Only 1 Star Wars Project Can Officially Redeem The Sequel Trilogy

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Most fans agree that only one project could truly save the reputation of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Even those who enjoy episodes seven, eight, and nine acknowledge they’re quite controversial. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is widely considered the weakest live-action film in the entire Star Wars saga.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, it feels like the more time that passes, the harder it becomes to give the sequel trilogy the satisfying conclusion it deserves. Thankfully, Disney seems to be focusing on stories that take place before or immediately after those films – things like The Mandalorian and Grogu, the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, and even a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg. It feels like Star Wars is intentionally moving forward, but a part of me still hopes there’s a way to retroactively make the sequels feel more complete and worthwhile.

The Sequel Trilogy Needs Its Own Clone Wars

Honestly, I think the Star Wars sequels really need something like The Clone Wars to make them feel complete. The Clone Wars filled in so much of the story between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, giving us a deeper look at the war and everything happening behind the scenes. I really believe a show doing the same for the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance could be amazing and give those movies the depth they deserve.

A series similar to The Clone Wars could significantly enrich the sequel Star Wars films by adding depth and context to the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance. It could explore the First Order’s beginnings, structure, and the real impact they had on the galaxy, as well as provide a more detailed look at how Leia built the Resistance and rallied support against them.

A series like The Clone Wars could significantly improve the storytelling in the sequel trilogy films. It could show us the origins of Starkiller Base before The Force Awakens, explain how the First Order built its massive fleet in The Last Jedi, and detail Kylo Ren’s quest for the Sith holocron in The Rise of Skywalker. This is just a small example of how such a show could address many of the sequel trilogy’s issues and ultimately enhance the entire story.

How The Clone Wars Redeemed The Star Wars Prequels

The success of The Clone Wars suggests it could have had a similar positive impact on the sequel trilogy as it did on the prequel trilogy. Initially, the prequels were widely disliked, facing criticism for the acting, complicated storylines, excessive use of special effects, and the portrayal of Anakin Skywalker. But over time, The Clone Wars helped to reshape public opinion and improve the prequels’ reputation.

The Clone Wars series greatly enriched the prequel Star Wars films by adding significant background and depth. It gave audiences extensive time with Anakin Skywalker, allowing them to connect with him as a character. The series also detailed the conflict itself – how the war was progressing, who held the upper hand, the overall state of the galaxy, and the contrasting viewpoints of both the Republic and the Separatists.

The backstory added by The Clone Wars completely changed how we see the prequel films. Anakin Skywalker is no longer just an annoying child; he’s portrayed as a brave and successful soldier who was wrongly denied the rank of Master. The Jedi are also reimagined – instead of being unaware of Palpatine’s scheming, they’re shown as struggling to protect the galaxy against overwhelming odds. And the war itself, previously just a brief mention in Revenge of the Sith, becomes the central event that shapes everything.

One of the greatest contributions of The Clone Wars to the Star Wars prequels was the added time it provided. The original three prequel films didn’t have enough screen time to fully develop the complex political story George Lucas intended. The Clone Wars series allowed for a much deeper exploration of galactic politics, the romance between Anakin and Padmé, the dynamic between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and even supporting characters like Count Dooku and Darth Maul. Ultimately, it elevated the prequels from a promising but incomplete story into a full-fledged space opera.

A Clone Wars-Style Series Set During The Sequel Trilogy Is Unlikely To Happen

As much as I’d love to see more stories set during the sequel trilogy era, I’m starting to think it’s just not going to happen. With the way The Force Awakens kicked off the war between the First Order and the Resistance, and The Last Jedi immediately following the events at Starkiller Base, there isn’t much space to fit another show in there. Plus, knowing The Rise of Skywalker wraps everything up just a year later, it feels like the timeline is already too full. It’s a shame, but it seems like the window for a *Clone Warsstyle series during that period has probably passed.

One reason The Clone Wars blended so well with the prequel films is because it bridged a gap in the story. There was a three-year period between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, giving the series plenty of room to develop the Clone Wars in detail. In contrast, the single year leading up to The Rise of Skywalker doesn’t provide enough time for a show with that same level of depth and exploration.

The show Star Wars Resistance attempted to recreate the success of The Clone Wars by taking place before The Force Awakens, but it wasn’t successful. Canceled after only two seasons, it didn’t have the opportunity to develop into a large-scale space opera like its predecessor. This means there isn’t a suitable time – either before or between the sequel films – to create another show in the style of The Clone Wars that could improve how the trilogy is viewed.

Honestly, if the Star Wars sequels are going to be remembered fondly, I think a show focusing on Ben Solo’s time with Luke at the Jedi Academy is their best bet. It could really fill in the gaps – we could see how the First Order became so powerful, what Leia was doing to build the Resistance, and why Luke ultimately went into hiding. I’d even love to see little glimpses of Rey as a scavenger on Jakku, and they could finally adapt the story of her parents from the Shadow of the Sith novel. It feels like there’s so much potential there to make things feel more connected and satisfying.

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2026-03-04 00:19