Star Wars Celebration 2023 took place in London, England and with a ton of news, trailers, castings and more coming from the event we are here to break it down.
The Star Wars Celebration is a fan gathering to celebrate the Star Wars franchise. It all began in 1999, when Lucasfilm held the first Star Wars Celebration in Denver, Colorado to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
This year’s event, also known as Celebration Europe IV, took place from April 7–10, 2023 at ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London, United Kingdom. Take a look at some of the announcements made.
ANDOR SEASON 2
The mastermind behind the thrilling movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Tony Gilroy, and a stellar cast of Diego Luna, Adria Arjona, Kyle Soller, Andy Serkis, Denise Gough, Genevieve O’Reilly, and Joplin Sibtain recently took the stage to bask in the adoration of their fans. Amidst thunderous applause, the cast shared that they’re hard at work to create an ending that they will be proud of. The highly-anticipated season 2 is on its way but will, unfortunately, debut only in August of 2025, so fans have a long wait ahead.
THREE NEW LIVE-ACTION STAR WARS MOVIES
After eagerly anticipating a return to the big screen since 2019’s epic finale, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans can now rejoice as Star Wars Celebration 2023 has officially announced the arrival of not one, but THREE new Star Wars movies! The galaxy far, far away will be brought back to life through the visionary direction of James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said the three newly announced Star Wars movies are “pretty far along” in development.
THE RETURN OF REY
The force is awakening once again as we welcome back the return of a beloved Jedi. Excitement filled the air when Daisy Ridley made a surprise announcement that Rey will be taking the lead in an upcoming film set 15 years after the thrilling events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This time, under the direction of the talented Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel), Rey takes on the role of a Jedi master in charge of rebuilding the Jedi Order. The story is set in a Jedi academy, and fans can expect to witness Rey’s journey as she follows in Luke Skywalker’s footsteps.
AHSOKA
In a galaxy far, far away, the epic adventures of Ahsoka Tano continue with a brand new teaser trailer!
Rosario Dawson takes on the role of the former Jedi, accompanied by Sabine Wren, the fierce and loyal Mandalorian played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Together, they embark on a quest to track down a missing friend. Get ready to dive into the action, as these two powerful women navigate the dangerous and unpredictable world of Star Wars.
The latest trailer for the upcoming Star Wars series gave us a sneak peek of the talented Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing none other than Hera Syndulla – the fierce character from Star Wars Rebels, originally voiced by Vanessa Marshall.
As revealed by Dave Filoni during a trailer screening, everyone’s favorite Jedi padawan, Ahsoka, will be making her debut on Disney+ this August 2023. Get ready to journey back to a galaxy far, far away and follow Ahsoka on her epic adventures!
THE ACOLYTE
If you thought The Acolyte sounded cool before, wait until you hear how showrunner Leslye Headland pitched it to Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. She described the upcoming series as a fusion of Frozen and Kill Bill, set in the fascinating High Republic era.
The cast includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, and Joonas Suotamo.
SKELTON CREW
Jude Law will soon embark on an interstellar adventure of epic proportions in Skeleton Crew. The masterminds behind the hit series Spider-Man: Homecoming, Chris Ford and Jon Watts, have come together once again to create a world that is truly out of this world. In this brilliantly crafted series, a group of young and daring interstellar explorers will take us on a journey beyond our wildest imagination as they try to find their way back home. “It’s a wide galaxy,” Dave Filoni explained. “It’s more dangerous than you think.”
The show, which is already in post-production, will see Watts, David Lowery, the Daniels, Jake Schreirer, Bryce Dalles Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung all serve as directors. A snippet from Star Wars Celebration 2023 showed Law playing a Jedi who showed off his connection to the Force by floating a key into his hand.
LARS MIKKELSEN TO PLAY GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN
Fans at Star Wars Celebration 2023 were ecstatic to see their favorite Imperial, Grand Admiral Thrawn, return to the screen this time in live-action with Lars Mikkelsen reprising the role. The thunderous applause during his appearance at the Ahsoka panel proved that Mikkelsen’s performance in Rebels was deeply appreciated by the audience. It’s always thrilling to see such beloved characters brought to life, and this return is no exception.
