35 Years Later, Heir To The Empire Can Save Star Wars Again

35 years after it brought new life into the franchise, Star Wars‘ Heir to the Empire storyline can save the galaxy again. In 2023, Lucasfilm announced three big upcoming Star Wars movies, all of which have, unfortunately, fallen prey to the one key worry audiences had: they might not see the light of day. While James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi movie, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey Skywalker story, and Dave Filoni’s New Republic epic are all technically still in development, little of note has been provided about any of them in the years since their announcement.

The latter of these three, though, has one hope: Star Wars’ TV shows. The New Republic era of the franchise is still in focus, from The Mandalorian‘s continued success to the only live-action show still to be released in the franchise’s future. That show is Ahsoka season 2, which is set to release in January 2027. While it is currently unclear how the story of that season will conclude, many assumed it would be a prelude to Dave Filoni’s New Republic movie.

After all, Ahsoka season 2 is continuing to establish Thrawn’s resurgence in the Star Wars galaxy, with the villain teased as the main villain of Filoni’s movie all those years ago. Therefore, Ahsoka season 2 is the last hope for Star Wars’ New Republic era to continue; The Mandalorian and Grogu was a box office disappointment, and the overall hype of that show dwindled after season 2. The same can be said for The Book of Boba Fett, which was essentially dead on arrival, and while Skeleton Crew was great fun, it was mostly standalone within the wider New Republic timeline.

With only Ahsoka still to come, the show needs to recapture the excitement for the Heir to the Empire movie that once was. If it cannot, it is unlikely that Filoni’s movie is ever placed into production. If Ahsoka season 2 succeeds, though, Heir to the Empire could save Star Wars by rounding off the New Republic story with an Avengers-style movie that pleases both audiences and critics, something that is proving increasingly difficult to do for Lucasfilm.

What Went Wrong With Star Wars’ New Republic Era

Concerning what went wrong with Star Wars‘ New Republic era, it is as simple as a lack of focus. The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2 told a tight story, weaving wider Star Wars Easter eggs and plot points with the show’s central characters effortlessly. However, season 3 fumbled this somewhat by walking back several elements of earlier installments. The Book of Boba Fett was also not up to scratch and ended up being a messy blend of the titular character’s own tale and The Mandalorian season 2.5.

At this point, it became clear that the New Republic era was expanding, but with little to no structured plan. Ahsoka season 1 seemed to regain The Mandalorian‘s earlier focus somewhat, but the show was okay, at best. Skeleton Crew was enjoyable but inconsequential, with no one really knowing how, if at all, it would tie into wider New Republic projects. The intense focus and quality that were present with The Mandalorian season 2 faded, throwing the New Republic era into slightly controlled chaos and rendering Ahsoka season 2 its last chance to succeed in the future.

Star Wars’ Avengers Movie Could Still Work

Despite the hurdles that the New Republic era has faced thus far, it is worth noting that Star Wars‘ Avengers-style Heir to the Empire movie could work. The promise of a big-screen adventure blending several Star Wars storylines to bridge the gap between two trilogies alone is enough cause for excitement. Beyond that vague possibility, though, there would be a lot going for Dave Filoni’s movie, starting with a cast of movie stars. Based on the shows of the New Republic era, a central trio of Pedro Pascal, Jude Law, and Rosario Dawson is very likely.

Add to that the wider main characters of the era thus far, like Hayden Christensen, Ming Na Wen, Temuera Morrison, and the possible return of original trilogy characters, and there is a star-studded cast primed and ready for the big screen. Then there are the characters for bigger Star Wars fans to enjoy, like those from The Clone Wars and Rebels. Overall, Star Wars‘ Heir to the Empire would work in theory to bring the franchise’s excitement back; it just needs a helping hand from Ahsoka season 2 first.

Release Date

August 22, 2023

Network

Disney+

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