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Wednesday, Dec 18th, 2024
HomeLatest NewsComicsStar Wars Celebration 2023: Everything Announced

Star Wars Celebration 2023: Everything Announced

Star Wars Celebration 2023: Everything Announced

From three new live-action Star Wars movies from James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy to Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey in a film set after The Rise of Skywalker to Ahsoka’s official trailer, Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase at Star Wars Celebration 2023 was filled with a ton of exciting reveals from that galaxy far, far away.

The weekend isn’t over yet though, so IGN has gathered every news announcement in one place so you can keep track of it all, and we’ll continue to update this page with every fresh reveal from throughout the weekend.

Let us know your favorite announcement and which project you are most looking forward to in the comments below!

Lucasfilm Announces Three Live-Action Star Wars Movies From Directors Dave Filoni, James Mangold, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

Star Wars fans have been waiting since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker for the franchise to return to the big screen, and Star Wars Celebration has finally confirmed that return will happen with three films directed by James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.

James Mangold, the director of Logan and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, will create a film that “will go back to the dawn of the Jedi”.

Dave Filoni’s film will explore a more familiar era for Disney+ subscribers and “focus on the New Republic” Among many other things, Filoni was the creator of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, an executive producer, episodic director, and writer on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, and is the creator and executive producer on Ahsoka.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning director behind Ms. Marvel, Saving Face, and more will lead a film “set after the events of Rise of Skywalker” that will “feature Daisy Ridley back as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order.”

Daisy Ridley Returning to Star Wars in Movie Set After Rise of Skywalker

As mentioned in the blurb above, Daisy Ridley will officially be returning to Star Wars as Rey in a new movie set 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the movie will see Rey will attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order as a Jedi Master.

“I’ve always been attracted to the hero’s journey and the fact that the world needs many more heroes,” said Sharmeen. And the excitement was almost too much for Ridley.

“My heart is pounding,” she said as she walked on stage to a screaming crowd at Star Wars Celebration. “I’m very thrilled to be continuing this journey.”

Kathleen Kennedy Says New Star Wars Films Are ‘Pretty Far Along’ in Development

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said the three newly announced Star Wars films are “pretty far along” in development.

Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy made clear that the new films from Dave Filoni, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and James Mangold aren’t just ideas being thrown around at Lucasfilm but have been in development for a considerable amount of time.

“We’re pretty far along,” Kennedy said. “These are things, as you can imagine, certainly looking at what Dave’s been doing with Ahsoka, that’ll be at least six, seven years building to what it is we’re going to be doing in a movie.

Star Wars Finally Looks Back to a Beloved Era as the Old Republic Returns to Canon

Star Wars: The Old Republic is one of the most beloved eras in the extended universe, but it has been left largely untouched by Disney’s movies and television shows. That may be about to change, though, if a timeline shown during Star Wars Celebration is anything to go by.

Shortly before announcing several new Star Wars movies, LucasFilm studio head Kathleen Kennedy took the stage to share her vision for what Star Wars will look like in theaters.

That means “broadening the timeline,” Kennedy says, as an image appeared highlighting seven major eras, which includes The Old Republic.

Dave Filoni on Whether His Star Wars Movie Is Mandalorian Finale: ‘The Next Logical Step’

LucasFilm announced a new film by Dave Filoni, which many expect to be a grand finale for The Mandalorian. But will it? The answer is complicated.

Speaking with IGN in a new interview, Filoni said he thinks of the period where the movie is set as less of a “Mandalorian era” and more of a “New Republic period.”

“I don’t know if I’d call it [a finale]. I think of the time period now as the New Republic time period, and it’s something that has existed long before we were ever making the Mandalorian.

“The idea that after Return of the Jedi there was a New Republic, and that the heroes still had to defend that Republic from the remnant Empire is a very old idea that we brought into the first season of the Mandalorian. Because it’s what was always there.”

Ahsoka Gets Release Window and Trailer, Season 2 Teased

Star Wars: Ahsoka will officially be released on Disney+ in August 2023, and Star Wars Celebration released the official trailer for the much-anticipated series. Furthermore, a second season was hinted at.

“If this does well, maybe we’ll get a second season,” said star Rosario Dawson. “It’s up to y’all. I’m ready if you are.”

The trailer was as action-packed as you’d expect and also saw the return of Star Wars: Rebels characters including Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), and Chopper. Mon Mothma was also shown.

