Star Wars Celebration Japan might be over, and the things I always look out for are new shows, news nuggets, movies, comics and books that are coming out in the next few months and years.
Spoilers for all properties, in case you didn’t know it:
• The Mandalorian and Grogu: Finally! The Mandalorian and his young apprentice, Grogu, are hired by the New Republic to take out Imperial Remnants that are threatening the peace everybody fought so hard to gain. I assume we’re going after some minor warlords and dictators until we get up to the real threat, Thrawn (unless Ahsoka takes him out first). Sigourney Weaver plays Colonel Bishop (same name as her artificial human friend from Aliens) who is evidently a pilot in the New Republic and Mando’s assumed handler. In the trailer, we see Mando taking out a whole AT-AT full of troopers before blowing the whole thing up. We also see Grogu blowing up a mouse droid with the Force and swimming. The whole awesome bit ends with a grown-up Rotta the Hutt, last seen in The Clone Wars movie in 2008. I’m interested to hear what his voice sounds like, but he’s got big arms and looks like some kind of gladiator!
• Starfighter: Absolutely nothing is known about this Ryan Gosling / Shawn Levy film except that it’s set a few years after The Rise of Skywalker, so it’s our first glimpse into a new era that we’ve heard nothing about! Rey (whose own film is still in development hell) is out in the universe training new Jedi, but this movie apparently has nothing to do with prominent characters like Finn or Poe. I’m assuming Ryan plays a pilot, but who knows?
• Ahsoka: Since they hadn’t started filming quite yet there wasn’t much to show, but that being said, I’m really looking forward to the second season! They showed a picture of the new Baylan Skoll and mentioned that his padawan might not be doing so well without his influence. They had a great ‘80’s soundtrack with production paintings showing what’s going to happen this upcoming season. Ghost Anakin’s coming back as is…. THRAWN VS. ADMIRAL ACKBAR! The old Expanded Universe used to hint at this battle! Also, there’s a painting of Captain Enoch, still in his Spartan-like armor (maybe it got updated since Thrawn’s back in the regular universe). Also, Ezra and Zeb are back!
• Darth Maul: This sounds like it could be the beginnings of Crimson Dawn. I kinda want to see Qi’ra and Tobias Beckett in animated form. The big draw is going to be the introduction of Darth Talon, who in Legends was from 100 years in the future in the Dark Horse series Star Wars: Legacy. It should be cool to see how they’ll introduce this character.
• Andor: The show has started, and I’m digging it. The thing that really blew me away was that Syril and Dedra are in a relationship! They’re the characters you really love to hate! Bix has more issues piled up on her by a male Imperial officer (a first for Star Wars), and poor Brasso. Not so much Poor Mon Mothma, who’s drunk and dancing at her daughter’s wedding after being told some harsh realities about her banker (and her daughter needs to show some respect too!!). Oh and the reintroduction of Director Krennic! With no Vader or Tarkin to shove him back into place, his full ambition and evil-ness are on full display!
• Star Wars Comics: A new Knight of Ren (who is an Order 66 survivor, maybe somebody we know already) and Yaddle come into the comics, as well as a new Cloud Car from Cloud City. I also wanted to hear more about the new Doctor Aphra series, but nothing. We’ll also learn more about Qui-Gon’s attempted assassin/ninja. Since Dooku will be in the Jedi series, they should have a photo cover of Christopher Lee with a blue lightsaber.
• The High Republic: Can’t wait for Trials of the Jedi to come out! With The High Republic it’s always I can’t wait until the ending comes and we find out what happens, but it’s also sad the ending is coming! We’ve all come to love and admire the nine Jedi going on this ultimate mission against the Nihil and The Nameless (still think they should have action figures, even 3D printed!)
• Visions: I have never been a big anime or Manga fan. It was always too kinetic, the behavior and effects just too weird for me, but I did like The Duel from the first season of Visions, as well as the book and comics that came from that story. Called Payback, it follows the adventures of The Ronin, the former Jedi who created the Sith in this alternate Japanese/Star Wars universe. He goes up against a cyborg Jedi Grand Master. The Grand Master also fights another Sith who has a crazy 12-bladed weapon. I really love the samurai aesthetics mixed with the well-worn Star Wars universe. Apparently a few other Visions classics are having sequels in the series as well.
Other stuff in the trailer: I saw AT-ATs breaking out of the ice and an R2 unit transforming into some kind of Gundam battle armor, plus a dude in another set of unique armor (probably a bounty hunter). Oh, and a big bear with a microwave in its chest.
• Dash Rendar Black Series: Everybody’s favorite Han Solo proxy is once again in action figure form. Maybe it won’t be too long until he has his own comic or TV series…
Until we get another blast of Star Wars news, this will have to tide us over (but until then, keep reading Fantha Tracks!)