While most Star Wars series thus far have either been bridging the original trilogy to the sequels or attempting to fix the sequels themselves, future shows will likely enhance the prequels instead. Currently, two upcoming series have the potential to improve the first 3 episodes of the Skywalker saga: Andor and The Acolyte. While Andor can shed new light on the aftermath of the prequels with the rise of the Empire, The Acolyte can establish how the Sith were able to infiltrate the Republic without alerting the Jedi Order.
Set to begin streaming on September 21st, Andor will follow Captain Cassian Andor and those like him who resisted the Empire in the earliest days of the Rebellion. Taking place before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Tony Gilroy-directed series will consist of two seasons, showcasing how the Rebellion was born during the Empire's dark reign over the galaxy. Likewise, while The Acolyte is still in development and has yet to get an official release date, the show is expected to take place in the final days of the High Republic era years before the beginning of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
While series such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have large focuses on improving the sequels, shows like Andor and The Acolyte can do the same thing and enhance what's seen in the prequels. This can both help fill in any existing narrative gaps and set up major events in the saga's first three chapters. Here's how Star Wars' upcoming shows can improve the prequel films in the galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars TV Shows Have Been Fixing The Sequels
As seen in shows such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett set approximately five years after Return of the Jedi, the remnants of the Empire are revealed. Showing the aftermath of the Emperor and Darth Vader's defeat on the second Death Star, the Rebellion gained a significant foothold in Galactic Civil War, replacing the Empire as the New Republic. As such, this is the era where many of Star Wars' recent shows have taken place.
Likewise, these series have helped establish the status quo for the galaxy that wasn't as defined as it arguably should have been in the sequel trilogy. They also carry plot points that help clarify elements seen in the sequel films as well such as the Emperor's cloning efforts on the Sith world of Exegol. Shows such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and even the Star Wars: The Bad Batch animated series (which both take place prior to the events of A New Hope) have also enhanced the events of the original trilogy and the subsequent sequel era.
Andor Can Also Connect To The Star Wars Prequels
While Andor is also set before A New Hope (and Rogue One), it has the potential to look back at the prequel films, particularly Revenge of the Sith which saw Palpatine's years of planning coming to fruition as his Empire rose to replace the Republic as well as the corruption of his new apprentice Darth Vader. Serving as a prime example, one of the Rebellion's core leaders Mon Mothma will be playing a large role in the upcoming series. As such, the opportunity exists for her to reference and call back to her minor arc in Revenge of the Sith that was ultimately cut by George Lucas from the theatrical release.
In Revenge of the Sith, Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila would have been featured alongside Senator Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa. As revealed in deleted scenes, the trio would have secretly met with fellow concerned senators to discuss their fears about Chancellor Palpatine's growing power and the gradual dismantling of the Senate before Order 66 had even been executed. The cut sequence even saw Organa and Mothma agreeing to form an organization to preserve democracy within the Republic, an alliance that would eventually become the Rebellion in response to the rise of the Empire and the demise of the Jedi Order.
The Acolyte Will Better Explain Phantom Menace & Prequel-Era Jedi
While not much is known about The Acolyte, it's been reported that the series will be set in the final days of the High Republic, an era that began hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga. Depicted in several novels and comics as a renaissance period of peace and prosperity, the Jedi Order was also at the height of its power as the Republic began expanding into the Outer Rim territories. However, the guardians of peace of justice in the galaxy would gradually decline, eventually becoming the version of the Jedi Order seen in The Phantom Menace that was ultimately wiped out at the end of the prequel trilogy thanks to the machinations of Palpatine that culminated in Revenge of the Sith.
Starring Amandla Stenberg in the lead role (presumably the titular acolyte herself), showrunner Leslye Headland revealed in a recent interview that The Acolyte will have plenty of connections to the prequels, revealing how the Jedi were deceived so easily, as well as how they became so prideful to the point where the Jedi were unable to detect the return of the Sith and their infiltration into the Republic itself. While they eventually discovered Palpatine's treachery as Darth Sidious, it was far too late and the Jedi Order was obliterated with Order 66, marking the end of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire to oppress the galaxy under the Sith's rule.
Some Star Wars series such as The Mandalorian will continue with new seasons set before the sequels along with new shows in the same era such as Ahsoka and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. As such, the Star Wars franchise may yet do more to establish the link between the events of the original trilogy and the sequels on the small screen. However, the unique potential for Andor and The Acolyte to enhance the prequels is very exciting. The Star Wars franchise and galaxy are certainly big enough to handle both types of series, catering to any and all types of fans who love the galaxy far, far away (especially those who love all three of the trilogies). In any case, the setting for both Andor and The Acolyte prove that there is significantly more to learn about prequel-era Star Wars.