Star Wars‘ next theatrical movie is set to repeat a trick that George Lucas introduced to the franchise 17 years ago. Star Wars’ upcoming movies are bringing the franchise back to the big screen for the first time since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
By the time of The Mandalorian and Grogu‘s release date, it would have been almost seven years since a Star Wars movie had been released in theaters. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter will then release the year after, making it two in two years.
This will leave behind an era of well-ranked Star Wars TV shows, though the next film in the franchise will link to the small screen by repeating a George Lucas trick from 17 years ago.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Is Taking A TV Show To The Big Screen
The trick in question is making a Star Wars movie based on a TV show. Lucas first did this in 2008 with Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which debuted with a theatrical movie that was simply four episodes of the show mashed together.
As such, Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ theatrical movie can be classed as one that was inherently a TV project. Even beyond this, 2003’s Star Wars: Clone Wars was a 2D-animated show that, despite being non-canon now, included many plot points and characters that were eventually used in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
With The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars is repeating this trick. The two titular characters debuted in The Mandalorian in 2019, with three seasons airing on Disney+ between then and 2023. The Mandalorian and Grogu will bring them to the big screen, emulating what the franchise’s creator did with The Clone Wars in 2008.
The Clone Wars Movie Was The Beginning Of A New Era For Star Wars
Back in 2008, this trick by Lucas proved to be a good decision. The Clone Wars is now considered among the best Star Wars TV shows for its expansion of the prequel era, the way it fleshed out existing characters like Anakin and Obi-Wan, and its introduction of some all-time great Star Wars TV characters.
In many ways, The Clone Wars ushered in a new era of Star Wars that only ended once Disney acquired the franchise in 2012. Even after that, a revered show like Star Wars Rebels continued what The Clone Wars started, before the latter show itself was revived in 2020. With The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm will be hoping for the same effect.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Will Hopefully Be Better Than The Clone Wars Film
The only difference Lucasfilm will be hoping for this time around, however, is that The Mandalorian and Grogu is better than the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. The latter received a Rotten Tomatoes rating of only 18%, as it was clear the “film” was crafted as four episodes of a 20-minute TV show.
Although The Clone Wars went on to be very successful, this was solely due to the show’s quality, rather than any benefits brought about by the film. Therefore, audiences are hoping The Mandalorian and Grogu will be much better. With such promising characters and the foundation built by the show, Star Wars‘ repeat of Lucas’ 17-year-old trick will hopefully be successful in more ways than one.
- Cast
-
Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
-
The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
-
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
-
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
