This article originally appeared on Complex.com
Rumors and speculation had Star Wars fans primed to anticipate some news from Disney’s Investor Day press conference last night. Still, even the most ardent fans couldn’t have expected all the news that broke. In addition to providing new information on previous announcements series, LucasFilm announced five brand new Star Wars-related Disney+ series and a new theatrical movie, charting the future of a galaxy far, far away.
The biggest takeaway seems to be that when it comes to Star Wars stories, not everything has to be about the Jedi. Many of these new projects are new genre shows wrapped up with a Star Wars bow. It’s a refreshing and bold new direction that finally seems to fulfill the promise of exploring a depth and breadth of different tales within this universe.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of all the news. And, being the resident Star Wars nerd that I am, I couldn’t help but put all that lore to good use by speculating a bit about what we might see from each show once it debuts.
'The Mandalorian' Season 3
Starring: Pedro Pascal
Release date: Christmas 2021
Outside of a sizzle reel showing the season’s events thus far, the only real news about The Mandalorian is that a third season would debut on Disney+ during Christmas 2021.
'Andor'
Starring: Diego Luna
Release date: 2022
Set to debut in 2022, Andor is a Rogue One prequel featuring Diego Luna’s titular Cassian Andor. A spy thriller set amongst the world of Star Wars, the show is helmed by filmmaker Tony Gilroy, who worked on Rogue One and wrote the first four Bourne films. Currently, in production in London, the show has rounded out its cast with actors Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Genevieve O’Reilly, who played Mon Mothma in Rogue One and Revenge of the Sith. Andor will also be the longest live-action Star Wars series with a scheduled 12 episodes.
'Rangers of the New Republic' / 'Ahsoka'
Starring: Gina Carano (Rangers), Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka)
Release date: TBA
Announced together as a pair, both Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka will spin out of The Mandalorian. Developed by Jon Favreau, Rangers will most likely be the Cara Dune (Gina Carano) led series that’s been seeded and teased throughout Season 2 of The Mandalorian as Dune embraces her calling as a Marshal of the New Republic in the wake of the Empire’s end.
The Rosario Dawson-led Ahsoka series is showrun by Dave Filoni and will most likely feature the former Jedi’s quest to find Grand Admiral Thrawn and Jedi Ezra Bridger, as we outlined in this piece. One thing I think we can for sure count on here is some crazy Force-based time travel, as shown in the circular details of the show’s title treatment.
Interestingly enough, both series will culminate in some sort of event story on—you guessed it—Disney+.
'Obi-Wan Kenobi'
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen
Release date: TBA
While we knew actor Ewan McGregor would return as the titular Obi-Wan Kenobi in his series, we didn’t know much else about the mini-series led by Deborah Chow. The big news here was the reveal that Hayden Christensen would return not as Anakin, but as Darth Vader for a showdown against Obi-Wan 10 years after the end of Revenge of the Sith. We know the duo will come out of the battle alive to fight again in A New Hope, but having both McGregor and Christensen together, once more, is bound to be something special. That point is something McGregor himself acknowledged in the exclusive footage screened for investors; the actor said his reunion with Christensen was “the most beautiful thing of all.”
'The Bad Batch'
Starring: TBA
Release date: TBA
Spinning out of their introduction at the beginning of the final season of the Clone Wars animated series, The Bad Batch is the next big animated series from Star Wars and will follow the special Clone task force in the wake of the Empire’s emergence. Will the Batch turn against the Emperor and go rogue? Or work within this new evil empire? Time will tell, but the quick glimpse at footage proved there wouldn’t be any shortage of action in this animated series.
'Star Wars Visions'
Starring: TBA
Release date: 2021
Not much was said about Star Wars Visions other than the project will bring together some of anime’s best creators for a series of animated short films. No creators were announced, but the series will premiere in 2021.
'Lando'
Starring: TBA
Release date: TBA
No longer just speculation, the galaxy’s most charismatic smuggler, Lando Calrissian, will get his own event series in Lando. We covered this news when the rumor first broke over the summer, but there’s a good chance we’ll get both Donald Glover and Billy Dee Williams involved in the series. I know Solo doesn’t have much of a good reputation in some parts, but I hope we’ll get to see some of those lingering plots addressed as a fan of the movie. Dear White People’s Justin Simien will helm the show, which currently doesn’t have a release.
'The Acolyte'
Starring: TBA
Release date: TBA
Created by Russian Doll’s Leslye Headland, The Acolyte will be a “mystery-thriller” set in the High Republic’s final days. This period is actually the focus of a new set of books and comics that will roll out in January 2021 and explores an era when the Jedi were at the peak of their powers. The project also features really cool stuff like Wookies with lightsabers.
The show will detail “shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers,” which means it could serve as the origin of one Sheev Palpatine. Here’s to hoping we get to see shadowy places like Dathomir, where Darth Maul originated.
'Rogue Squadron'
Starring: TBA
Release date: TBA
Outside of an official confirmation of Taika Waititi’s Star Wars-related movie, the big news was a Rogue Squadron movie from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins. In a video posted to her Twitter, Jenkins explained that she grew up around fighter jets, as her father was a pilot. While he ultimately lost his life in service to God and country, the thrill of planes was something Jenkins never forgot.
Rogue Squadron should ring a bell to videogamers, as it was the title for an extremely popular series of games wherein you could pilot various spacecraft like TIE fighters and X-Wings. I wouldn’t be surprised if this movie is basically Top Gun in space. It’d also be cool to see the live-action debut of a character like Hera Syndulla. The Star Wars Rebels character is a formidable pilot in her own right and is featured heavily in Star Wars Squadrons, a modern and spiritual successor to those old Rogue Squadron games.