The next Star Wars series arriving on Disney+ will focus on one of the franchise’s most infamous villains.
Yet the bigger picture surrounding the platform’s lineup tells a different story. For now, Lucasfilm’s future on Disney+ appears to lean far more heavily toward animation than live action.
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That shift comes after several uneven years for the franchise.
When Disney released the sequel trilogy — The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — the films became massive box office hits. Together, the trilogy earned more than $4.4 billion worldwide.
However, the reception among fans was far more complicated.
Many viewers praised The Force Awakens for reviving the franchise after a decade-long theatrical absence. At the same time, critics and fans quickly pointed out that the film closely mirrored the structure of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977).
Debate intensified with The Last Jedi.
Director Rian Johnson’s film deliberately subverted many traditional Star Wars story beats. Luke Skywalker was portrayed as a disillusioned hermit, Supreme Leader Snoke was killed without explanation, and the film suggested Rey’s parents were not important figures.
For some fans, the approach felt bold. For others, it felt like a rejection of the saga’s core mythology.
The trilogy’s conclusion, The Rise of Skywalker, attempted to reverse several of those decisions. Emperor Palpatine returned as the central villain, Rey was revealed to be his granddaughter, and several plotlines introduced in the previous film were quickly rewritten.
Many critics argued the final film felt rushed and reactionary.
The trilogy’s shifting creative direction became one of the most persistent criticisms. Unlike the original and prequel trilogies, the three films were developed without a single overarching plan guiding the story.
Lucasfilm subsequently shifted its focus toward Disney+.
Animation Takes Center Stage on Disney+
Streaming quickly became the franchise’s most consistent outlet.
The Mandalorian launched alongside Disney+ in 2019 and became a defining success for the service. The series introduced characters such as Din Djarin and Grogu, who quickly became central to the franchise’s modern era.
Another major success followed with Andor, a politically driven prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). The series earned strong reviews and was widely praised for its writing and performances (although Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni allegedly isn't quite as keen).
Other shows proved more divisive.
The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka received mixed reactions from audiences, while The Acolyte sparked intense online backlash after its release.
Despite the mixed reception, live-action Star Wars dominated Disney+ for several years.
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That pipeline now appears to be slowing.
On April 6, Disney+ will debut Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord.
The animated series follows Maul — a former Sith lord — as he attempts to rebuild his life and recruit a new apprentice after the Clone Wars. The project expands on the character’s story following his appearances in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
Dave Filoni has confirmed that the show will lean heavily on ideas developed by George Lucas.
Episodes will release two at a time each week, building toward a finale on May 4 — widely celebrated by fans as Star Wars Day.
Filoni has also confirmed that Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has already been greenlit for a second season (via StarWars.com). Lucasfilm Animation is currently developing the new installment, though a release date has not been announced.
Animation is also continuing elsewhere in the franchise.
Later this year, Lucasfilm will release The Ninth Jedi, an anime spinoff connected to Star Wars: Visions Presents. The series expands the anthology’s collaboration with Japanese animation studios.
Lucasfilm Refocuses on Theatrical Films
Meanwhile, Lucasfilm is preparing to return to theaters.
The studio’s next film, The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026), will be the first Star Wars movie released since The Rise of Skywalker.
Several additional projects remain in development.
Among them is Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), a standalone film set years after The Rise of Skywalker. The movie will star Ryan Gosling and explore a new era of storytelling in the galaxy.
Other projects have faced delays.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy remains attached to direct a film centered on Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. Development has taken longer than expected, with multiple screenwriters joining then exiting the troubled project.
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A separate project from James Mangold and Beau Willimon exploring the origins of the Jedi has also been paused, according to former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
After several turbulent years, Lucasfilm appears to be slowing its release pipeline.
The studio is focusing on rebuilding its theatrical slate before expanding further on Disney+, where production budgets have climbed dramatically.
Disney reportedly spent $230 million producing The Acolyte and $645 million on Andor. Those figures rival the budgets of major theatrical releases.
For the moment, that likely means Disney+ subscribers will see more animated Star Wars stories while the next era of films takes shape.
