The already massive Star Wars universe is about to get a whole lot bigger, but where do all of its new upcoming projects fit into the timeline? The Skywalker saga may have come to an end, with the movies going on a hiatus until Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron in 2023, but the franchise as a whole has never been stronger. Lucasfilm has transformed Star Wars into a trailblazing transmedia franchise, with a range of popular Disney+ TV shows and an unparalleled transmedia initiative exploring the High Republic Era, some 200 years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
The popularity of the High Republic Era means it is serving as the launchpad for a new spin-off TV series. Meanwhile, animated and live-action tie-ins are set to explore the Dark Times of the Empire's reign, while The Mandalorian has launched a range of shows set in the years after Return of the Jedi. There's no news yet on whether Lucasfilm will produce a second season of Star Wars: Visions, set outside the main continuity, but hopefully, it does - the show deserves a renewal.
The Star Wars timeline has always been complex, and as a result it can get pretty confusing for viewers. That's especially the case given the Disney+ TV shows, in particular, are hopping around the timeline with impunity. Here's how all the upcoming projects fit into the Star Wars timeline.
The Acolyte TV Series - The High Republic Era
The High Republic Era was a period where the Jedi Knights were at their greatest, long before the shroud of the dark side fell upon the galaxy. Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia initiative is set hundreds of years before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, but the time period appears to run to just a few decades before the prequel trilogy. Lucasfilm has hired Leslye Headland, co-creator of the hit Netflix series Russian Doll, to develop a Disney+ TV series called The Acolyte. Teased as a mystery-thriller that “will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era," it's largely a mystery right now.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 - Shortly After Revenge of the Sith
A group of mutant clones with special abilities, the so-called Bad Batch made their debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 7 and promptly became stars of their own animated spinoff. Star Wars: The Bad Batch season 1 was set shortly after the events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, telling the story of the team of clones as they attempted to survive in the newly-established Empire. Season 2 will presumably continue this arc. It's expected to release sometime in Spring 2022.
Kenobi - 10 Years After Revenge of the Sith
Set 10 years after the formation of the Empire in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the upcoming Kenobi Disney+ series will see both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen return to Star Wars. This will fit into a curious place in the Star Wars timeline, with Obi-Wan and Anakin apparently having multiple duels over the course of the series. It's possible this will explain why Darth Vader stopped looking for his old Master - perhaps believing Obi-Wan had died after the events of this show. Lucasfilm has recently announced the show will launch on May 25, 2022.
Andor - 5 Years Before Rogue One
Starring Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk, Andor is a Disney+ prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It will follow the life of Cassian Andor before he joined the rebellion and ended up sacrificing his life to get the Death Star plans to the rebels. It will take a deeper dive into Cassian's character - with the Rogue One show set five years before the events of the movie. When fans meet Cassian in Rogue One he's already fighting to restore the Republic, so the show will likely explore how he was conscripted into joining the rebel cause in the first place. Additionally, the show will likely explain how Cassian came to travel with the reprogrammed Imperial droid, K-2SO. Disney is yet to confirm an official release date.
Rogue Squadron - Date Uncertain
Patty Jenkins has been hired by Lucasfilm to helm Rogue Squadron, an upcoming blockbuster scheduled to come out on December 22, 2023. The film is titled after the elite fighter squadron that was led by Luke Skywalker for a time during the Galactic Civil War, and it's likely the film will be set during that period. Little has been confirmed at this point, but Jenkins has indicated the script is almost complete.
The Mandalorian Season 3 – 5 Years After Return of the Jedi
The Mandalorian was Disney+'s flagship TV series, and season 2 ended on a dramatic note with an unexpected cameo from Mark Hamill himself as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. Surprisingly, the recently-released spinoff series The Book of Boba Fett essentially served as The Mandalorian season 2.5, readjusting Din Djarin's status quo once again; it saw him reunite with his ward Grogu, and wrestle with the significance of wielding the Darksaber. All this was clear setup for The Mandalorian season 3, although no release date has been officially confirmed at this point.
Ahsoka - 5 Years After Return of the Jedi
The Mandalorian season 2 introduced Rosario Dawson as the live-action Ahsoka Tano, and she'll be starring in her own spinoff Disney+ TV series. This is expected to see Ahsoka travel to the Unknown Regions looking for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who vanished into the depths of space in the dramatic finale of Star Wars Rebels. The show is looking to cast other characters from the animated series, and there's eager anticipation for a live-action Sabine Wren in particular. There may well be flashbacks exploring Ahsoka's wider role in the Star Wars timeline, perhaps one showing her first encounter with Luke Skywalker - her former Master's son.
Lando - Date Unknown
Dear White People's Justin Simien is creating Lando, a series centered around Han Solo's roguish friend Lando Calrissian. Little is known about this project right now; it's not even clear whether Lando will be played by Donald Glover, Billy Dee Williams, or both actors. Given this is early in pre-production, it's likely this won't release until 2023.
A Droid Story - Date Unknown
Disney has announced a Star Wars animated special called A Droid Story, described as an "epic journey" that will "introduce us to a new hero guided by R2-D2 and C-3PO." Nothing is known about this project at this stage, so it's impossible to say where it fits into the timeline, and a release date hasn't been announced either.
In addition to these projects, there are a number in the early stages of development. These include a mysterious Star Wars film by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, a trilogy by Rian Johnson, and a film by Taika Waititi. Nothing is known about these films.