May and June so far have been incredible for Star Wars fans, Star Wars Celebration, the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and dozens of upcoming releases announced. All kinds of products are about to go on sale or are in the production process.
There are new products revealed every week, maybe even every day. I’d like to list everything, but it’s impossible for me to keep up with absolutely everything. So, here are all the things that I’m most excited about.
By the time this article is published, there are probably going to be more things to add to this list. What a time to be a Star Wars fan!
The Mandalorian Season 3 Announced
One of the highlights of Star Wars Celebration was the announcement of the next season of The Mandalorian. The new season is premiering in February 2023!
We know that Din Djarin will be heading to Mandalore in an attempt to claim his honor back. Bo Katan hasn’t given up on ruling what’s left of her culture, but the darksaber is still owned by Din. This season will bring us closer to the culminating event that is said to reunite lots of characters from different shows.
I’m eager to see who will join our favorite Mandalorian in this new season. Hopefully, some familiar faces like Fennec Shand or Ahsoka return to aid him. But I also want to meet know new strong characters to spice it up.
Andor Release Date Announced
The new Rebel Alliance-focused series will explore a darker side of the “good guys”. Cassian Andor, the rebel spy that has been involved in the conflict since the Clone Wars is the star of this series. Andor will start streaming on August 31, 2022. Watch the trailer here!
The Empire rules with an iron fist, everyone is being watched 24/7. Mon Mothma, a leader of the Rebel Alliance and also a member of the Imperial Senate will need to live a double life if she expects to do something that really undermines the Galactic Empire’s reign of terror.
Diego Luna, the actor that plays Andor mentioned how we’re going to meet a very different version of the character. My guess is that the line between good and evil will be very blurred. The events that happen along the two seasons that this show is going to last will shape him to be the Cassian Andor that we saw for the first time in Rogue One.
Ahsoka series New Details
Watching Ahsoka in a live-action project for the first time was incredible, after all those years developing in the Clone Wars the beloved Jedi was finally brought to life. And now, we’re going with her on a journey that continues what Star Wars Rebels left unfinished.
In a desperate attempt to save Lothal, Ezra Bridger made a plan to send Admiral Thrawn’s cruiser into unknown regions. Sadly, he wasn’t able to leave the ship in time. In 2023, Sabine, Chopper, and Hera will reunite with Ahsoka to look for their old friend.
More characters will show up but the ones I just mentioned are the ones we are 100% sure to make an appearance. There are so many questions about this, how is Ezra doing? Has he developed as a Jedi? Where is the Grand Admiral Thrawn hiding?
After Darth Vader, I think of Grand Admiral Thrawn as the most dangerous threat for anyone. I’m sure he has something terrifying planned for the ones that robbed him of his glorious victory.
The Bad Batch Season 2 Details
After the destruction of the cloning facility on Kamino at the hands of the newly formed Galactic Empire, Clone Force 99 will have to decide which path they’re going to follow. Season 2 of the Bad Batch arrives next Fall. Watch the sneak peek!
The elite unit of clone troopers was known for being amongst the best squadrons in the Grand Army of the Republic. But now, they are being hunted by their former brothers. Surviving when there’s a bounty on their heads won’t be easy.
Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, and Omega must decide what to do against the imminent threat of the Empire. Previously, they received help from Captain Rex. Commander Cody is confirmed to appear in the series, perhaps he will become an ally.
Tales of the Jedi – new animated series announced
A new animated series that is going to explore the two paths of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. This 6-part animated short will premiere this fall on Disney+.
According to Dave Filoni, the episodes will show us the characters in a way we’ve never seen before. The concept art features the two iconic characters in three different eras of their lives. Of course, watching a younger Count Dooku means we’re also going to see Qui-Gon Jinn. The coolest part about this is that Liam Neeson is returning to voice the Jedi Master!
An important point is that some of the stories are all but happy. Just like Clone Wars or Rebels, it all starts with a happy and positive mood, but as the story progresses it gets darker with every episode. I think we’re finally going to see the moment Count Dooku loses his faith in the Jedi Order and the Republic, that’s so exciting! Fun fact, Janina Gavankar (Iden Versio from Star Wars Battlefront II) is voicing Ahsoka’s mom. How cool is that?
Update: D23 showed us a trailer for Tales of the Jedi and we learned new information about the show. We also know the release date – October 26, 2022.
Star Wars Visions Volume 2 shorts reveal
Star Wars Visions is a series of shorts made by some of the best anime studios in the world. Every episode is very different from each others in terms of visuals, storytelling, action sequences, and tone. The next edition of Star Wars Visions is coming in spring 2023.
There aren’t many details available yet, but we know that for the second volume, stories will be developed by teams from Japan, India, the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, South Africa, and the United States.
George Lucas has mentioned several times how he studied different aspects of many cultures around the world; linguistics, power structures, politics, social dynamics, and war tactics, to name a few. The second volume will show us how Star Wars could look from many different lenses. It’s certainly going to be a very refreshing experience!
Young Jedi Adventures animated series for kids
The first full-length animated series for preschoolers and their families is coming to Disney+ and Disney Junior in spring 2023.
The series will cover the stories of Younglings as they start the journey of becoming Jedi Knights. The main topics will include patience, friendship, teamwork, compassion, and self-discipline. The series will take place in the High Republic era.
