Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
In a stunning franchise shake-up, Star Wars is reportedly preparing to rewrite its own history.
A decade after The Force Awakens revived Star Wars on the big screen, the franchise is preparing another major shift.
New theatrical releases slated for 2026 are poised to reset expectations and redirect the saga’s future.
While Lucasfilm has not released a movie since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the growing slate of New Republic–era projects is steadily reshaping what fans recognize as the post-Return of the Jedi storyline.
A new chapter
The sequel trilogy has frequently ranked low in retrospective assessments, despite The Force Awakens drawing huge crowds when it debuted in 2015.
Now, stories set years before those sequels are quietly positioning themselves as a replacement for what Episode VII represented.
This shift centers on the New Republic era, a timeline that began in 2019 as the sequels wrapped up.
The cluster of interconnected shows and films set in this period has since been dubbed “the Mandoverse,” born from the success of The Mandalorian.
That series spawned The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, creating a broad narrative arc that will soon include The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled for release in 2026.
Building a new trilogy
After the film arrives, Ahsoka season 2 and a theatrical project directed by Dave Filoni are expected to push the storyline toward a culminating confrontation.
Collectively, they form what many consider a spiritual successor to the sequel trilogy, mirroring the narrative function The Force Awakens once served.
The Mandoverse explores ideas long requested by fans: a fully capable Luke Skywalker, the political atmosphere of the New Republic, and the looming danger of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Unlike the 2015 relaunch, which revived the brand after years of dormancy, these stories act more like a direct extension of the original trilogy.
Fractured perceptions
Because The Force Awakens attempted to restart the franchise, it faced inevitable criticism.
Although the film surpassed $2 billion globally and earned strong reviews, later backlash toward The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker altered its legacy.
Filoni’s upcoming film may further reshape how audiences interpret the sequels.
With Thrawn organizing Imperial remnants and the New Republic struggling to respond, the Mandoverse is setting up a decisive conflict that sits just before the sequel timeline.
The Luke question
One key challenge remains: the portrayal of Luke Skywalker. His previous appearances used a digital double of a younger Mark Hamill, prompting debate about whether recasting is necessary.
Lucasfilm has reportedly resisted recasting after Solo underperformed, leaving the future depiction of Luke, Leia, and Han unresolved.
How the studio handles these legacy figures may determine whether the Mandoverse can fully function as a new Episode VII, a reimagined continuation of the saga that in many ways eclipses The Force Awakens.
Sources: Screenrant, IGN Nordic, MovieHouse