While we didn’t get to see him in full, we did get our first glimpse of live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn. “I started hearing whispers about Thrawn’s return,” Ahsoka said. “as heir to the Empire.”

Rosario Dawson Teases the Search for Thrawn in Ahsoka

Speaking of the devil, one of the major plotlines of the live-action Ahsoka series will be the titular character’s hunt for Thrawn and star Rosario Dawson has teased what that journey might be.

During a dedicated Ahsoka panel, Dawson talked about the search and what’s driving Ahsoka so strongly in it. “Though she is not a Jedi, she has so much of that at heart for her. She’s driven by trying to do good,” Dawson said during the panel. “She sees a threat other people aren’t seeing.”

Thrawn is one of the most beloved Star Wars characters in the extended universe, and though he appeared in Rebels, this will arguably be his first appearance in a mainstream Star Wars show, and definitely his first in live-action.

Grand Admiral Thrawn Will Be Played by Rebels’ Lars Mikkelsen

Lucasfilm has finally revealed that Lars Mikkelsen will be playing the live-action version of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Star Wars: Ahsoka, the same actor who voiced the villain in Star Wars Rebels.

The arrival of Thrawn in live-action has been something fans have been waiting a very long time to see, and Star Wars Celebration 2023 finally gave them the answer as to who will be bringing the villain to life.

As far as we know so far, this is the only Rebels actor to make the jump to live-action, with other characters Hera Syndulla now being played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Sabine Wren being played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo.

LARS MIKKELSEN IMAGE CREDIT: STAR WARS TWITTER

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Playing Live-Action Version of Beloved Star Wars Rebels Character in Ahsoka

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has finally revealed her role in Ahsoka, confirming she will play the live-action version of beloved Rebels character Hera Syndulla.

Winstead was also briefly shown in her full costume as Twi’lek, which can be viewed in the tweet below. We’ve known since May last year that Winstead would be joining the cast, though didn’t know who she’d be playing until now.

It does make sense, however, as fellow Rebels character Ezra Bridger was confirmed to be appearing in the show, played by Eman Esfandi.

Ahsoka Cast Explains How They Brought Beloved Rebels Characters to Live-Action

When Ahsoka arrives on Disney+ in August 2023, it will come complete with many character fans of the galaxy far, far away loved from Star Wars Rebels, including Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, and, obviously, Ahsoka Tano.

These characters originated in animation with different actresses and are now being brought to life in live-action by Mary Elizabeth-Winstead, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Rosario Dawson, respectively.

IGN had the chance to speak to all three of the actresses at Star Wars Celebration 2023, and they shared with us how they are bringing their characters to life in live-action.

Ahsoka Star Rosario Dawson Trained 14 Hours a Week to Recreate Animated Show Stunts

Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson trained for 14 hours a week to recreate the acrobatic combat style and stunts performed by the titular character in The Clone Wars and Rebels animated series.

Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration, Dawson explained the challenges of taking a character that had once only existed in animated shows and bringing them to the live-action universe.

“I think there’s definitely difficulties there, even just for the entire stunt team watching the animation, because we’d be working off of just the most amazing feats that someone could draw or imagine,” she told IGN. “And then it was like, how do we actualize that in real life? And so the team of it was just really remarkable.”

Mon Mothma Actress Reacts to Ahsoka Trailer Appearance

Mon Mothma actress Genevieve O’Reilly sat down with IGN at Star Wars Celebration 2023 to discuss not only her exciting appearance in the Ahsoka trailer, but also how her character has grown through hardships in Andor’s first season.

Starting off with Ahsoka, we catch a glimpse of Mon Mothma in a hologram as Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka talks about the whispers of the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Mon Mothma has been a part of Star Wars since Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and now she’ll get a chance to stand in the spotlight once more and O’Reilly couldn’t be happier.

Andor Season 2 Is Aiming for an August 2024 Premiere Date

While we didn’t get an exact date as to when Andor Season 2 will arrive on Disney+, series creator Tony Gilroy has confirmed the team is planning on having it ready for an August 2024 premiere date.

“We started shooting in November,” Gilroy said. “We’re about halfway through. We’re going to shoot through August. We’re on the exact schedule. Finish in August, spend another year on post. I suppose we’ll come out the following August.”

