Considering where Star Wars is now, a new film – Episode X – is desperately needed. When The Force Awakens came out in 2015, it was a major event. It was the first Star Wars movie made after Disney acquired the franchise, and the first live-action film in ten years, following Revenge of the Sith. It also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the entire Star Wars saga.
As a huge Star Wars fan, I remember the pressure surrounding The Force Awakens was immense. While we appreciate the prequels a bit more now, back in 2015, a lot of us were still pretty disappointed with Episodes I-III – they just didn’t live up to the original trilogy. Episode VII felt like a real opportunity to win fans back, to show us that the story could move forward in a compelling way. Plus, it was a big test for Disney – could they handle such a beloved franchise with the respect it deserved?
While The Force Awakens successfully brought Star Wars back to life, the momentum didn’t last. Solo: A Star Wars Story underperformed at the box office, The Last Jedi sharply divided fans, and The Rise of Skywalker was almost universally disliked, leaving the franchise in a difficult position. Although Disney and Lucasfilm turned to television shows after the disappointing reception to Episode IX, it’s become clear that’s not enough to revitalize Star Wars; a new film – Episode X – is what the franchise truly needs.
Star Wars Television Hasn’t Been The Revival Disney & Lucasfilm Were Hoping For
After The Rise of Skywalker, Disney and Lucasfilm decided to concentrate on making Star Wars shows for television instead of movies. This move started well, with The Mandalorian becoming a huge hit and reigniting interest in the franchise—especially thanks to the character of Baby Yoda. It seemed like creating ongoing TV series was the right path for Star Wars.
While the initial TV shows like The Mandalorian seasons 1 and 2 were a hit, Star Wars on television hasn’t maintained that success. The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi didn’t impress many viewers, and season 3 of The Mandalorian was a letdown. Andor was a critically acclaimed standout, but unfortunately, it didn’t attract a large enough audience to justify its high production costs.
Following the first season of Andor, live-action Star Wars shows haven’t quite lived up to expectations. While Ahsoka was decent, it didn’t stand out, The Acolyte sharply divided fans and was canceled before its story could finish, and Skeleton Crew, despite positive reviews, struggled to attract a wide audience. Animated Star Wars series performed better overall, but still remained popular with a smaller group of viewers.
Live-action Star Wars shows were intended to revitalize the franchise after The Rise of Skywalker, but they haven’t been successful. Disney’s strategy of relying on streaming for Star Wars content has resulted in significant financial losses. After seven shows, it’s evident that a new movie is needed to reignite interest in the series. While Disney and Lucasfilm have recognized this, their current approach to making a movie isn’t ideal.
The Mandalorian and Grogu & Starfighter Seem Fun, But They’re Not Enough
After seven years of focusing on TV shows, Star Wars is returning to the big screen. This new movie is key to revitalizing the franchise, marking its first theatrical release since The Rise of Skywalker. Disney and Lucasfilm are hoping The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to premiere on May 22nd, will be the film to do it.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is revitalizing Star Wars and pointing the way forward for future films. The upcoming movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, appears to be following a similar path. Like The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter is set in the New Republic era, focuses on a non-Force-sensitive pilot protecting a child, and isn’t closely tied to the main Skywalker Saga films.
While both The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter seem enjoyable, and I wish them success, they don’t feel like guaranteed hits that will revitalize Star Wars and launch a new era. Season 3 of The Mandalorian may have already peaked interest in the characters. Grogu isn’t as popular as he once was, and the movie currently appears to be more of a long episode of the series than a standalone film.
While Starfighter appears to be an enjoyable and exciting movie that fits with the generally family-friendly Star Wars brand, it doesn’t feel like the right choice to bring the franchise back to the big screen. From what we know so far, the film will feature new characters and be set during a time period mainly explored in the Star Wars TV shows. These elements might not be enough to attract longtime fans of the series.
Both The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter lack the epic feel that has historically made Star Wars so successful. Past Star Wars installments, like the Skywalker Saga, felt like grand, mythic stories – additions to a significant and beloved American science fiction/fantasy narrative. These new releases, however, feel more like side stories rather than essential parts of that larger story. While enjoyable, they need to recapture the magic that initially drew audiences to Star Wars and demonstrate that the franchise still has compelling stories to tell.
Star Wars Needs To Focus On Episode X To Correct Course
To truly revive the Star Wars franchise, a new mainline film – Episode X – is more important than shows like The Mandalorian and Grogu. From the start, Star Wars has always thrived on its core numbered films that tell the story of the Skywalker family. Everything else, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, builds upon that central narrative about the battle between good and evil, family relationships, love, and what we leave behind.
While the recent Star Wars trilogy has sparked a lot of debate, and some criticisms aren’t entirely fair, it offers the best path forward for the franchise. Star Wars should prioritize developing Episode X and continuing Rey’s journey, learning from the issues with The Rise of Skywalker to create a compelling continuation of the saga. Disney has discovered that focusing on the Skywalker story in film is more effective than trying to expand the universe through television.
The Star Wars franchise is ready for a fresh start, but The Mandalorian and Grogu feels very much like a product of modern television. When The Force Awakens was released, it propelled Star Wars forward with a new story, even while acknowledging the franchise’s history. In contrast, The Mandalorian and Grogu is heavily rooted in the past. It’s set between the original and sequel trilogies, expands on an older TV series, and features villains—the remnants of the Empire—who are leftovers from a bygone era.
| Upcoming Star Wars Movies & Shows | |
|---|---|
| Title | Release Date |
| The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 22, 2026 |
| Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi | Late 2026 |
| Ahsoka Season 2 | Late 2026/Early 2027 |
| Star Wars: Starfighter | May 28, 2027 |
| New Jedi Order | TBA |
| Simon Kinberg’s Trilogy | TBA |
| Dawn of the Jedi | TBA |
| Star Wars: Visions Season 4 | TBA |
| The Mandalorian Season 4 | TBA |
Look, as a longtime Star Wars fan, I’m begging Disney and Lucasfilm: please focus on Episode X! Instead of constantly expanding the world with shows set in the same timeframe as The Mandalorian and the New Republic, let’s move forward. Rey has the chance to redefine the Jedi, and the galaxy deserves a fresh start after the fall of the First Order. Let’s see something truly new! If Star Wars just keeps revisiting the same old storylines and familiar elements, it’s going to get stuck repeating itself, and that’s a path to nowhere.
Episode X is a crucial opportunity to revitalize the Star Wars franchise and restore its former glory. The story doesn’t even need to continue Rey’s journey; a future installment like New Jedi Order could handle that. Instead, Episode X could focus on introducing a new group of Jedi to lead Star Wars forward. Ultimately, if Episode X takes the franchise in a fresh direction, it has a strong chance of regaining its popularity.
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2026-05-06 01:51