Thursday, December 10, 2020

Disney+ Expands 'Star Wars' Original Series Slate

During its presentation at the Disney Investor Day, LucasFilm announced its expanding slate of original programs set in the Star Wars universe. Here are all the details of the series officially ordered or are currently in development.






The Mandalorian - which concludes its current second season on Friday, December 18 - has officially been renewed for a third season. The drama will return for another season around Christmas 2021.

Moreover, two spinoff series of The Mandalorian are in development - Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka Tano, the latter based on the Clone Wars character brought to life recently by Rosario Dawson. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are developing both spinoffs.

From writer-director Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

Lando is a new event series from Dear White People's Justin Simien centering on the life and adventures of Lando Calrissian. The character has previously been played by Billy Dee Williams and Donald Glover, though never are confirmed for returning to the potential series.

Star Wars: Visions is an original series of short films from Japanese anime creators coming in 2021.

Production on the 12-episode first season of Andor - a prequel to 2016's Rogue One - began two weeks ago in the UK. Tony Gilroy serves as showrunner. The cast features Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk and Genevieve O'Reilly reprising their roles from the film, with new additions Stellan Skarsgård, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Adria Arjona and Fiona Shaw. The drama will debut in early 2022.

Production on the new drama Obi-Wan Kenobi will begin in Spring 2021, with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprising their roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, respectively.

Animated series A Droid Story will introduce a new hero guided by R2D2 and C3PO on a secret mission known only to them. What could possibly go wrong?

Animated series The Bad Batch - a spinoff of Star Wars: The Clone Wars - follows a clone squadron making their way through the galaxy as mercenaries in the early days of the Empire. Debuting in 2021, the series is executive produced by Dave Filoni, Athena Portillo, Brad Rau and head writer Jennifer Corbett.