We were also given a few clips from Season 2, and we hear Mon Mothma say, “If we do not stand together, we will be crushed.” It also showed Cassian, Dedra, Syril, and Bix.

The Acolyte Is ‘Frozen Meets Kill Bill,’ First Details and 2024 Release Window Revealed

Star Wars: The Acolyte, the upcoming Disney+ series set during the end of the High Republic era, will make its way to Disney+ in 2024. While we weren’t given an exact date, the cast and crew behind the series stopped by Star Wars Celebration to share a few details as to what fans can expect.

Star Wars: Acolyte’s series creator Leslye Headland shared that she had always wanted to “delve into the Star Wars universe and tell the story of this entire world that I loved so much from the perspective of the bad guys.”

“What I pitched to Kathleen Kennedy was Frozen meets Kill Bill. Shockingly, she didn’t kick me out of the building,” Headland said. “It’s High Republic near the beginning of the prequels and an exciting part of the timeline. This is when the bad guys are outnumbered. They are the underdogs. I’m really excited for you guys to see things you haven’t seen in live action yet.”

The Acolyte’s Showunner Is Here to Challenge the Star Wars Universe

The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland is here to take on the Star Wars universe, and it’s not just because her show is told from the perspective of the Sith.

Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration, Headland explained that she started brainstorming The Acolyte by challenging the status quo.

“You just go, ‘Well, where’s the part that nobody’s going, what about that?’ And so to me, the institution of the Jedi was that,” Headland said. “So they trained children and that seems super complicated of a thing. It’s not criticism. It’s just like, ‘well, that seemed strange.'”

She even questioned decisions made by Lucasfilm previously, and ones regualrly brought up by fans, such as how Palpatine became supreme chancellor without Yoda knowing.

The Acolyte Showrunner Gets Emotional at Star Wars Celebration: ‘Star Wars Saved My Life’

If any Star Wars fans were in doubt that the mind behind The Acolyte, the first live action show set during The High Republic era, was a big fan too, they might want to think again.

Speaking on the Star Wars Celebration main stage, The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland got emotional when talking about her appreciation of Star Wars, saying the franchise saved her life.

“I just have to say it is such an honour to be here,” she said. “Star Wars saved my life.” Headland took a moment before continuing, equally to let the crowd stop cheering and to hold back tears.

Star Wars The Acolyte Showrunner Breaks Down Which Part Is Frozen, Which Is Kill Bill

Following on from her earlier comments that The Acolyte was pitched as part Froze, part Kill Bill, The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland broke down what the heck that means.

Headland told IGN: “So much of it was about the sister relationship, so much of it was about the villain actually being a powerful, misunderstood woman. There was just so much of it that I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I couldn’t believe that it was a cartoon with music. It was hitting me on such a deep level and yet servicing the genre so well.”

As for Kill Bill: “I think it’s a really good reference for the modern day martial arts film,” Headland explained. “Obviously, Tarantino took inspiration from a lot of the movies that our action team and a lot of our design team pulled from — which is stuff from the Shaw brothers to Akira Kurosawa in his samurai films, but also films like Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Skeleton Crew Gets First Reveal at Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is an upcoming Disney+ series that is set to arrive in 2023. Star Wars Celebration has yet to reveal an exact date, but it did share the first trailer.

The trailer for Skeleton Crew, which stars Jude Law and is focused on a younger cast of characters, honed in very much on the show’s Goonies inspirations. This was shown with kids in class, going through a residential area, running through a forest, and much more.

Lucasfilm also confirmed the directors for the series, and they include on Jon Watts, David Lowery, The Daniels, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lee Isaac Chung.

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Is Officially Getting a Second Season

Dave Filoni has confirmed that Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi will officially be returning for a second season.

Filoni shared the news at the end of a panel celebrating the 15th anniversary of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and he revealed he just loved working on the first season so much that he wanted it to continue.

“Tales of the Jedi was so fun the first time, I decided to do some more,” Filoni said simply.

Bad Batch Gets Third and Final Season Announcement

It’s official – The Bad Batch will return for Season 3, but it will be its last. The Mandalorian’s Fennec Shand will also star in the show alongside the regular cast of characters.

During a panel at Star Wars Celebration in London, the popular Star Wars animated show was officially renewed for a third season.

“I can say that the story’s not over,” said the show’s writer, Jennifer Corbett. “The Bad Batch will be back for a third and final season.”

