Star Wars Celebration 2022 – News Round-Up Of All The Major Announcements
Star Wars Celebration has come to an end for another year, so we wanted to do a little round-up of all the major announcements this year. We have some new shows, and returning series, both in live-action and animation. There were some casting announcements, some great new trailers and photos, and lots of fun from a galaxy far, far, away…
‘Star Wars: Andor’
‘Star Wars: Andor’ not only got a trailer, but also a premiere date!
The ‘Andor’ series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Diego Luna returns as Cassian Andor and is joined by cast members Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller. The executive producers are Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna and Michelle Rejwan. Tony Gilroy (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’) is the creator and showrunner.
‘Andor‘ premieres Wednesday, 31st August 2022 on Disney+ worldwide.
Star Wars: Ahsoka
Although not released to the public, fans at the convention were treated to a very early trailer of ‘Ahsoka‘, which is currently filming. during the “Mando+ panel”, they showed a clip which officially confirmed the November 2021 leak that Natasha Liu Bordizzo will be playing Sabine Wren, joining Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano. They also brought a fully functional version of the loveable droid “Chopper” out on stage! It appears they aren’t only members of the ‘Rebels’ “Ghost” crew to make the live-action jump either. There was a brief shot of Hera Syndulla, but only from the back, and we don’t yet know who will be playing her.
.@rosariodawson brought a friend. The #StarWarsCelebration crowd says hello to Chopper!
Chopper will make his live-action debut in #Ahsoka! pic.twitter.com/vxI6VUqWTv
— The Mandalorian (@themandalorian) May 28, 2022
A couple of additional little bits popped out from the clip. Huyang, the droid who taught younglings how to build lightsabers in ‘The Clone Wars’, voiced by David Tennant, made a brief apperance. There was also a child’s hand attempting Force-move a cup on a table in the clip with Hera, which suggests it might be Jacen, son of Hera and Kanan. It seems the appearance of Huyang and (possibly) Jacen could be connected.
Given the people already announced on the series, and when we left Ahsoka and Sabine, they were about to search for the missing Ezra and Thrawn, it seems likely we could be getting them in live-action at some point too, but we’ll have to wait and see!
‘Ahsoka‘ will premiere on Disney+ in 2023.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘ is new live-action tv series set in the Star Wars universe with Jude Law in the lead, from ‘Spider-Man’ director Jon Watts.
The announcement didn’t come with a huge amount of additional information about the show, however, Watts confirmed it will be set within the same timeline as ‘The Mandalorian’ (so, between ‘Return of the Jedi’ and ‘The Force Awakens’), and will follow “a group of kids who are about ten years old who gets lost in the Star Wars universe.” He did also say, it is a show with four kids as the leads, but not a “kids show”, which sounds somewhat in the territory of ‘Stranger Things’ although not as dark. Tonally, it’s said to sit more in the space of those 80s Amblin coming-of-age adventure films (e.g. ‘The Goonies’), and will be appropriate for the same audience as the ‘Clone Wars’ animated series.
‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘ will premiere in 2023 on Disney+ worldwide.
Tales of the Jedi
‘Tales of the Jedi‘ is a six-episode animated short series set to premiere this Autumn on Disney+. The series is described as “Two paths and two choices…” Those two halves are represented by Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. The new series featuring both of these iconic characters in three distinct eras of their lives (each will receive three episodes).
In the case of Dooku, we will see a young version of the character when he was still a Jedi, along with his Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn. Liam Neeson (and his son) return to voice the fan favorite character.
On the Ahsoka side, we will be introduced to Pav-ti, her mother, voiced by Janina Gavankar. Fans at the Con saw the opening of the premiere episode which featured the birth of Ahsoka and one of her first adventures with her mother. Whilst that episode ended happily, some episodes will be much darker. Producer Dave Filoni called these shorts “tone poems” — stories with minimal dialogue, told through visuals.
‘Tales of the Jedi‘ will premiere in Autumn 2022 on Disney+.
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
Giving Star Wars fan parents everywhere an opportuity to indoctrinate their off-spring at an even earlier age, they revealed a new pre-school animated series, ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’.
