Star Wars: Dave Filoni reveals the future direction of the ‘ MandoVerse’

The ending of ‘Star Wars Ahsoka’ took a leap into hyperspace and began a new large-scale story arc for the franchise. Grand Admiral Thrawn, one of the most legendary villains since his first appearance in the nineties, has managed to return to the known galaxy alongside the Nightsisters and an army of Stormtroopers. In interview with Vanity Fair, showrunner and screenwriter Dave Filoni has reflected about everything this implies for the future of the ‘MandoVerse’ —the period of time in which ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘The Book of Boba Fett’, ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Skeleton Crew’ are set.

In ‘Star Wars Rebels’, Ezra Bridger managed to keep Thrawn captive on Peridea, a mysterious planet from a galaxy far, far away. As a result, both are stranded with no way to return, until the cunning officer of the Galactic Empire manages to find a solution. The series starring Ahsoka Tano expands the universe, an objective that Filoni had set in advance and that allows opening new plot lines for the ‘MandoVerse’. Whether in future series, new seasons of existing ones or in the film in which all these characters will come together, Filoni is outlining the stage for a large scale conflict.

A different conflict for the future of ‘Star Wars’

“I’m setting up what seems to be a larger conflict with the Imperial remnant,” said Filoni. “That conflict can’t just mirror what we’ve seen before. It has to take on a different shape. It can’t just be the Empire versus what looks like the Rebellion, or even the Republic. It has to be visually different.”

The new Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm has assured that he’s been putting the pieces in place for a long-term game. “You know me, I plan for a long game. I really do. And that encompasses a lot more than it used to, as I help other people as well.”

“If they were in the Star Wars galaxy—the old Star Wars galaxy that we know—I think somebody would’ve found them,” he said. “There’s too many starships, there’s too many people traveling. You get a signal out, and I think you could have found them if they wanted to be found. I had to really throw them far afield.” Filoni has revealed that an image of other galaxies that could be glimpsed in Attack of the Clones gave him the idea of playing with other unknown places.

It is not clear what will happen to Baylan Skoll, the character played by the late Ray Stevenson. In the same interview, Filoni admitted that nothing has been decided, but that the former Jedi master has not yet concluded his story.