STAR WARS ANIMATION
As confirmed by Dave Filoni at the Clone Wars 15th Anniversary panel, Tales of the Jedi has been renewed for a second season. Additionally confirmed during Star Wars Celebration 2023’s dedicated panel for The Bad Batch, it was confirmed that the animated The Clone Wars spin-off series will be receiving a third and final season on Disney+. The final chapter is scheduled to release in 2024.
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR FINAL TRAILER
Get ready to wield your lightsaber once again, because Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming! The final gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated sequel was just released at Star Wars Celebration 2023, and it’s truly out of this galaxy. With new combat styles to master alongside your allies, heart-pumping speeder bike sequences to navigate through, and a climactic showdown with a massive rancor, this game promises to be even more thrilling than its predecessor, Jedi: Fallen Order. Don’t just take our word for it, check out the incredible gameplay trailer for yourself and prepare to embark on an epic intergalactic adventure on April 28!
THE END OF STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC PHASE II
Star Wars: The High Republic is gearing up to wrap up Phase II with a bang. Fans were delighted to hear the news at the recent panel, where it was confirmed that the final books and comics revolving around the “Night of Sorrow” are in the works. A special teaser image was unveiled, showcasing the courageous Jedi Oliviah Zeveron and the formidable Mother from the Path of the Open Hand. But what really caught everyone’s attention was the ominous presence of the Nameless, a fierce monster whose eyes reflected each of our heroes. The anticipation for the epic conclusion to this gripping saga is palpable!
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC PHASE III
In an exciting announcement, the High Republic panel has unveiled the next phase of their publishing initiative: “Trials of the Jedi.” Fans can look forward to a thrilling lineup of novels and comics that are sure to transport them to a galaxy far, far away. Get ready for an epic journey filled with adventure, danger, and of course, Jedi! Discover the latest tales from this beloved universe and prepare to be captivated by the incredible storytelling that awaits. Here are the confirmed novels and comics:
- Author Alyssa Wong joins the High Republic creative team with the young adult anthology Tales of Light and Life, releasing September 5, 2023.
- George Mann to write The Eye of Darkness, a Phase II story about the Nihil in a tale set about a year after the fall of Starlight Beacon, releasing November 14, 2023.
- Friend of the Capes and Tights Podcast, Cavan Scott to continue The High Republic comic series for Marvel with the first issue coming in December 2023.
- Alyssa Wong and Daniel José Older join forces for Escape from Valo, a young adult novel releasing January 30, 2024.
- Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland to co-write Defy the Storm, a YA novel releasing March 12, 2024.
- Tessa Gratton to write Temptation of the Force, coming Summer 2024.
- Beware the Nameless to be written by Zoraida Córdova, releasing Summer of 2024.
- George Mann returns to write Tears of the Nameless, releasing in the Fall of 2024.
- Justina Ireland will write A Valiant Vow, releasing Spring of 2025.
- Claudia Gray writes Into the Light, releasing Spring 2025.
- Charles Soule will write the final novel of Phase III, Trials of the Jedi, releasing Spring of 2025.
MARVEL COMICS ANNOUNCES DARK DROIDS EVENT
Marvel Comics has just unveiled their latest bone-chilling creation – Star Wars: Dark Droids. This horrifying event, penned by writer Charles Soule and illustrated by the legendary Luke Ross, takes place amidst the dark age between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Prepare to meet Ajax Sigma, a maverick droid who takes center stage in this spooky masterpiece. But what’s the twist? A terrifying plague, known as the Scourge, is sweeping across the galaxy, infecting innocent droids and cyborgs alike. This ultimate horror tale will have all of Marvel’s ongoing series during that era tied up in a neat summary. Are you brave enough to journey through the madness and chaos of Star Wars: Dark Droids?
BONUS: INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY TRAILER
The legendary Indiana Jones is back in action and he’s after a powerful artifact that can turn back time itself. But he’s not the only one in pursuit of the mysterious Dial of Destiny. A cast of intriguing characters including Mads Mikkelsen and Phoebe Waller-Bridge are also chasing after the talisman for their own reasons. Who will come out on top in this high-stakes race for power?
Buckle up for an action-packed adventure filled with thrilling aerial combat, a high-speed pursuit through narrow alleyways on a tuk tuk, and heart-pumping surprises lurking in the shadows of an ancient temple.