Star Wars Visions Volume 2 Gets First Look and New Info at Star Wars Celebration

Disney and Lucasfilm have given fans a first look at Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 at Star Wars Celebration in London.

A trailer for the new season, which gives the Star Wars license to creators from all over the world to produce their own unique stories, shows a ton of different art styles coming to the Visions world. These include CGI, hand drawn, and even what looks to be claymation.

Volume 2 is also set to bring more of a global perspective to Visions when it premieres on Disney+ on May 4, stepping away from the Japanese centric first volume.

The Lando Calrissian Series Is Definitely Still Happening

The Star Wars Lando Calrissian series is definitely still in the works at Disney, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has confirmed.

Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy revealed that the long dormant show (probably) starring Donald Glover is still happening, though didn’t share much as to when we might see more.

“I can just tell you it’s still happening, and he’s very excited about it,” she said, all but confirming that Glover is definitely on board.”

Taika Waititi ‘Is Still Working Away’ on His Star Wars Film

Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film hasn’t been scrapped by Disney despite it’s absence Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Speaking to Variety at the event, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said “Taika is still working away” on the film, and it’s just taking a while because he doesn’t want anyone else helping with the script.

“He’s writing the script himself,” Kennedy said. “He doesn’t really want to bring others into that process and I don’t blame him. He has a very, very unique voice.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Gets Final Gameplay Trailer Ahead of Launch Later This Month

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor has received its final trailer ahead of its launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC later this month.

Showing of a ton of gameplay footage alongside some new story cutscenes, set against an ominous yet hopeful monologue, the trailer was released during Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Cal Kestis is the main focus, and we see gameplay of him in a bunch of different fights. These include against Stormtroopers, Destroyer Droids from the prequel trilogy, and even a Rancor. We also see one gnarly scene where Cal throws a Scout trooper from a speeder straight into a TIE fighter.

Coruscant Is a Playable Planet in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, but It May Not Be Open World

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor director Stig Asmussen has revealed Coruscant to be one of the planets featured in the sequel, though it may not be a fully explorable open world area.

Sharing the news at Star Wars Celebration, not long before he released the final gameplay trailer for Jedi: Survivor, Asmussen confirmed Coruscant was in the game.

“We’re taking our Metroidvania approach a step further and, just to talk about another planet, we’re going to have Coruscant as well,” he said. “I think there’s been a lot of speculation on that, and [I’m] just confirming it here.”

Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau Discuss Their Star Wars Film, Ahsoka, and More

The Star Wars canvas keeps getting bigger for Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, the dynamic duo behind the success of The Mandalorian.

During Star Wars Celebration, Kathleen Kennedy took to the stage to formally announce Dave Filoni’s Star Wars movie, which will be set during The New Republic. For Filoni and Favreau, it’s the “next logical step” and a case of “where the rubber hits the road,” though they’re hesitant to call it a finale for The Mandalorian.

In a new interview with IGN, which you can watch below, Filoni and Favreau talk about the new project; their evolving understanding of how to approach the Star Wars universe, and Filoni’s giant whiteboard featuring the Star Wars timeline.

The Mandalorian: Season 3 Episode 7 Clip Teases the Return of a Beloved Star Wars Character

While the cat is now out of the bag, guests in attendance at Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase were treated to a clip from next week’s seventh episode of The Mandalorian’s third season, and it teased the return of a beloved Star Wars character.

Spoilers ahead for Season 3, Episode 7 of The Mandalorian!

The clip begins with Elia Kane speaking to Moff Gideon on hologram, and she tells the character played by Giancarlo Esposito that “Karga was aided by Mandalorians.” Gideon then says he will deal with them before speaking to Captain Pallaeon about the whereabouts of Grand Admiral Thrawn.

“Grand Admiral Thrawn is missing,” Moff Gideon said. “With respect, our one hope for success relies upon the secrecy of his return,” Pallaeon replied.

“I never hear a word of Thrawn. You’ve spoken of his imminent return. Perhaps it’s time that we look to new leadership.”

Mandalorian Producer Confirms Din Djarin is No Longer the Only Main Character

The Mandalorian began as a show about Din Djarin and Grogu, though fans have begun asking if that’s still the case as Season 3 explores more of the Mandalorians as a people instead of just a person.