I think this is a very exciting project. Star Wars can easily change the life of someone in a positive way. Using the appeal that the franchise and characters have to impact small kids with values that are transcendental in life is an awesome idea. I’m sure even grown-up adults will be able to learn a thing or two from this upcoming series.
Skeleton Crew
A group of kids ends up stranded on an unknown planet. This story will take place in the same period as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka series. Skeleton Crew is set to be released sometime in 2023.
Even though kids are the main characters, Filoni compared the tone of this show to the Clone Wars. So we might actually get some pretty dark moments. We’ll have to wait before learning more details about it, but we know that Jude Law will be one of the starring actors. Jon Watts is going to be the director.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Release Date and First Trailer
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will continue the story of Cal Kestis in what promises to be a worthy successor to the acclaimed game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. We know it’s coming out in 2023, but so far, there’s no specific date.
Cal Kestis was a youngling when Order 66 happened. After a series of events, he teamed up with Cere Junda, a former Jedi Knight. With the help of other companions, they decided to join forces to prevent the Empire from acquiring a Jedi Holocron that contains the information of thousands of force-sensitive children.
They might have succeeded, but the fight against the Galactic Empire never truly ends. Jedi: Survivor takes place five years after those events. I’m expecting to see a more mature and powerful Cal Kestis. I hope this is just as entertaining as the first game, if not better. If you’re more interested in this topic, read the teaser trailer breakdown.
Star Wars: Hunters
Star Wars: Hunters is an upcoming multiplayer arena-combat game. The game will consist of 4v4 battles in different arenas that resemble some of the most iconic locations in Star Wars. Star Wars Hunters will arrive later in 2022 for Nintendo Switch and mobile.
There are up to eleven characters to pick from, all of them with different abilities, weaknesses, and strengths. It is up to you and your team to make the best strategy to outmaneuver your enemies. All of these characters have background stories, they might not have an impact on the greater picture, but I like when the creators care about the player connecting with the characters.
Visually, it is a combination of Ralph McQuarrie’s paintings and a cartoonish style, which makes perfect sense considering it is a game launching on Nintendo Switch and mobile. It’s been quite a while since they announced it for the first time so I hope it is a fun and entertaining experience that doesn’t get old too fast.
LEGO: BD-1
The always trusty companion featured in Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order will have its own LEGO set! The set’s release date is August 1st, 2022.
BD-1 is an invaluable ally, getting from point A to point B, slicing doors, and hacking computers are just some of the capabilities of this little friend. Without it, Cal Kestis would be stuck for a long time. It has taken a long time, but I’m so happy that Star Wars videogames are finally making their way into other forms of merchandise.
The BD-1 set is made of 1062 pieces, the built droid is going to be around 31 cm in height. According to Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, creative director of LEGO Star Wars, it is an intermediate difficulty due to the number of pieces included in the set. It is considered a collectible, so if you’re going to play with it you must be careful. Its retail price is $99.99 USD.
You can check out the BD-1 LEGO Set Review here on VULKK.com if you are wondering how this build works, who is it for, is it worth the money and any other questions.
New legacy lightsabers
Galaxy’s Edge has become one of the best places to acquire one-of-a-kind lightsabers for an arguably decent price. Every few months new models arrive at Disney Parks. A week ago the new models were finally revealed. Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, and Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsabers will become available in the near future.
Additionally, a new poll to vote for your favorite lightsaber is available today!
The winner of the poll will be produced and later released at Galaxy’s Edge. Here are all the options you can vote for:
I personally own the Temple Guard and the previous Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsabers. I’ll try to get my hands on the new Kenobi saber and Darth Sidious’ one. Which saber are you voting for? I really like Kannan’s lightsaber but Sifo-Dyas’s hilt has a dark side vibe to it and I really like that.
L0-LA59
The new Obi-Wan Kenobi series has introduced new characters that have captivated the fans. It’s basically a tradition that every major project includes a droid with an “interesting personality”. This time we got L0-LA59, a small droid that resembles a ladybug. “Lola” is the companion of the young Princess Leia. It might not have as many tools as R2-D2 or Chopper, but I’m sure it has some very cool tricks under its sleeve.
Hasbro is going to release different editions of L0-LA59, but the most noticeable one is the animatronic version. It will feature 45+ combinations of light, sound, and movement through 3 modes of play, all of these are unlockable through a sensor. It even reacts to certain sounds!
L0-LA59 will be a perfect companion for all the young girls who want to cosplay as Leia. Or if you love droids then this will be a fine addition to your collection. L0-LA59 will be available to ship on approximately December 1st, 2022. The retail price is $89.99 USD.
D23 Expo
I thought Star Wars Celebration would be the first (and last) event of the year where we’d learn about all the things Lucasfilm and Disney have planned for us. However, a few days ago “D23” aka “The Ultimate Disney Fan Event” announced that Lucasfilm will have its own panel when the event occurs in September.
D23 is Disney’s stellar event of the year where we learn about the new projects that are being developed. Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel, and of course, Star Wars will have dedicated panels.
It’s too soon to accurately predict what’s going to be revealed, but I’d guess at least a release date for Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie, more details about The Acolyte or Skeleton Crew, and maybe something unexpected. The fun thing about these events is that you never know what’s going to happen!
