Star Wars Day: what new movies and series are coming in 2021 and coming years?
Disney has quite the list of Star Wars based entertainment for everyone. Here’s a list of projects scheduled and rumored for 2021 and into the future.
Disney is planning to release six new live-action series, as well as animated projects to stream exclusively on Disney+. A slew of theatrical releases can be expected for the cinemas in the coming years with big name directors putting their creative talents behind the projects.
For this years’ “May the fourth be with you” Disney+ will be dropping a “Star Wars”-themed “Simpsons” short “Maggie Simpson in ‘The Force Awakens From Its Nap,’” and an original animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch. But what else will be coming to this galaxy from the Star Wars franchise in the future?
Back in December Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced a major expansion of the Star Wars galaxy, looking to create a piece of it for all tastes and personalities. "We have a vast and expansive timeline in the Star Wars mythology spanning over 25,000 years of history in the galaxy -- with each era being a rich resource for storytelling," Kennedy told ET. "Now with Disney+, we can explore limitless story possibilities like never before and fulfill the promise that there is truly a Star Wars story for everyone."
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (4 May on Disney+)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an all-new animated series launching exclusively on Disney+, making its debut on Tuesday, 4 May 3 am ET with a special 70-minute premiere. New episodes will follow every Friday starting on 7 May.
The animated series follows a squad of elite and experimental clones, which were first introduced in The Clone Wars. Clone Force 99 will have to find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War taking on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose.
Star Wars: Visions (TBA 2021 on Disney+)
A collection of 10 short films "celebrating the galaxy through the lens of the world's best anime creators." According to the synopsis "The anthology collection will bring 10 fantastic visions from several of the leading Japanese anime studios, offering a fresh and diverse cultural perspective to Star Wars."
The Book of Boba Fett (December 2021 on Disney+)
Boba Fett returned in The Mandalorian season 2, helping Din Djarin on his quest to get Baby Grogu back from Moff Gideon. During the post-credits to the season, Boba returned with Fennec Shand to Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine where the pair killed off the survivors of Jabba's barge. The series is executive produced by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Robert Rodriguez, who directed the episode that reintroduced Boba Fett to the Disney+.
The Mandalorian, Season 3 (TBA expected in 2022 on Disney+)
Initially it was expected that The Mandalorian season 3 would be released in December 2021, but The Book of Boba Fett has taken that slot. According to Games Radar Jon Favreau has confirmed Mandalorian will return soon after Boba, indicating that Din Djarin will be back in early 2022.
Andor (2022 on Disney+)
Diego Luna will take up his role as Rebel Alliance spy Cassian Andor in "a tense nail-biting thriller." The Rogue One prequel series is a spy thriller where Cassian, alongside Alan Tudyk as the droid K-2SO will go on daring missions “to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi (TBA expected 2022 on Disney+)
Fans have been clamoring for Ewan McGregor to return as the Jedi master in Episodes I through III for years. Lucasfilm confirmed during 2019's D23 Expo that the actor would finally return as Obi-Wan for a Disney+ event series. The same goes for Hayden Christensen, who will return as Darth Vader for the series. The show is set 10 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith.
Ahsoka (TBA on Disney+)
Rosario Dawson's live-action version of Ahsoka Tano is getting a spin-off series. Introduced in Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, the former Jedi Knight will likely continue her search for Thrawn in the series. It is written by Dave Filoni and with Jon Favreau acting as co-executive producer.
Rangers of the New Republic (TBA on Disney+)
Another series set within the timeline of The Mandalorian, Rangers of the New Republic will have Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni as executive producers. No specifics are available at this time.
The Acolyte (TBA on Disney+)
The Acolyte will be a female-centric mystery-thriller that takes place during the High Republic era, around 350 years before The Phantom Menace. It will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic. Leslye Headland from Russian Doll fame will write and executive produce.
Lando (TBA on Disney+)
Details on the upcoming series are scant at best, what is known is that the series is being developed by Dear White People's Justin Simien.
A Droid Story (TBA on Disney+)
Lucasfilm Animation will team up with Industrial Light & Magic to create a new adventure for R2-D2 and C-3PO. "This epic journey will introduce us to a new hero, guided by legendary duo R2-D2 and C-3PO," reads the synopsis.
Rogue Squadron (Dec. 22, 2023)
Little is known about the next Star Wars feature set for the big screen except that it will be directed by Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman 1984). It will be the first time a feature movie in the franchise is helmed by a female director.
"The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy," reads the official synopsis.
Untitled Taika Waititi Movie (TBA)
Lucasfilm has announced that Waititi is officially helming a Star Wars feature film and will co-write the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917). Talking to ET Kennedy promised "Taika's approach to Star Wars will be fresh, unexpected, and... unique. His enormous talent and sense of humor will ensure that audiences are in for an unforgettable ride." Waititi previously directed the season 1 finale of The Mandalorian, along with voicing the bounty droid IG-11.
Untitled Rian Johnson Trilogy (TBA)
The director of The Last Jedi will create an all-new Star Wars trilogy that will feature "new characters from a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never before explored." Although The Last Jedi had some Star Wars faithful up in arms, rumors of the projects cancellation have been dismissed by the director telling ET "I'm still working with Lucasfilm on it."
Untitled Kevin Feige Movie (TBA)
The head of Marvel Studios will make a new film alongside Kathleen Kennedy. "Knowing what a die-hard fan Kevin is, it made sense for these two extraordinary producers to work on a Star Wars film together," Alan Horn, co-chairman and CCO of Walt Disney Studios, said.
Untitled J.D. Dillard Movie (Rumored)
The Hollywood Reporter says it's "unclear" whether this is a theatrical release or something for Disney+. Little else is know at this time about the production.