Rebellions are built on hope: new Star Wars stories coming to the screen
Emma Ogren, Assistant Editor
Graphic by Emma Ogren
Star Wars has been synonymous with pop culture for the last 49 years since the release of A New Hope in 1977. Fans have eagerly awaited every new and upcoming project since that first film and it is no different today. Since Disney acquired the rights to Lucasfilm in 2012, there have been a multitude of movies, tv shows and books that have come out based in the world of Star Wars. The future holds quite a bit for the intellectual property and its fans–here’s what to keep a look out for in the next few years.
Maul-Shadow Lord
Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord is an animated series coming to Disney+ on April 6, 2026. The synopsis states, “Maul seeks an apprentice to aid him in his plot to rebuild his crime syndicate and enact revenge.”
This show follows Darth Maul and is set approximately a year after Revenge of the Sith and Order 66. He finds a planet untouched by the empire and this is where he rebuilds. The show will span 10 episodes, and Sam Witwer voices the titular character. It was created by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz.
According to the IMDB page, the teaser trailer, which dropped a day before the full-length trailer, amassed almost five hundred thousand views in 24 hours.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu flies into theaters on May 22, 2026. The synopsis states, “Once a lone bounty hunter, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure.”
This movie takes place about five years after Return of the Jedi and occurs after season three of the Mandalorian. It was created as the finale to the show, choosing this over a planned season four that would go straight to Disney+. Disney has not had a theatrical Star Wars release since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019 and they wanted to return to that model, according to director Jon Favreau.
Starfighter
Star Wars: Starfighter is planned to release in theaters on May 28, 2027. According to IMDB, “In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself.”
The movie will be set five years after The Rise of Skywalker and will star Daniel Ings, Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth. It will be directed by Shawn Levy.
Madi Blocker, political science major at North Greenville University, explained why she’s skeptical about this new film, “I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Rise of Skywalker. I am not sure how it will look in terms of what the ending of that movie was like.”
The Hunt for Ben Solo
The Hunt for Ben Solo wasn’t a planned project by Star Wars or Disney, but it was a passion project for Adam Driver, who played Kylo Ren / Ben Solo in the sequel trilogy. He worked to write a script with Scott Z. Burns and Stephen Soderbergh was planned to direct.
After working for approximately two and a half years, the script was brought to Lucasfilm and approved. Bob Iger, former CEO of the Walt Disney Company then denied it, stating the reason that “We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.”
Driver stated that this movie was “one of the coolest scripts I had ever been a part of.” Fans are still hopeful of the movie getting a green light and made in the future.