The first full-length animated Star Wars series created for preschoolers, early grade schoolers, and their families, these original stories will follow Younglings as they are swept off into adventures, and start their journeys on the path to becoming Jedi Knights, learning valuable skills for our galaxy and the galaxy far, far away. The Jedi-in-training will tackle topics of compassion, self-discipline, teamwork, patience, and friendship.
The new series will be part of the era known as the High Republic, which is currently being explored in the New York Times bestselling series of books and comics for all ages, Star Wars: The High Republic.
‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ will premiere in Spring 2023 on Disney+ worldwide.
The Mandalorian
There wasn’t much new in the way of news on ‘The Mandalorian‘ Season 3, although they did confirm a few things in some teaser footage which has not been released online. The clip showed Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) on a throne, the return of Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris), Dr. Pershing (Omid Abtahi), and a slew of Mandalorian warriors, as well as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, plus stunt performers Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder) and Grogu traversing the galaxy together once more (if this makes no sense to you, watch ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’!) The brilliant Giancarlo Esposito also appeared on stage, confirming the return of Moff Gideon.
‘The Mandalorian‘ Season 3 will premiere in February 2023.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch‘ are back for Season 2 this Autumn, and have a new trailer.
‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch – a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army – each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.
Hunter, Echo, Tech, and Wrecker (and any other clones) are voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, with Michelle Ang providing the voice of Omega. Other cast includes Rhea Perlman as Cid, and this season we at least know from the trailer that Emperor Palpatine (voiced by Ian McDiarmid) will make an appearance.
‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch‘ Season 2 premieres Autumn (Fall) 2022 on Disney+ worldwide.
Star Wars: Visions
‘Star Wars: Visions‘ will return next year for a second season. The anthology series, from Lucasfilm, tells new Star Wars stories through the singular style and tradition of Japanese anime. The second volume will bring together new stories from creative teams in Japan, India, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Chile, France, South Africa, and California in the United States. “It’s going to be a celebration of the incredible animation happening all around the globe,” producer James Waugh said.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Stepping away from TV to video games, they dropped a trailer for ‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ sequel, ‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’, following the next chapter of Cal Kestis’ journey, picking up five years after the events of the first game. The title comes from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, and is due to launch in 2023.
Willow
Stepping away from Star Wars entirely, Lucasfilm dropped a trailer and premiere date for the tv sequel to the beloved cult classic film ‘Willow‘.
For the younger readers, the original ‘Willow’ was a fantasy adventure followed Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a young farmer and conjurer who discovers a baby girl in a reed basket on a nearby river. What he doesn’t know at the time is the baby is supposed to fulfil a prophecy which would see the downfall of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh), and had been smuggled away by the midwife to keep her safe… Much to the anger of the queen. With the help of a mercenary Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) and warrior Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), Willow embarks on a quest to take the child to safety.
The new series, which is Lucasfilm’s first venture into non-Star Wars storytelling since 2015, takes place years after the events of the original ‘Willow’ film. It introduces all-new characters to the enchanted realm of fairy queens and two-headed Eborsisk monsters, and welcomes back its namesake hero, Willow Ufgood, performed once again by the unmatchable Warwick Davis.
Alongside Davis, the series stars Erin Kellyman as Jade, a servant training to become a warrior and friend of Kit who joins in the quest; Ruby Cruz as Kit, a princess leading the party to rescue her twin brother; Ellie Bamber as Dove, a kitchen maid; And Amer Chadha-Patel as Boorman, a thief who is offered freedom from prison if he assists the group. Tony Revolori, Dempsey Bryk and Talisa Garcia also star.
Jon M. Chu (‘In The Heights’, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’) directs the new series and will serve as executive producer along with showrunners Jonathan Kasdan (‘Solo’), who also wrote the pilot, and Wendy Mericle (‘Arrow’).
‘Willow‘ premieres Wednesday, 30th November 2022 on Disney+ worldwide.
Star Wars Celebration 2023
So that is all the major news from Star Wars Celebration 2022. However, for us UK fans, they announced something really amazing… Star Wars Celebration 2023 will return to England at the ExCel Centre in London from 7th-10th April! (and yes, I know the Star Wars press office can’t spell “Centre” correctly…) By the time of the event, ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 will have aired, ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ will be about to drop, ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Skeleton Crew’ should be mostly finished, or well into production, and the live-action series ‘The Acolyte‘ should be well underway, there will be a lot to talk about!
If you want to keep track of these or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
