The Star Wars universe continues to evolve with exciting developments and notable changes at Lucasfilm. In January 2025, fans of the Star Wars prequel trilogy can expect a return to that beloved era following the cancellation of The Acolyte and rumors surrounding the potential discontinuation of The Mandalorian TV series.
Lucasfilm, the powerhouse behind the Star Wars franchise, is undergoing a period of transition. As it stands, Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka Season 2 remains the only confirmed TV project in development. In addition, Jon Favreau is working on The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film slated for a 2026 release.
Beyond these projects, other films in various stages of development include Dave Filoni’s Mando-Verse film, James Mangold’s upcoming feature, and movies from directors like Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and Shawn Levy. However, given Lucasfilm’s recent history, the actual realization of these projects remains uncertain.
2024 saw a major shake-up in both Lucasfilm and Disney, especially regarding their television endeavors. The High Republic-era series The Acolyte, created by Leslye Headland, faced an onslaught of criticism reminiscent of the backlash encountered during the release of Disney’s sequel trilogy. Despite its potential for multiple seasons, The Acolyte was abruptly canceled, with Disney citing low viewership numbers.
This reasoning, however, may have been compounded by the relentless negative feedback the show received. Cast members like Amandla Stenberg (Osha/Mae Aniseya), Manny Jacinto (Qimir/The Stranger), and others have spoken about the impact of this backlash, reflecting on the challenges they faced during the show’s production and release.
In the aftermath of The Acolyte‘s cancellation, rumors began circulating that The Mandalorian Season 4 would also be scrapped. While not yet confirmed, this would align with the planned cinematic shift in the Star Wars timeline, as Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu movie and Filoni’s film, often referred to as “Heir to the Empire,” would move the New Republic narrative forward.
Moreover, from a production standpoint, the cancellation of The Mandalorian makes sense as Pedro Pascal, who plays Din Djarin, no longer physically portrays the character but only lends his voice. Recent seasons of the show have seen Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze take on a more central role, signaling a possible transition away from the original protagonist.
Amid all this change, Lucasfilm is set to revisit the Star Wars prequel trilogy era with a re-release of “Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles”. Originally launched in 2000, this action-adventure game, set during the events of Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999), allowed players to embody various Jedi characters, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Mace Windu.
The game tasks players with battling enemies, navigating jumping puzzles, and wielding the Force across several iconic locations from The Phantom Menace. The 2025 re-release will make this classic game available on modern platforms, including Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch.
A synopsis of the game reads (via Eurogamer): “Use the power of the Force and your trusty lightsaber against legions of droids, assassins, and other legendary foes as you fight through iconic locations from Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace like Theed Palace and more.” This marks another example of how Star Wars thrives not only through its films but also through a broader multimedia universe of video games, novels, comics, and TV shows.
Fans eager for fresh content from the New Republic era will also be pleased to hear about a new comic book trilogy centered around the pivotal Battle of Jakku. Kicking off with “Insurgency Rising,” the trilogy is poised to reframe the ending of Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983), diving deeper into the fall of the Galactic Empire and the early challenges faced by the fledgling New Republic.
As Star Wars heads into 2025, the franchise continues to expand in new directions while still celebrating its beloved past. Whether you’re looking forward to revisiting “Jedi Power Battles” or curious about where Filoni’s Mando-Verse event will lead, one thing is certain: the Force remains strong with this enduring galaxy far, far away.
Will you be revisiting the prequel era with “Jedi Power Battles” next January? Let us know in the comments below!
