The ‘Star Wars’ Comeback You Didn’t Expect: Prequel Era Returns as Disney+ Shows Get the Boot
The Star Wars galaxy is set to return to the prequel trilogy in January 2025, a thrilling announcement for fans of George Lucas’s epic saga. This news comes on the heels of The Acolyte’s official cancellation and widespread rumors that The Mandalorian TV series may meet a similar fate. With Lucasfilm pivoting towards different projects, it’s clear the future of the Star Wars franchise is undergoing a seismic shift.
Lucasfilm, the production company behind Star Wars, is in the middle of a transformative period. Right now, only one TV show is officially in development—Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka Season 2—with a feature film, directed by Jon Favreau, in the works for 2026 titled The Mandalorian and Grogu.
However, a number of other films are also reportedly in the pipeline, including a Mando-Verse movie from Filoni himself, as well as projects from James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and Shawn Levy. That said, given Lucasfilm’s recent record with development, it’s hard to say which, if any, of these projects will see the light of day.
The year 2024 brought more turbulence to Lucasfilm and Disney, particularly with the release of The Acolyte, a show set during the High Republic era. Created by Leslye Headland, the show had the potential to span multiple seasons, but instead, it faced an overwhelming wave of backlash, reminiscent of the criticism Disney faced during the sequel trilogy era.
Despite the high hopes for the series, The Acolyte was canceled earlier this year, with Disney attributing the decision to low viewership. However, this cancellation was compounded by a near-constant barrage of negative feedback from fans and critics alike. Cast members, including Amandla Stenberg (Osha/Mae Aniseya), Manny Jacinto (Qimir/The Stranger), Lee Jung-jae (Jedi Master Sol), and Rebecca Henderson (Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh), have spoken out about the backlash and its impact on the show’s premature end.
Shortly after the end of The Acolyte, reports began to surface that The Mandalorian Season 4 might also be on the chopping block. With two New Republic-era movies already on the slate—Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu and Filoni’s potential “Heir to the Empire”—it seems Disney is shifting focus away from the episodic format of The Mandalorian. This speculation gains further weight when considering Pedro Pascal’s reduced role in the series.
Pascal, who plays Din Djarin, the titular Mandalorian, no longer physically portrays the character, only lending his voice. In the most recent season, Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze has stepped into a leading role, a move that may signal the series’ shift in direction.
While these cancellations and rumored endings have left some fans disappointed, the announcement of a return to the prequel trilogy era offers a ray of excitement. In January 2025, Star Wars will re-release the classic game “Star Wars: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles”. Originally released in 2000 on PlayStation and later appearing on Dreamcast and Game Boy Advance, this beloved title allowed players to take control of iconic Jedi, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Mace Windu, Adi Gallia, and Plo Koon.
Set during the same timeline as Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace (1999), the game tasked players with fighting through waves of enemies while using the Force and wielding lightsabers, following a storyline loosely based on the events of the movie.
In this re-release, almost 25 years after its original debut, “Jedi Power Battles” will be available on modern platforms, including Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch. According to the game’s synopsis, per 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 re-release highlights how Star Wars has never been confined solely to its blockbuster films. The franchise’s success and lasting cultural impact can be seen in its vast collection of video games, books, comics, and TV series that explore the universe in much greater detail. The films, from Star Wars: Episode IV–A New Hope (1977) to the latest entries, have always been supplemented by these additional narratives, allowing fans to immerse themselves deeper into the galaxy far, far away.
One of the most exciting developments in the Star Wars canon is the upcoming New Republic comic book trilogy. Set to begin with “Insurgency Rising,” this series will explore the aftermath of the Galactic Empire’s fall, reframing the end of Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983) and delving into the political complexities and conflicts of the New Republic. This new series promises to provide fans with a richer understanding of what happened during the Battle of Jakku, expanding on events that shaped the future of the galaxy.
As we look ahead, Star Wars continues to embrace both the old and the new, giving fans a chance to relive nostalgic moments from the past while expanding the franchise in fresh directions. Whether it’s diving into the rich lore of the prequel trilogy with “Jedi Power Battles” or exploring the political turmoil of the New Republic in the new comic series, there’s no shortage of Star Wars content on the horizon.
Will you be picking up “Jedi Power Battles” when it hits shelves in January 2025? Let us know your thoughts.
