A new chapter of Star Wars is taking shape — though not necessarily where fans might expect it.
Lucasfilm is preparing to return to theaters after several years away. At the same time, the franchise’s presence on Disney+ appears to be shifting in a different direction.
For now, that direction looks increasingly animated.
Disney’s stewardship of Star Wars has produced mixed results. The sequel trilogy — The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — earned billions worldwide but divided fans over its creative direction and long-term narrative planning.
Those divisions became part of the broader conversation surrounding the franchise under Disney. Questions about continuity, character arcs, and Lucasfilm’s roadmap for the saga have lingered since the trilogy concluded in 2019.
In response, the studio expanded aggressively into streaming.
Disney+ quickly became a key platform for Star Wars, beginning with The Mandalorian. The series proved an early success for the service, drawing strong viewership and introducing characters like Grogu who quickly became central to the franchise’s modern era.
Another standout followed with Andor, the political thriller set before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Critics praised its grounded storytelling and mature tone, with many fans calling it one of the strongest projects produced during Disney’s tenure.
Still, the streaming era has been uneven.
Projects such as The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka generated mixed reactions from audiences. Meanwhile, The Acolyte faced significant backlash online despite its attempt to explore a new era of the franchise.
As Lucasfilm prepares its next phase, that mixed reception appears to be shaping the studio’s strategy.
Lucasfilm Expands Its Animated ‘Star Wars’ Strategy
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 continues Lucasfilm Animation’s tradition of exploring darker corners of the galaxy.
Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni has confirmed that the series draws heavily on ideas developed by George Lucas. Episodes will debut two at a time on Disney+, continuing weekly until May 4, better known as Star Wars Day.
The series may also signal a larger shift.
Filoni has confirmed that Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is already greenlit for a second season (via StarWars.com). Lucasfilm Animation is currently working on the next installment, although a release window has not yet been announced.
That marks one of the few recent updates about Star Wars projects on Disney+.
For several years, the franchise delivered at least one live-action series annually. Recently, that pipeline has slowed.
The only confirmed live-action project currently scheduled for Disney+ is Season 2 of Ahsoka. Filming wrapped last fall, but Lucasfilm has not announced when the series will premiere.
Rumors have circulated about the second seasons of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Skeleton Crew. Neither project has officially moved forward.
Animation, however, remains active.
Later this year, Lucasfilm will release The Ninth Jedi, an anime spinoff connected to Star Wars: Visions Presents. The project continues the anthology’s collaboration with anime studios reinterpreting Star Wars mythology.
Taken together, the near-term Disney+ slate leans heavily toward animated storytelling.
Theatrical ‘Star Wars’ Films Move Forward
The shift comes as Lucasfilm refocuses on theatrical releases.
The studio’s next film will be The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026), marking the franchise’s first return to theaters since The Rise of Skywalker. The movie brings the characters of Din Djarin and Grogu from Disney+ to the big screen.
Several other projects are also in development.
Among them is Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), a standalone story set years after The Rise of Skywalker. The film will star Ryan Gosling and is intended to explore a new era of the galaxy following the sequel trilogy.
Other projects have progressed more slowly.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy remains attached to direct a film centered on Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. Development has faced repeated delays as Lucasfilm continues refining the story.
A separate film from James Mangold and Beau Willimon, focused on the origins of the Jedi, has also paused. Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy previously confirmed the project is on hold.
After several turbulent years, Lucasfilm appears to be slowing the pace of its releases.
The studio is focusing on rebuilding its theatrical slate before expanding further on Disney+, where large budgets have not always translated into major returns.
Disney reportedly spent $230 million producing The Acolyte and roughly $645 million on Andor. Those figures rival major theatrical films but generate far less direct revenue through streaming.
For now, that likely means Disney+ viewers will see more animated stories while the next era of Star Wars films takes shape.