Executive producer Rick Famuyiwa has addressed those questions in an interview with IGN, and yes, the fans are right to question it. Turns out, the titular Mandalorian is no longer considered to be just Din.

“I think that’s been interesting as we’ve been on the journey of the show, and now that we’re at this point, is that, what does that title mean?,” Famuyiwa told IGN.

Mandalorian Showrunners on Ahmed Best’s Celebrated Return to Star Wars: ‘It Was a Big Decision’

The Mandalorian showrunners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni stopped by Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase to discuss the “big decision” to cast Ahmed Best as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian and have him be the one to save Grogu from the events of Order 66.

“Ahmed walked out on stage [at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago in 2019] and just the outpouring of appreciation,” said Favreau. “The opportunity for this role came up, and we knew we had to have someone – who was gonna be the one who rescues Baby Grogu? We were talking about that process of, who would it be and who should it be?”

“It was a big decision, but I don’t think there is anybody better than Ahmed,” said Filoni. “The appreciation when he appeared on screen was such a wonderful moment, also the fact that we kept it all a secret until it came out. It was tremendous outpouring of appreciation, that was as much fun as the episode itself.”

Return of the Jedi Influenced The Mandalorian

Return of the Jedi wasn’t just the end of a trilogy, it was the beginning of a new way of filmmaking.

During a panel at Star Wars Celebration in London, Star Wars creatives discussed the influence of this 40-year-old film on the most recent Star Wars projects.

“For all of our new films now, I always try to add that new component of something new,” said Lucasfilm executive creative director, Doug Chiang. “Star Wars design is very defined in terms of that box that George [Lucas] created but within that box, there’s a lot of freedom, and I love to push the envelope in terms of what that box is.”

Ewan McGregor ‘Really Wants’ Obi-Wan Season 2, But Lucasfilm Doesn’t Just Yet

Star Wars prequel trilogy star Ewan McGregor is apparently eager to make another season of the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series.

Speaking to Variety at Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy explained how the Obi-Wan actor (and the fans) might want another season, but it’s not something the studio is considering just yet.

“That is not an active development,” Kennedy said of Season 2. “But I never say never, because there’s always the possibility. That show was so well-received and [director] Deborah Chow did such a spectacular job.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen on those Big Lightsaber Duels

Obi-Wan Kenobi stars Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen have opened up about their big lightsaber duels from the show’s first season.

During a panel at Star Wars Celebration in London, the two Star Wars prequel stars discussed what it meant to return to the franchise – and to take each other on once more.

“It’s a great bit of Star Wars and a really important scene,” said Christensen. “Not just to the tragedy of the character of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader but the tragedy of the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan.”

Star Wars Rogue Squadron Could Still Happen, Says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron film could still happen despite its production fizzling away at Disney.

Speaking to IGN at Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy gave fans disappointed by the film’s supposed cancellation a little hope.

“Rogue Squadron, that definitely is something that we still talk about,” she said, though alluded that it may not return in the same way. “Whether it’s a movie, or whether it ends up being in the series space, that’s definitely something.”

Rian Johnson’s Star Wars Trilogy Is ‘Not Actively’ in Development

The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy is not being actively developed, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has revealed.

Speaking to Variety at Star Wars Celebration 2023, Kennedy gave an update on some of the previously announced Star Wars films that have seemingly taken a back seat to the three newly announced movies.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Gets New Trailer

Indiana Jones is back in a new glimpse at Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. the new trailer gives us a closer look at what’s going on in the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel, with hints of an artifact that can change the course of history.

Harrison Ford returns as famed archaeologist Indiana Jones in a new adventure alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Indy’s goddaughter and partner in crime during his upcoming adventure.

There’s also a brief glimpse of Mads Mikkelsen’s villainous Jurgen Voller who seems to be aiming to bring about the return of Hitler and the Nazis. “Hitler made mistakes,” he says. “And with this, I will correct them all.”

Star Wars Celebration 2025 Will Take Place in Japan

Even at the end of it all, we need something to look forward to right? Disney couldn’t leave this year’s Celebration without announcing that the 2025 event will take place in Japan.

Announced during the closing ceremonies of the London Celebration, the next event (as Lucasfilm is skipping 2024) will take place from April 18 to April 20, 2025.

No specific city for the Japanese Star Wars Celebration was announced, but it will most likely take place in Tokyo.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

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