Disney’s Star Wars Stuck in the Past: New Announcements Miss the Mark

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Summary

  • Consider recasting legacy Star Wars characters for the franchise’s future.
  • New animated series “Maul: Shadow Lord” highlights number of returns Maul has made.
  • “The Mandalorian and Grogu” trailer shown at Celebration lacks showing new threats.

Over the weekend, I found myself joining countless fellow Star Wars enthusiasts in Japan, eagerly queuing up to get a glimpse of the beloved franchise’s cast and crew. It was an unparalleled opportunity to express our affection for this iconic property, and to catch a sneak peek into Lucasfilm’s exciting plans for upcoming films and television series.

Fans eagerly anticipating a resurgence in their favorite franchise, which hasn’t had a significant update for nearly six years, didn’t find the recent news out of Tokyo particularly invigorating – it was more of a letdown for those hoping for a boost to rekindle their interest.

Although we received initial details about Shawn Levy’s film, “Star Wars: Starfighter” featuring Ryan Gosling, as well as Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s sequel to Rey’s story, both occurring in the ‘future’ (post-“The Rise of Skywalker”), most other announcements centered heavily on characters and time periods from the Star Wars franchise’s past.

Beating a dead Sith

As a fervent fan, I must say that the standout unveiling at Celebration was the announcement of “Maul: Shadow Lord,” an exciting new animated series. This thrilling show promises to delve into the life of the galaxy’s most relentless former Sith lord-turned mercenary, bridging the gap between his roles in “The Clone Wars” and “Rebels.

In this context, Maul has appeared on screen four times since his minor role in The Phantom Menace. He started as a silent enforcer who was cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi, but has since evolved into an intergalactic survivor, leaping from one near-death situation to another over several decades.

As a devoted movie critic, I find myself intrigued yet somewhat perplexed by Dave Filoni’s latest venture. Time and again, he resurrects characters like Maul, who have previously met their demise, suggesting an unusual fascination with legacy characters, both from his own creations and those of his mentor, George Lucas. This new series appears to revolve around a villain who, historically, has lacked depth, further fueling the speculation.

Joining Maul in this solo journey are two enigmatic figures: one rumored to be the return of the Legends character Darth Talon, and another hailing from Filoni’s acclaimed series, ‘Ahsoka’, the Inquisitor Marrok. The anticipation is palpable as we delve deeper into this intriguing narrative.

In simpler terms, the show titled “Ahsoka” expands upon the stories created by Filoni’s animated works. The initial season seemed to function as a follow-up to “Rebels,” with many of its characters appearing, along with some surprising flashbacks from “Clone Wars.” During this period, Hayden Christensen reprised his role as Anakin, encountering his screen apprentice in real life for the first time in a short, albeit unnecessary, vision.

Prior to the upcoming second season, Filoni announced at Celebration that Anakin, played by Christensen, will reappear in the series, continuing to explore the connections and interactions developed in his previous shows.

The Mandalorian and Grogu and the never-ending Empire

This year’s Celebration featured the most comprehensive and well-developed project, titled “The Mandalorian and Grogu“. Collaboratively written by Filoni and director Jon Favreau, it is a sequel to their adventures in Disney’s initial live-action Star Wars television series. Given the recurring characters from Filoni’s previous works, it is likely that this trend will continue in the upcoming cinematic continuation of “The Mandalorian“.

At a private viewing, an unreleased trailer was unveiled, featuring Zeb, the last member of Filoni’s Rebels team who hasn’t appeared in Ahsoka before, as well as offering a fleeting peek at Rotta the Hutt, once familiar from Filoni’s troubled 2007 Clone Wars movie. In this new version, Rotta is portrayed by Jeremy Allen-White of The Bear and some advanced CGI technology, notably enhancing his muscularity.

In this re-watch of the initial Star Wars film after five years, it was striking that no fresh danger was introduced. While The Mandalorian battled Moff Gideon’s remnant imperial faction, the third season hinted at challenges beyond just stormtroopers and star destroyers in the future.

In the movie’s preview, there’s a snippet of an awe-inspiring continuous action scene involving Din, who skillfully eliminates stormtroopers within an AT-AT walker and brings down the massive vehicle itself. Additionally, hints suggest that Din and Grogu are collaborating to bring down the Empire for a second time, this time under the leadership of Sigourney Weaver’s rebel pilot, one of the film’s noteworthy new characters.

Although Lucasfilm may be keeping some exciting secrets for the moment, it’s tough not to wonder if there’s more to the movie’s danger. Just as the three seasons before it and its spin-off show Ahsoka, it could prove challenging to make the film’s happenings seem significant when it falls between trilogies on the timeline, with no familiar characters left by the time of the sequels.

After more than four decades since the premiere of “Return of the Jedi” and considering the significant time that has elapsed within the Star Wars universe following the fall of the Empire, one might wonder if we’re still limited to stormtroopers and Hutts as our main characters?

The future in the past

While the mentioned movies now progress beyond “The Rise of Skywalker,” free from the storylines established thus far within the canon, it’s equally important for the franchise to not forget the possibilities inherent in the time period preceding the events depicted in our existing films.

The Star Wars series titled “The Acolyte” has sparked diverse opinions among critics and certain sections of the fanbase, yet it introduced a new phase in the Star Wars saga, taking place over a century before the storyline of “The Phantom Menace“. Unfortunately, there won’t be a second season for this show, which could impact the franchise’s focus on the Jedi’s golden age. However, it may not be the last time we explore this era visually on-screen.

Lucasfilm hasn’t shared any recent news about James Mangold’s upcoming prequel film, set before the events of the first Jedi movie, but they did confirm it’s still being developed, which suggests there might be some new insights into the universe’s early history. Additionally, Taika Waititi’s project is also reportedly in progress, although its exact placement within the timeline remains undetermined at this stage.

Before the Star Wars franchise embarks on its future journey, Lucasfilm plans to prioritize the upcoming release of the second season of Andor, a series rooted in Star Wars’ past but eager to explore fresh and captivating themes. This season will be released in weekly three-episode installments, starting from April 22, exclusively on Disney+.

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2025-04-21 22:26