With the Mandoverse throwing a wrench in the Star Wars timeline following the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’s easy for even the most diehard fans to get lost in the chronological shuffle. Fortunately, after a seven-year standstill in the series’ chronology, the Star Wars narrative is finally poised to move beyond the timeline established in the most recent sequel trilogy, which concluded in 2019.
Not only is the upcoming, highly anticipated standalone story moving past The Rise of Skywalker timeline for the first time in nearly a decade, but it’s also poised to set up the next cinematic trilogy in a galaxy far, far away. So, it’s worth reminding followers of how and why the new self-contained movies starring Ryan Gosling and Daisy Ridley are poised to advance the story and timeframe of events and almost certainly lay the groundwork for Episode X.
‘Star Wars’ Advances Its Timeline for The First Time Since 2019
In case even the most casual or ardent fans missed it, the Star Wars sequel trilogy was set between 34 and 35 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin). Released between 2015 and 2019, the sequel trilogy kicked off with Episode VII: The Force Awakens, continued with Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, and concluded with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Across the three movies released over four years, the Star Wars timeline remained static. It introduced viewers to a new crop of heroes, including Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac).
With the sequel trilogy running its course and concluding in 2019, Star Wars is finally moving past its timeline and getting back to the overarching chronology for the first time in seven years. This should enthrall fans a great deal, as it means the franchise will temporarily move away from sequels, prequels, and midquels (The Mandalorian, The Acolyte) and advance the underlying timeline with not one, but two fresh standalone stories.
‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ is Bound to Bridge the Gap to the Next Trilogy
Set to arrive in May 2027, Star Wars: Starfighter will advance the overarching timeline for the first time since 2019. The story takes place in 40 ABY, roughly five or six years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, leaving most of the Skywalkers behind to tell a new story and advance the series’ mythological lore. Ryan Gosling is said to play the lead character, codenamed Damon. New characters will be played by Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Simon Bird, Aaron Pierre, Daniel Ings, and Jamael Westman.
By advancing the chronology past the sequel trilogy for the first time since 2019, the Star Wars saga is open to limitless possibilities. The prevailing wisdom suggests that Starfighter will bridge the narrative gap between the post-sequel era and the next cinematic trilogy. However, we should remember that Lucasfilm is also set to release another standalone Star Wars movie, New Jedi Order, in December 2027. The story will feature a significant 15-year time jump and continue Rey’s arc as Daisy Ridley returns to the franchise. That means that, between Starfighter and New Jedi Order, the overarching timeline will leap roughly 20 years ahead from the events in The Rise of Skywalker and present a whole new narrative era for fans to enjoy.
Both Starfighter and New Jedi Order are poised to set up the next Star Wars trilogy, which will include Episodes 10, 11, and 12. Simon Kinberg (Star Wars Rebels) has been tapped to write and produce the new trilogy. Reports have suggested that the third act of Starfighter was drastically rewritten to ensure its climax dovetails into the events of Episodes 10 to 12.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
