Star Wars Celebration: Disney announces three new "Star Wars" cinema films

The 2023 version of the annual Star Wars Celebration, the world's largest gathering of fans of the saga, is still underway. But on the first of a total of four days, visitors to London were already able to wallow deep in the iconic galaxy far, far away. Specifically: three new cinema films were announced. They will be directed by James Mangold, Dave Filoni and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and are set in different Star Wars eras.

Ah yes: The first "Ahsoka" teaser trailer was also shown. Plus "The Acolyte" news. And a new "Indiana Jones 5" trailer.

Each film is set in a different Star Wars era

Good news for 'The Old Republic' fans: the long-awaited feature film is coming, set at least 25,000 years before the classic trilogy and dealing with the beginnings of the Jedi and their burgeoning connection to the Force. The film is directed by "Ford v. Ferrari" and "Logan" director James Mangold - for me, that's half the battle. Mangold is considered one of the most talented directors in Hollywood. His upcoming film should also prove this: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", the first "Indy" film not to be directed by Steven Spielberg.

Apropos: Because Lucasfilm is not only producing "Star Wars", but also James Mangold's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", there was also a new trailer.

The next film will be directed by Dave Filoni. A logical next step for the former protégé of George Lucas: he first had the honour of directing the animated series "The Clone Wars" and "Rebels" for the "Star Wars" creator. Years later, he created "The Mandalorian" together with Jon Favreau. In its second season - "Chapter 13: The Jedi" - Filoni directed live action for the first time. In the upcoming "Ahsoka" series, he has even been promoted to sole showrunner. Only one thing is missing: directing a feature film. Unsurprisingly, his articles will tie together the loose plot threads between "The Mandalorian", "Ahsoka" and other upcoming projects from that era. The focus will be on the battle between the New Republic and the last remnants of the Empire, which - my guess - will be led by Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The third film will be directed by "Ms. Marvel" director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The story she is telling will be set around 15 years after "Star Wars - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker" and will bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey. Rey is now a Jedi Master and has founded a new Jedi Academy to rebuild the Jedi Order. Disney pulled off a real coup for the screenplay: author Steven Knight, whose best-known works include "Peaky Blinders" and "Serenity", took up the pen.

New trailer for "Ahsoka" establishes a link to Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire"

While the cinema film announcements had to do without images or trailers, fans were at least able to enjoy the first real teaser trailer for Dave Filoni's upcoming "Ahsoka" series. "Rebels" fans in particular get their money's worth thanks to appearances by Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger.

No coincidence is Ahsoka's quote about Thrawn's return. She refers to him as "Heir to the Empire". Book fans know: This is also the title of Timothy Zahn's novel trilogy from 1991. It takes place five years after "Episoe VI: Return of the Jedi" and continues the story of Luke, Han and Leia. Disney then bought the rights to "Star Wars" and produced the sequels. Since then, the trilogy is no longer part of the canon.

Or maybe it is!

Grand Admiral Thrawn was originally introduced for the first time in "Heir to the Empire". As a military genius of the Empire, he took over the remnants of the defeated Imperial fleet and, thanks to his intelligence and cunning, developed into an even more dangerous opponent than the Emperor. When Disney then cancelled "Heir to the Empire" from the canon, they kept the now iconic Thrawn among fans and incorporated him as a new character in the animated series "Star Wars: Rebels". This is set a good 30 years before the book trilogy. At the end of the series, however, Thrawn disappeared without a trace - and now reappears five years after "Episode VI" to take over the remnants of the defeated Imperial fleet and... You see where I'm going with this. So "Heirs to the Empire" could become halfway canon again. Mount Tantis, an important setting in the books, has already been introduced in "The Bad Batch".

Interesting information about "The Acolyte"

There were also new details about another "Star Wars" series that is currently still being filmed. Namely "The Acolyte". The series, which is described as a mystery thriller, is set historically during the era of the High Republic. The era itself begins around 300 years before the classic trilogy and shows the Jedi Order at the height of its power. The series, on the other hand, will only come in towards the end and depict the beginnings of the Order's later decline.

"The Acolyte" director Leslye Headland also revealed that the story will be told from the perspective of the bad guys and will feature plenty of martial arts battles with lightsabers to honour the height of the Jedi's power. And: "Chewbacca" neo-actor Joonas Suotamo will once again play a Wookie. But this time a Jedi wookie.

You can find a leaked trailer here. At least until the video is blocked by Disney. <p