Next up, Marvel is set to release a new comic focusing on the Queen of Naboo.
The upcoming comic features artwork by Cory Smith and is slated to follow a diplomatic mission for Senator Amidala. While some of the scenes in the prequels were outright laughable, here’s to hoping things become rectified with this new comic book release. Yes, this means we hope we won’t see anything remotely involving a floating pear, murmured lines about sand, and rolling around the fields of Naboo. Yawn.
Comic: Vader: Dark Visions #1-5
As fans of the most recent Darth Vader comic book series can personally attest, these are definitely some issues that should not be missed. Next up, the comic book publisher is set to release a new series of stories, beginning with Vader: Dark Visions #1 on March 6th, followed by #2 on March 27th, 2019.
The series will include a total of five issues thus far, but the dates for #3-5 have yet to be announced. While the last Vader series officially wrapped up in December, the highly praised comics included a gripping portrayal of the Dark Sith Lord.
Comics: Graphic Novel Adaptations - Empire Strikes Back and Solo
Interestingly enough, Disney and Lucasfilm has decided to revisit one of the most beloved star wars movies of all time: Empire Strikes Back. This time, fans can be treated to a graphic novel adaptation of the film, which is perfect for younglings and long-term fans alike.
The latest film to receive their very own graphic novel adaptation will be released on March 5th, 2019, followed by another graphic novel release of Solo on March 12th. According to actor Mark Hamill, when filming ESB, the cast and crew went through some serious lengths to keep some of the plot details hidden.
Comic: General Grievous #1
Based off of the prequel era alone, we’re not quite sure which character has received the biggest meme treatment: Palpatine, Obi-Wan, or General Grievous. The latter has been used for memes for well over a decade now, and it looks like the character’s wild popularity won’t be waning anytime soon.
Recently, gaming fans were given the opportunity to play as the Jedi-ending cyborg in Star Wars Battlefront II. Next up, fans will be whisked away to another part of the galaxy to learn more about the various antics of General Grievous #1 on March 13th, 2019.
Comics: Grand Admiral Thrawn: A Star Wars Rebels Cinestory and Ahsoka: A Star Wars Rebels Cinestory
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny won’t be the only Cinestory comic to be released this year, much to the delight of fans. Star Wars Rebels might have already culminated with a heartbreaking finale, but readers can enjoy two additional comics to be released this spring and summer.
First up, fans can revisit scenes as Grand Admiral Thrawn plans a cold, calculated attack on the ragtag group of rebels. While the Ghost crew has faced countless odds, the rebels will be pushed to their limit in this upcoming comic on March 26th, 2019. Additionally, Ahsoka will receive a Star Wars Rebels Cinestory comic of her own on August 6th, 2019. Although the artwork hasn't been completed yet, we're excited to see it!