(Updated 06/13/2023)
STAR WARS is coming back to the big screen! This year is the 40th anniversary of RETURN OF THE JEDI, and you can see that movie in theatres on April 28. But there are also new movies on the way. Three of them, in fact, to explore three different periods in the STAR WARS story.
In 2019, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER closed out the nine-movie saga oriented around the Skywalker family. But at least one character has a future. One new movie will follow Rey's attempt to found a new Jedi Order. Then there's a movie to explore the origins of the Jedi, and one which will basically be THE MANDALORIAN: THE MOVIE.
Here's everything we know about the new STAR WARS movies, none of which have titles at this point.
New Star Wars Movie Release Dates
Before we get into the details of the three new Star Wars movies, here are the release dates set out by Disney and Lucasfilm. Note that we do not know which movie will open on which date. Those details will be revealed in the coming months.
We get two new STAR WARS movies in one year as Disney has set release dates on May 22, 2026 and December 18, 2026. The third movie is set for December 17, 2027.
That May date is interesting, because the original STAR WARS opened in May 1977, and all the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy movies also had May release dates. With THE FORCE AWAKENS, the series generally moved to December openings. The only exception was SOLO, which also arrived in May. Based on that history and the info below, can you guess which new movie will open in May? Keep in mind that the May movie was originally set for December of 2025, but was delayed to May likely due to the current writer's strike.
The Dawn of the Jedi
One movie will be directed by James Mangold, director of LOGAN and INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. Mangold's movie will go back to the dawn of the Jedi to show us how the Jedi order was founded. While a title has not been announced for the movie, it seems like STAR WARS: THE DAWN OF THE JEDI would be a good place to start.
We don't have casting or further story info at this point. Those details will all come soon.
A Mandalorian Movie?
The second new movie will be directed by Dave Filoni, who has been a mastermind of the various animated STAR WARS projects on TV, as well as many of the live-action streaming series. Accordingly, Filoni's movie will focus on the New Republic. Lucasfilm says the movie will "close out the interconnected stories told in "The Mandalorian," "The Book of Boba Fett," "Ahsoka," and other Disney+ series."
Precisely how this will take shape — and when we'll see it — is yet to be revealed. Since "Ahsoka" hasn't even begun to air yet, we're not going to make any guesses about the story in this movie. We know "The Mandalorian" will get a fourth season, and it seems like "Ahsoka" is likely to get a second. More news on this movie will likely follow those series.
And, yes, this movie will follow up on characters and stories from multiple streaming series, but it will be a theatrical release.
Rey's Future
The final announced movie takes STAR WARS into the future. Daisy Ridley will return to star as Rey under director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy ("Ms. Marvel"). The movie is set after THE RISE OF SKYWALKER and will follow Rey as she seeks to build a new Jedi Order. The script is by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”).
We do know a bit about this movie's setting, however. "We’re 15 years out from ‘Rise of Skywalker,’ so we’re post-war, post-First Order, and the Jedi are in disarray,” Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy told IGN. "There’s a lot of discussion around, ‘Who are the Jedi? What are they doing? What’s the state of the galaxy?’ She’s attempting to rebuild the Jedi Order, based on the books, based on what she promised Luke, so that’s where we’re going."
Kennedy suggested we shouldn't hold out too much hope for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to show up as a Force ghost. But with Rey searching the Galaxy for new warriors to keep the peace and maintain a connection to the Force, the field is wide-open with possibility.
We'll have another STAR WARS update when Disney releases more info.
All images courtesy of Disney and Lucasfilm.